Jannik Sinner: Confirmation Arrives That Changes the Weekend

The rumor that had been sparking fans’ imaginations in recent days has been confirmed by reliable sources: Jannik Sinner will be in Monza on Saturday, during the Italian Grand Prix weekend. The news was revealed by Flavio Briatore, executive advisor at Alpine, who announced that the world’s number-one tennis player will be in attendance on the day of the third free practice session and qualifying.

Until yesterday, the idea of Sinner appearing at the “Temple of Speed” was merely speculation fueled by fan groups on social media and a few rumors circulating among insiders. His absence from the U.S. Open, due to a knee injury, had opened up a window of possibility, but a concrete confirmation was still missing. That confirmation has arrived. It was Briatore—a legendary figure in Formula 1 and now a key strategist for Alpine—who dispelled all doubts: Sinner will be present on Saturday at Monza.

The announcement immediately set the scene abuzz, because the South Tyrolean champion’s presence is never a coincidence. Sinner loves F1; he lives it with genuine passion, and whenever he can, he heads straight to the paddock to soak up the atmosphere of the big races. Sinner’s presence, therefore, is no mere social nicety: the champion has long been linked to Ferrari and is friends with Kimi Antonelli, the World Championship leader and star of a season that is capturing global attention.

Sinner’s last appearance at a Formula 1 Grand Prix was in Abu Dhabi in 2025, when he and his partner, Laila Hasanovic, decided to attend the season’s final race as spectators—the race that crowned Lando Norris world champion. His visit to the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza for the Italian Grand Prix could become a symbolic moment for fans across Italy, who are already ready to fill the stands at the Brianza circuit.