Wednesday brought important news for Formula 1 on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix. Isack Hadjar was officially ruled out of the Monza stage due to a wrist injury, Ferrari confirmed a new specification for its power unit, and Kimi Antonelli will have to start his race from the back of the grid at home.
Hadjar still feels pain after the injury sustained during the summer break, and for this reason Red Bull decided not to risk his return. Liam Lawson will continue alongside Max Verstappen in the main team, while Yuki Tsunoda will stay with the Racing Bulls with Arvid Lindblad. The team stated that it is closely monitoring the Frenchman’s recovery and will only authorize his comeback when there is safety for it.
Ferrari arrives in Monza with a notable technical update. Frederic Vasseur confirmed that the SF-26 will use the latest specification permitted by the ADUO system for the power unit. The team principal stressed that the objective is to gain marginal advantages while also delivering a flawless weekend in front of the tifosi, in a race weekend that will also pay tribute to Michael Schumacher.
In Mercedes, Antonelli already knows he will face an even bigger challenge at home. The championship leader will take a fifth power unit and will start from the back of the grid, a decision taken because Monza offers more opportunities for recovery. However, the team will not yet use the upgrade authorized by ADUO, which is expected to arrive only in a United States round in October.
The situation also moves the title battle. Antonelli sits on 242 points, while Lando Norris trails by 83 after victories in Hungary and the Netherlands. Jolyon Palmer considers the gap still sizeable and also questions whether McLaren will be able to reproduce in Monza the form shown on the last two tracks, precisely because the Italian circuit’s characteristics are different.
The Mercedes boss also notes that Antonelli will have to navigate an even tougher challenge at home. The championship leader will take a fifth power unit and will start from the back of the grid, a decision made because Monza presents more opportunities for recovery. However, the team will not yet deploy the upgrade authorized by ADUO, which is expected to arrive only at a United States round in October.
The Italian Grand Prix will be contested from Friday, the 4th, to Sunday, the 6th of September, in Monza, as the 13th round of the 2026 season.
