Samwise F1 Newsletter
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Antonelli to start from back at Monza after Mercedes power unit change
Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid at the Italian Grand Prix after the team opted to fit a fresh power unit at Monza. Antonelli heads into the weekend 59 points clear of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings. Team principal Toto Wolff justified the decision on strategic grounds: “Our calculations say that that’s the best track to take it. Algorithms don’t take their nationality into consideration. We’re here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR.” Monza’s long straights are expected to suit the Mercedes power unit.
Hamilton calls on Ferrari to execute better as Scuderia trails Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has called on Ferrari to “execute better” as the Scuderia enters the second half of the season trailing Mercedes by 87 points in the constructors’ championship. Hamilton heads into the Italian Grand Prix tied on points with George Russell for third in the drivers’ standings, but behind on countback of wins. Ferrari’s continued strategy struggles at Zandvoort contributed to Hamilton dropping to joint-third, level with his former Mercedes team-mate. The gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli stands at 59 points, with Ferrari targeting improvement in race execution as the season reaches its critical phase.
Norris emerges as renewed title threat after back-to-back Hungarian and Dutch wins
Lando Norris has emerged as a renewed threat in the Formula 1 championship after consecutive victories at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix. The McLaren driver arrives at Monza 83 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli with 11 races remaining. Formula 1’s Italian GP preview highlighted McLaren’s resurgence, noting the back-to-back wins have altered the championship picture as Norris attempts to overhaul the Mercedes driver. Norris and McLaren have also committed long-term to each other, further signalling confidence in the team’s direction ahead of a crucial second half of the season.
Hadjar faces Wednesday fitness cut-off to race at Monza with wrist fracture
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar is in a race against time to recover from a wrist fracture ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Hadjar missed the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with Liam Lawson stepping in to finish seventh and claim six points for Red Bull. The Red Bull driver has a Wednesday medical cut-off to prove his fitness for Monza and said he is confident of making the race. “Healing fast, I’m hopeful for Monza,” Hadjar told Crash.net. Should he fail his fitness assessment, Lawson is expected to continue as Red Bull’s stand-in at the Italian Grand Prix, which begins September 4.
Lawson impresses as Red Bull stand-in at Zandvoort, keeps Monza option open
Liam Lawson’s impressive stand-in performance at Zandvoort has kept him in the mix at Red Bull, according to Formula 1’s Italian GP preview. Stepping in for the injured Isack Hadjar, Lawson qualified on row four alongside Max Verstappen and finished seventh in the race despite limited practice mileage. Formula 1 noted the result was significant given his lack of time in the current car. Yuki Tsunoda also returned to Racing Bulls for the Dutch Grand Prix and narrowly missed the points. Should Hadjar miss Monza, Red Bull is expected to use the same driver line-up as Zandvoort.
FIA confirms four Straight Mode zones at Monza under 2026 active aero rules
The FIA has confirmed four Straight Mode zones for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza under the 2026 active aerodynamics regulations. The designated zones cover the main straight, the approach to Variante della Roggia, the run from the second Lesmo to Variante Ascari, and the exit from Ascari to the Parabolica. The Overtake Mode system, available to drivers within one second of the car ahead, delivers an additional 0.5 MJ of electric energy. According to Formula 1 News, Ferrari is reportedly bringing its ADUO-2 power unit upgrade to Monza, an engine specifically designed to maximise performance in the new deployment zones.
Sources: Formula 1 News
Ferrari to honour Schumacher with special suits for Hamilton and Leclerc at Monza
Ferrari will pay tribute to Michael Schumacher at the Italian Grand Prix with special race suits for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. According to Formula 1’s five storylines preview, the 2026 Italian Grand Prix marks 30 years since Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 and 20 years since his final Ferrari victory at Monza, where he also announced his first retirement. Hamilton and Leclerc’s suits will feature Schumacher’s iconic logo and seven stars, representing his seven world championships. Ferrari described the tribute as inspired by Schumacher’s impact on the racing world and his enduring mindset.
Button backs Alonso to remain in Formula 1 beyond 2026 despite no Alpine seat
Former world champion Jenson Button has backed Fernando Alonso to remain in Formula 1 beyond 2026, with the Spaniard’s 2027 plans still unconfirmed. Button told Crash.net: “I hope he’ll stay a little longer.” Alonso remained non-committal: “My life and F1 will always be my life.” With Alpine’s 2026 line-up of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto in place, no Alpine opening exists for the Spaniard. Alonso currently races for Aston Martin in 2026 and has not announced his plans for 2027, leaving his future in the sport undecided with only 11 races remaining in the current season.
2027 driver market largely settled with Verstappen, Norris and Sainz all signed
The 2027 Formula 1 driver market is largely resolved ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Formula 1’s Italian GP preview confirmed Max Verstappen has extended his Red Bull deal until at least 2030, while Lando Norris committed long-term to McLaren. Williams signed Carlos Sainz to a multi-year contract alongside Alexander Albon. Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad are expected to remain at their Red Bull-family seats. Haas is among the few teams with open positions, with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon competing for seats. Fernando Alonso’s 2027 plans at Aston Martin remain publicly unconfirmed.
Albon confident Williams will recover from difficult 2026 campaign
Williams driver Alexander Albon has expressed confidence that the team will recover from a difficult 2026 campaign, describing it as a “blip” he hopes will not define the season. Albon and Williams have endured a six-race pointless streak and the team was the only one to miss the pre-season shakedown. Despite the setbacks, Albon told Crash.net he remains committed to the team’s factory improvement programme. “This year is, what I’m hoping, a blip,” Albon said. Williams team-mate Carlos Sainz is also under contract on a multi-year deal, giving the team stability as it works to address its performance difficulties.
Drivers' Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 242 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 183 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 183 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 159 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 155 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 112 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 104 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 68 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 49 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 44 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 23 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 19 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 18 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hülkenberg | 6 |
| 16 | C. Sainz | 6 |
| 17 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 18 | E. Ocon | 3 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 0 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | S. Pérez | 0 |
Constructors' Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 425 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 338 |
| 3 | McLaren | 263 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 186 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 66 |
| 6 | Alpine | 63 |
| 7 | Haas | 21 |
| 8 | Audi | 16 |
| 9 | Williams | 11 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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