Samwise F1 Newsletter
Friday, September 4, 2026
Ferrari Leads 1-2 in FP1 at Monza as Hamilton and Leclerc Head Italian GP Practice
Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari 1-2 in the opening practice session of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Friday, with Charles Leclerc finishing second. The result arrived as Ferrari ran its upgraded ADUO2 power unit in competition for the first time, with Hamilton expressing confidence ahead of the weekend. The Maranello team confirmed the new engine marks its second development upgrade of the season, permitted under 2026 regulations for manufacturers deemed behind the benchmark. McLaren, which has debuted its rotating H-Wing rear wing at Monza this weekend, had a more subdued session as teams prepare for Saturday qualifying at the Temple of Speed.
Antonelli to Start Italian GP from Back of Grid After Mercedes Fits New Full Power Unit
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid at his home Italian Grand Prix after Mercedes fitted a new full power unit, exceeding the driver’s season allocation. Toto Wolff confirmed that Antonelli will take “the full thing,” meaning replacements of multiple power unit components — each carrying a five-place penalty — ensuring he starts last at Monza. Mercedes chose the Italian circuit because of its overtaking opportunities, giving Antonelli the best chance to recover through the field. Despite the penalty, Antonelli, who leads the Drivers’ Championship by 59 points, has promised to go “full attack” in Sunday’s race.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Ferrari Introduces Upgraded ADUO2 Power Unit at Italian GP for Hamilton and Leclerc
Ferrari introduced its upgraded ADUO2 power unit for both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix, marking the team’s second engine development under 2026 regulations. The upgrade was permitted after Ferrari was deemed to be behind the benchmark manufacturer in an earlier ADUO review. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the new unit features improvements aimed at closing the gap to the leading engines. A new Shell fuel formulation also accompanies the hardware changes this weekend, with the combined upgrades expected to deliver a meaningful performance gain on Monza’s power-sensitive circuit. Hamilton expressed optimism about the team’s Monza prospects ahead of qualifying.
Sources: Motorsport.com
McLaren Debuts Rotating H-Wing at Monza as New Low-Drag Device Enters Competition
McLaren debuted its rotating H-Wing rear wing device in competition at the Italian Grand Prix, deploying the upgrade at Monza after first testing the concept during practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The H-Wing functions as a low-drag rear wing system that can rotate between configurations for cornering and straight-line speed. Ferrari and Red Bull had both introduced similar devices earlier in the 2026 season, but McLaren’s version joins the field at Monza. Oscar Piastri noted that despite the upgrade, McLaren’s simulations showed the car was hitting lower peak speeds than in Hungary, due to the circuit’s significant electrical energy demands over its high-throttle layout.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Antonelli to Sacrifice Qualifying Lap to Tow Russell at Monza Despite Back-of-Grid Penalty
Kimi Antonelli has confirmed he will assist teammate George Russell in Saturday’s qualifying session at Monza, using his free run from the back of the grid to provide a tow on the long straights. Antonelli, who carries a back-of-grid penalty for his power unit change, will forego his own optimal qualifying lap to help Russell maximise his grid position. The tow strategy is particularly valuable at Monza, where slipstreaming between cars can deliver significant lap time gains. Russell is among the title contenders fighting for a strong qualifying result ahead of Sunday’s race, with the British driver level on 183 points with Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship.
Sources: Sky Sports F1
Hadjar Ruled Out of Italian GP with Wrist Injury as Lawson Returns to Red Bull for Second Race
Isack Hadjar has been ruled out of the Italian Grand Prix with the wrist injury that also forced him to miss the Dutch Grand Prix, with Liam Lawson taking his place at Red Bull for a second consecutive race. Hadjar sustained the injury while boxing during the summer break, taking a cautious approach to recovery, with Red Bull only deciding on Wednesday to keep him sidelined after he failed to meet medical clearance. Lawson reached Q3 for the first time as a Red Bull driver at Zandvoort and finished seventh, and hopes to build on that result at Monza. Yuki Tsunoda returns to Racing Bulls in place of Lawson.
Sources: Motorsport.com
FIA Declares Heat Hazard for Italian GP After Forecasts Predict 31°C Heat Index at Monza
The FIA has declared a heat hazard for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza after receiving a forecast predicting the heat index will exceed 31.0 degrees Celsius during the race. Temperatures are expected to remain above 30 degrees throughout the weekend, with Sunday’s race likely to begin in conditions around 33 degrees as a heatwave continues over northern Italy. Drivers will be given the choice between wearing a cooling vest or having an equivalent 0.5 kilogram of ballast added to their cars. Cooling vests were planned to become mandatory for drivers but remain optional after pushback from the driver community over comfort and effectiveness.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Mercedes Confirm Russell Will Take Engine Grid Penalty at Future Race, with Baku the Likely Venue
Mercedes have confirmed that George Russell will take a grid penalty for exceeding his power unit allocation during the 2026 season, though the team has not yet decided which race to serve it. Russell switched to his fourth internal combustion engine of the year in Hungary after the sump on his power unit was cracked in qualifying, leaving Mercedes resigned to a future penalty. The Baku City Circuit is considered a likely candidate for Russell to serve the penalty due to its long straight and overtaking opportunities, similar to Monza. Russell will not join teammate Antonelli at the back of the grid this weekend.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Three Rookies Set for Italian GP FP1 as Herta, Browning and Aron Step In at Monza
Three rookie drivers will take part in opening practice at the Italian Grand Prix, with teams fulfilling mandatory FP1 obligations under 2026 regulations. Colton Herta will drive for Cadillac in place of Sergio Pérez, continuing a planned programme of F1 mileage for the American, who serves as the team’s test and development driver. Luke Browning will step into the Williams for Alex Albon, marking his second mandatory rookie FP1 session of the 2026 season. Paul Aron will replace Pierre Gasly at Alpine for his fourth practice appearance of the year and his second with the French team. Each driver will hand the car back ahead of second practice.
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 | F. Colapinto | 19 |
| 12 | O. Bearman | 18 |
| 13 | O. Lindblad | 17 |
| 14 | N. Hülkenberg | 8 |
| 15 | G. Bortoleto | 8 |
| 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 |
After Round 12 — Dutch Grand Prix
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 |
After Round 12 — Dutch Grand Prix
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