The 2026 Formula 1 title race is set to heat up at the Italian Grand Prix as championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start at the back of the grid due to a power unit change.
Antonelli leads George Russell and Lewis Hamilton by 59 points in the Drivers’ Championship but his biggest threat may now come from Lando Norris, who is 83 points behind, but has won the last two races.
Given Antonelli is highly unlikely to win at Monza, it provides a big opportunity for his title rivals to make inroads into their championship deficits.
Ferrari will have huge support from their home crowd, the Tifosi, and are also expected to run new engines in Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s cars – but will not suffer grid penalties.
They hope the extra power will get them back to winning ways after disappointment in Hungary and the Netherlands, tracks Ferrari were predicted to be strong at.
Max Verstappen won last year’s Italian Grand Prix and Red Bull could be back towards the front this weekend due to their strong engine.
The F1 Drivers’ Championship ahead of the Italian Grand Prix
Italian GP track – Monza
Monza is one of the four current tracks that feature on the original 1950 F1 World Championship calendar – Monaco, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps being the others – and is known as the Temple of Speed thanks to its long straights.
The prime overtaking spot is into the Turn 1 chicane but the battle often continues through the Curve Grande and into Turn 4.
After that comes two 90-degree right handers, known as the Lesmos, before another long straight towards the Ascari Chicane, then the final corner, commonly called Parabolica.
Italian GP weather in Monza
The current weather forecast suggests rain will not affect the on-track action at Monza with sunny skies across all three days of running with air temperatures at around 30C.
The Tifosi will be out in their thousands to support Ferrari (HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
Italian GP dates, UK start time and Sky Sports F1’s live schedule
Thursday September 3
1pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
4pm: Paddock Uncut
Friday September 4
7.30am: F3 Practice
8.55am: F2 Practice
11am: Italian Grand Prix Practice One (session starts at 11.30pm)*
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
2.35pm: Italian Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 3pm)
4.15pm: The F1 Show
5.20pm: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
Saturday September 5
8.25am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 11:30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Italian Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday September 6
7.10am: F3 Feature Race
8.40am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
How to watch or stream the Italian Grand Prix in the UK and Ireland
Got Sky?
TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 from first practice on Friday morning to the Italian Grand Prix itself on Sunday September 6 at 2pm
App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app – with the option to go onboard with any driver!
Not got Sky?
Stream: Non-Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass
Live blog: Anyone on the move can follow live coverage of the race weekend through our dedicated F1 blog
FREE Highlights: Watch F1 highlights shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app
How to watch the Italian GP on mobile with the Sky Sports app
Sky Sports Subscribers can:
- Download or open the Sky Sports app
- Head to the ‘Watch’ section at 12.30pm for build-up on Sunday, ahead of lights out at 2pm
- Tap on the Sky Sports F1 channel
- Sign in with your Sky iD (*you’ll only need to do this once)
*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD
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Formula 1 heads to Monza for Ferrari’s home race at the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime