Monza, Italy, in late August 2026 once again became the epicentre of the global motorsport industry. The historic circuit, built in 1922 in just 110 days and hosting Formula 1 races since 1950 (with the exception of 1980, when the Italian Grand Prix was moved to Imola), delivered several historic moments to spectators this season. Qualifying ended in a sensation: Pierre Gasly edged out Lando Norris by 0.06 seconds to claim pole position — a gap that, according to eyewitnesses, had never before been recorded between two rivals over such a short interval in the championship's history. And in the race itself, the sensation grew into a bigger one: Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old Italian, took the win, leaving George Russell behind, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed his team's car, becoming the weekend's biggest disappointment for the local fans.
The Atmosphere of Monza and the World of Ferrari from the Inside
Two days before the main race of the Grand Prix, Milan is already living to the rhythm of motorsport. More and more people in red T-shirts with Ferrari logos can be seen on the streets, and on Piazza del Duomo, just a few minutes' walk from the team's flagship store, queues form that are managed by a stern security guard. Inside is a separate universe: scale models of engines and cars, merchandise that will cost a considerable amount of money — a baseball cap costs 75 euros, a children's T-shirt 150, an adult one 180, and women's shoes in the collections reach thousands of euros. To enter this local world of Italian automotive industry, you need to be prepared not only for the expenses but also for the fact that the queue at the entrance may take more than an hour.
Qualifying: 0.06 Seconds That Changed History
The second day of the race weekend — free practice and qualifying — brought the main intrigue. Before the session, a walk around the pit lane zone is organised for media and partners, where the teams' final preparations can be seen. It is at this moment that it becomes clear that Formula 1 is not just about speed but also about a huge infrastructure: the motorhomes, spread out beyond the technical zone, resemble an entire racing town in scale. The qualifying result was historic: Gasly beat Norris by 0.06 seconds. The Frenchman's pole position at Monza, on a track where Ferrari traditionally dominates, came as a surprise to most analysts.
The Race: Antonelli's Miracle Transformation and Leclerc's Tragedy
The Italy Grand Prix 2026 race itself turned into a drama. Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver, raced at the limit and finished first, leaving his teammate George Russell in second place. On the podium, the 18-year-old Italian unfurled an Italian tricolour covered in autographs in front of the cameras and raised it overhead while wearing a black Mercedes suit with the Petronas, Meta AI and HPE logos. For Ferrari, the weekend turned into a catastrophe: Charles Leclerc crashed the team's car, and his race was further complicated by a conflict with Lewis Hamilton, which became one of the most discussed episodes of the round. Race reviews published by specialist outlets unanimously describe the result as "Antonelli's triumph" and "Leclerc's crash."
Behind the Scenes: People, Business and War
Over three days at the circuit and in Milan, journalists managed to talk to people from different countries. Among the companions was a Swiss married couple, the husband of which runs a business tied to a world-famous clothing brand and, before the full-scale war, had stores in Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa. Due to the Russian aggression, he, like many other entrepreneurs, had to exit the Ukrainian market. At the same time, Europeans are closely following the situation in Ukraine: Italian fans in the stands on Saturday morning were discussing the attack on the SBU building in Kyiv. It turned out that Formula 1 unites not only speed fans but also people for whom sport remains one of the few spaces where you can temporarily take your mind off geopolitics.
Partnerships and the Commercial Context
The commercial side of the weekend has also undergone changes. Since December 2025, the official partner of Ferrari has been the ZYN brand — nicotine pouches from Philip Morris International, replacing long-time sponsor Marlboro. It was precisely thanks to Philip Morris International that journalists were given the opportunity to experience the round from the inside. Against this backdrop, Verstappen last season set a new Formula 1 record, winning the race at Monza with an average speed of 250.706 km/h, however, in the current season the Dutchman is not showing his usual dominance, and his wins this year were expected by almost no one.
