The FIA has issued a heat hazard declaration for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with trackside temperatures forecast to exceed 31 degrees Celsius. This alert prompts specific protocols for driver welfare and car management, a situation last encountered during the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Max Verstappen has confirmed his recovery from an illness that affected him during the Dutch Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who retired on the opening lap at Zandvoort, stated he felt better after a week of recuperation.
Verstappen noted the impact from his Zandvoort crash was well absorbed by the safer barrier. He described the entire Dutch Grand Prix weekend as ‘awful’ due to his health, with symptoms persisting for several days post-race.
Isack Hadjar will miss the Italian Grand Prix as he continues to recover from a wrist injury sustained in a training incident. This marks his second consecutive absence, having also sat out the Dutch Grand Prix.
Liam Lawson will again deputise for Hadjar in the RB22 for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Lawson has observed significant differences between the Red Bull and Racing Bull cars, particularly in high-speed grip and balance.
Kimi Antonelli is set to incur a power unit penalty at Monza, resulting in a back-of-the-grid start. This follows reliability issues earlier in the 2026 season, including a power unit failure at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
Antonelli, who is leading the championship by 59 points, stated he has ‘nothing to lose’ and plans a full-attack strategy to recover positions. He acknowledged the need for a measured approach into the first braking zone.
Oscar Piastri is focusing on car experimentation to close the performance gap to McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri reported improved qualifying performance at Zandvoort and aims to translate that into race pace.
Fernando Alonso will wear a special tribute helmet at the Italian Grand Prix, honouring his late mentor and first manager, Adrian Campos. The helmet features a red and yellow design, inspired by Campos’s own racing colours.
Alonso’s decision regarding his Formula 1 future beyond 2026 remains pending, with the two-time world champion indicating his choice hinges on future regulatory changes rather than Aston Martin’s current performance.
Lewis Hamilton has commented on Ferrari’s latest engine upgrade, describing it as a ‘step forward.’ He noted the team had been losing significant time per lap due to power unit performance earlier in the season.
Hamilton expressed confidence in Ferrari’s direction, stating the team now has a ‘North Star’ for development. He aims to secure his first Italian Grand Prix victory as a Ferrari driver, having previously won at Monza five times.
Lando Norris, who recently extended his contract with McLaren until 2030, stated he would be proud to complete his career with the team. He also co-founded a new single-seater racing team, LN4 Fusion, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
Verstappen acknowledged the need to fine-tune the RB22 for Monza, a circuit he considers one of his favourites due to its old-school, fast nature.
Additionally, Lightning McQueen will be present at the Italian Grand Prix to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Cars franchise, completing a lap of the Monza circuit.
