Monza has already delivered plenty of action ahead of qualifying. Ferrari started their home weekend strongly, with Charles Leclerc topping FP1 ahead of Lewis Hamilton. However, Mercedes and George Russell responded in FP2 to put Mercedes at the top.
Russell carried that momentum into FP3, once again setting the fastest time. Lewis Hamilton was just 0.226s behind the Mercedes, with Max Verstappen completing the top three. Antonelli was fourth, but regardless of the qualifying result, an engine penalty will see him start from the back of the grid.
Behind the front runners, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc remain firmly in the fight. The grid is close, as the top 12 drivers were separated by less than a second in FP3. The session also saw some tense moments between Hamilton and Verstappen, with the pair coming close to colliding at the end of the session.
Off track, the Monza paddock has been equally busy. Alpine’s Flavio Briatore and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella had a heated dispute at the press conference. The dispute came following the FIA Court of Appeal’s decision over the Monaco GP result.
With Ferrari chasing a home victory and Antonelli’s championship rivals handed a major opportunity, qualifying at Monza is set to be one to watch.
Join us for live coverage of the 2026 Italian GP Qualifying session.
Italian GP Qualifying
Ended
Ended 5 September, 2026, 7:43 pmUpdated
Coverage has ended
Annika Rosler
Take a bow, Pierre Gasly
First pole position for the Frenchman at Monza
Annika Rosler
Lock up for Piastri
Australian locked up, and that’s his final Q3 lap gone and he needs to hope his banker lap was good enough
Annika Rosler
Cars heading out for final laps of Q3
With over a minute to go, all is at play for Monza as Out Laps are underway, racing to the line for final flying laps
Annika Rosler
Final minutes of Q3
Everyone are in the pits at the moment with just over 3 minutes to go
Annika Rosler
Russell is currently on provisional pole
With 8 minutes to go George just reported he is struggling with the car despite the provisional pole
Annika Rosler
Q3 underway!
All 10 cars are out on track getting early banker laps in
Annika Rosler
Could Piastri have a grid penalty coming his way?
With his incident with Liam noted by the stewards Oscar might have a grid penalty coming his way for tomorrows race.
Annika Rosler
Out in Q2
Annika Rosler
That was too close
Nearly a collision between Red Bull and McLaren. Meantime Piastri-Hülkenberg incident is noted
Annika Rosler
Cars heading out for the final minutes of Q2
Annika Rosler
5 minutes to go
Currently in danger zone
Hamilton
Bearman
Lawson
Hülkenberg
Sainz
Ocon
Annika Rosler
Timed laps coming in
Piastri currently fastest with 6 minutes to go and top 4 separated by tenth and a half
Annika Rosler
Track getting busier
Under 10 minutes to go, and everyone is heading out for out lap
Annika Rosler
Slow start to the session
Currently only 3 cars on track with 11 minutes to go of Q2
Annika Rosler
Q2 is getting underway
Cars heading out for early lap in Q2
Annika Rosler
Out in Q1
Annika Rosler
Alonso out of the car
With around a minute to go, Alonso is out of the car and out of Q1
Annika Rosler
Under 4 minutes to go
Quiet track as Lawson is the only one out on track currently
Annika Rosler
Danger zone
With under 7 minutes to go currently Hülkenberg, Albon, Bottas, Alonso Stroll and Perez in the danger zone
