Thirst in pole position at Monza: a deca for a spritz
A spritz for ten euros can quench even the Germans’ thirst. To say the least. But fortunately, inside the Monza Autodrome, which is hosting the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, there are also free water dispensers. And starting Friday, given the extremely high temperatures in the “Lung of Brianza,” they were literally swamped by the huge crowds in attendance: a true record for a three-day event that proved highly spectacular—but also decidedly hot—right from the start.
After all, the large turnout was widely anticipated. The 2026 Italian Grand Prix was shaping up to be a record-breaking event even before the start, with Kimi Antonelli leading the World Championship and a competitive Ferrari ready to make its move in front of its home crowd. An explosive combination, capable of drawing fans from all over Italy and abroad, transforming Monza into the world capital of motorsports for an entire weekend.
And the tracks lived up to expectations right from the first timed lap. In the first free practice session, Ferrari surprised everyone with a memorable one-two finish: Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of 1:23.008 on medium tires, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while George Russell finished third in his Mercedes. This show of strength immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the crowds in the stands at the Temple of Speed.
In the afternoon, however, Mercedes responded decisively. In the second free practice session, it was Russell who stole the show, clocking a time of 1:22.559 and finishing 120 thousandths of a second ahead of a nevertheless satisfied Leclerc. The Monegasque driver left the paddock with a smile, aware that the SF-26 still has room to improve ahead of qualifying. Further back, however, Red Bull struggled: Max Verstappen didn’t go beyond ninth place, with Liam Lawson in twelfth.
Among the expected stars of the weekend is, of course, Kimi Antonelli, who will, however, have to contend with a penalty for replacing his power unit, which will force him to start from the back of the grid in the race. During free practice, the young driver from Bologna focused almost exclusively on race pace, finishing third in FP2 and demonstrating consistency and reliability despite the challenging circumstances.
Meanwhile, in the stands and in the paddock, the festivities have already begun. Among the most popular initiatives is PizzAut, a project involving young people with autism that is back at Monza this year with an expanded setup: three pizza buses, three food trucks, and twenty young people working in the paddock, fan zones, and surrounding areas. One of the new features is a pizza dedicated specifically to Antonelli, made with ingredients chosen directly by the driver from Bologna. In short, both inside and outside the racetrack, the 2026 Italian Grand Prix is already much more than just a race.
