Samwise F1 Newsletter
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Antonelli charges from 19th to win Italian Grand Prix in front of tifosi
Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the 2026 season's great drives, charging from 19th on the grid to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza for his seventh victory of the year. The Mercedes driver capitalised on a red flag restart — triggered by Charles Leclerc's lap-two Parabolica crash — and a virtual safety car period to work through the field. George Russell finished second and Max Verstappen third. Antonelli, racing in front of an Italian crowd, extended his Drivers' Championship lead over Russell to 66 points, with a maximum of 258 points still available over the remaining season.
Ferrari unravels at Monza as Hamilton declares team has “no rules of engagement”
Ferrari's Italian Grand Prix unravelled at the first corner, where a Turn 1 incident between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc — which Hamilton argued was the result of Leclerc crowding him into the gravel — left him struggling in the midfield. An unexecuted virtual safety car pit stop further damaged Hamilton's race, consigning him to sixth. Hamilton publicly declared Ferrari had “no rules of engagement” between drivers, contrasting the team's approach with his structured experience at Mercedes. Team principal Fred Vasseur faces growing internal pressure, with paddock sources reporting Monza's outcome has “not gone down well” with Ferrari's senior management.
Leclerc crash at Parabolica raises fitness questions ahead of Spanish Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc's Italian Grand Prix ended at Parabolica on lap two, when a heavy crash sent his Ferrari into the barriers and triggered the race's red flag. The incident brought his afternoon to a premature close at Ferrari's home circuit, where the tifosi had hoped for a strong result from the Scuderia. Questions surrounding Leclerc's physical readiness for the following weekend arose immediately, given the severity of the impact. The Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's new Madring circuit is scheduled for September 11–13, leaving Ferrari little time to assess whether their driver could compete.
Russell gracious after Monza podium booing as championship gap extends to 66 points
George Russell finished second in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, collecting vital championship points, but was met with boos from sections of the Italian crowd when he stepped onto the podium — a reception Russell handled with composure. The Mercedes driver now trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 66 points, with a maximum of 258 available over the season's remaining rounds. Russell acknowledged the title fight had become “exceptionally challenging,” but maintained his focus. His Monza podium extended a strong second half of the season for the Briton, who remains Antonelli's closest rival in the Drivers' Championship.
Hadjar to miss Spanish GP with Lawson confirmed in Red Bull for third consecutive race
Red Bull Formula 1 driver Isack Hadjar will miss a third consecutive grand prix, with Liam Lawson confirmed to deputise in the RB22 at the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's Madring circuit. Hadjar has been sidelined since suffering a wrist fracture during the summer break, missing races at Zandvoort and Monza where Lawson scored seventh and fourteenth respectively. Red Bull stated Hadjar's recovery “continues to progress positively” but that he is “not yet ready to return to the cockpit.” With Lawson now focused exclusively on the Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda will continue at Racing Bulls in the Kiwi's absence.
McLaren's Norris admits Mercedes remain “in a league of their own” at power circuits
McLaren's Lando Norris finished fourth at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza but offered a candid assessment of his team's limitations at the power-heavy circuit. Norris conceded that Mercedes remain “in a league of their own” at circuits where straight-line speed is paramount, highlighting a gap McLaren has yet to close. The result underscored the challenge McLaren faces in mounting a serious championship push across all track types — Monza exposed a straight-line deficit that teams with more powerful power units can exploit. Norris and McLaren must hope the new Madring circuit in Madrid this weekend suits their car's strengths more effectively.
Former F1 boss Ecclestone, 95, detained at Portuguese airport carrying shotgun
Former Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, 95, was detained at Tires Aerodrome near Lisbon, Portugal, after security officials discovered a shotgun in his possession for which he lacked the required documentation. Ecclestone, who was travelling from Switzerland with the firearm for clay pigeon shooting, told the Daily Mail he was aware he did not carry the necessary permit. He was held for several hours before the matter was resolved without further legal action. The incident is not Ecclestone's first at an airport — in 2022 he was detained at Viracopos Airport in Brazil after a pistol was found in his luggage.
Sources: Washington Post
Vasseur's Ferrari position under scrutiny as Horner name enters leadership conversation
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur faces difficult questions about his position following the Italian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton directed accountability to the top of the organisation: “Ultimately it comes from the top. It trickles down, decisions. And so, it starts with Fred.” The remarks were framed as a call for Vasseur to take decisive action rather than an appeal for his removal. Nevertheless, Ferrari's senior leadership is understood to have taken a dim view of Monza's outcome. The Race raises whether Christian Horner — who once turned down a personal Ferrari approach — or the team's WEC chief Antonello Coletta might be considered were Ferrari to change direction.
Drivers' Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 266 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 200 |
| 3 | M. Verstappen | 196 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 190 |
| 5 | L. Hamilton | 190 |
| 6 | C. Leclerc | 154 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 135 |
| 8 | C. Sainz | 104 |
| 9 | F. Alonso | 82 |
| 10 | L. Stroll | 52 |
| 11 | N. Hülkenberg | 47 |
| 12 | P. Gasly | 46 |
| 13 | E. Ocon | 38 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 37 |
| 15 | Y. Tsunoda | 35 |
| 16 | A. Colapinto | 25 |
| 17 | O. Bearman | 22 |
| 18 | L. Lawson | 17 |
| 19 | I. Hadjar | 12 |
| 20 | J. Doohan | 8 |
| 21 | A. Antonelli | 0 |
| 22 | S. Sargeant | 0 |
| 23 | K. Magnussen | 0 |
Constructors' Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 466 |
| 2 | McLaren | 325 |
| 3 | Red Bull | 225 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 344 |
| 5 | Aston Martin | 134 |
| 6 | Alpine | 84 |
| 7 | Haas | 59 |
| 8 | Racing Bulls | 52 |
| 9 | Audi | 37 |
| 10 | Williams | 25 |
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