Mercedes’ George Russell absolutely lit up Friday practice at Monza, clocking in a blazing 0.120 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the Scuderia’s home turf. This is Round 13 of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and it’s kicking off with a bang. Oh, and did I mention the FIA has already declared the Italian Grand Prix a heat-hazard race? Yeah, it’s gonna be a scorcher! Friday practice saw highs of 34C, with Saturday expected to hit 35C and Sunday’s 53-lap main event looking at 33C. This track action is gonna be dry, no rain in sight, just pure heat and speed.
Norris Keeps Rolling, Red Bull’s Headaches Continue
Man, Lando Norris is on a heater right now! He just snagged his second win in a row at the Dutch Grand Prix, right after the summer break. And get this: McLaren locked him down with a brand new contract that keeps him with the team until the end of the 2030 season. That’s a huge commitment, right? Meanwhile, Red Bull is still dealing with some bad luck. Isack Hadjar is out for a second straight race because of a wrist injury, so Liam Lawson is stepping in again. And Lawson’s spot at Racing Bulls? That goes to reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda. It’s a constant shuffle!
The Home Team’s Fight and What’s Next
So, Russell’s teammate Kimi Antonelli is starting Sunday’s race from the back with a grid penalty, thanks to a new engine. Talk about a tough break. He was only 0.021 seconds behind Leclerc in practice, so the pace is there. Last year, it was Max Verstappen on the top step of the podium in Monza, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri behind him. Can Ferrari find some extra pace at home to challenge Russell? That’s what we’re all looking for.
Lights out for the race is set for 14:00 BST on Sunday. You can catch all the action, including commentary, across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. And for the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is live on BBC iPlayer and YouTube. With these insane temperatures and Russell’s early pace, this race could be absolutely wild. You don’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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