Monza Awaits: Norris Chasing Victory, Antonelli in Control

Round 13 of the 2026 Formula 1 season rolls into Monza from 4–6 September, with Ferrari’s home race arriving at a moment when the sport’s momentum is beginning to tilt in striking fashion.

Lando Norris, fresh from a chaotic, rain-streaked farewell to the Dutch Grand Prix, arrives in Italy chasing a hat-trick of victories. His win at Zandvoort – his second on the bounce in the first race back from the summer break – did more than add another trophy to McLaren’s cabinet. It underlined that the Briton has stepped decisively into F1’s front rank.

McLaren moved quickly. Norris has now signed a new deal that ties him to the team until the end of the 2030 season, a statement of faith on both sides. As the field heads to the Temple of Speed, there is no doubt about who leads the Woking project.

Yet the championship picture still has a distinctly silver hue.

Kimi Antonelli’s second place for Mercedes in the Netherlands carried just as much weight as Norris’s victory. The Italian extended his lead in the drivers’ standings to 59 points over team-mate George Russell, who completed the podium in third. It was the sort of controlled, points-rich afternoon that wins titles, even when the headlines belong to someone else.

Lewis Hamilton, in Ferrari red at last and back on home soil for the Scuderia, shared that Zandvoort podium too, keeping the tifosi’s hopes alive as Monza looms. For Ferrari, this weekend is never just another race. It is a referendum on their season, played out in front of the most demanding crowd in motorsport.

Monza’s long straights and brutal braking zones will expose every strength and weakness in the current pecking order. Norris arrives with form and a long-term future secured. Antonelli brings a commanding points cushion and the calm authority of a man driving for something bigger than a single Sunday. Russell cannot afford to let the gap stretch any further. Hamilton will feel the weight of red in the grandstands.

Lights go out for the 53-lap Italian Grand Prix at 14:00 BST on Sunday. For Norris, it is a chance to turn a surge into a season-defining run. For Antonelli, it is the opportunity to tighten his grip on a first world title in front of his home fans.