Sunday was a non-race day in Formula 1, but there was significant behind-the-scenes movement ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Lando Norris reiterated that he still believes in the title fight after two consecutive victories, Lewis Hamilton urged Ferrari to step up, and Kimi Antonelli evaluated how the difficulties of his rookie season have prepared him to lead the championship in 2026.
Norris arrives in Monza riding high after victories in Hungary and the Netherlands. Fourth in the World Championship standings, 83 points behind Antonelli, the reigning champion cited Max Verstappen’s comeback in 2025 as an example to keep believing as long as there are mathematical chances. The Briton also said on Sunday that he considers his current performance superior to what he showed in the season when he won the title.
Antonelli, on the other hand, remains comfortably ahead. The Mercedes driver has 242 points, 59 more than George Russell and Hamilton, and said that the tough moments he faced in 2025 made him emotionally and mentally stronger. Even with six wins in 12 rounds, the Italian stressed that “the work is not finished yet.”
In Ferrari, Hamilton acknowledged that the team still has “a lot of work ahead” to close the gap to Mercedes. The seven-time champion briefly led the Dutch Grand Prix with an alternate strategy, but finished fourth and admitted that the German team’s cars closed the gap quickly. The management of the two drivers also remained under discussion, with criticisms of the situations involving Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Zandvoort.
Gabriel Bortoleto was also among the day’s highlights as he spoke about his friendship with Verstappen. The Brazilian said the relationship began back in 2021 through simulator work and revealed that the Dutchman was a “demanding teacher,” in addition to having contributed to his development as a driver. According to Bortoleto, the two built a “very beautiful bond” over the years.
At McLaren, Oscar Piastri admitted that he is still trying to understand why he cannot extract from the MCL40 the same pace as Norris. The Australian has not stood on the podium since Miami and finished 32 seconds behind his teammate in the Netherlands, while Andrea Stella attributed part of the recent difficulties to technical issues, including the functioning of the Hard tires and a slow pit stop in Zandvoort.
The driver market also remains busy. Sergio Pérez confirmed that talks with other teams about 2027 had taken place, but said he regards Cadillac as a long-term project and wants to stay with the team. Fernando Alonso, still not confirming his presence on next year’s grid, said that his decision would not depend directly on the performance of the Honda power unit upgrade, giving more importance to the technical direction presented by the project.
Formula 1 returns to the track next weekend. The Italian Grand Prix will be held at Monza from September 4 to 6, with the race scheduled for Sunday, September 6.
