The 2026 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix is ready to begin at Monza, with Pierre Gasly starting from a remarkable pole position and Ferrari poised immediately behind the leaders. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will line up together on the second row for the 53-lap race, which is scheduled to start at 15:00.
Welcome back to all ScuderiaFans.com readers and Formula 1 fans for our live coverage of the most important part of the Italian Grand Prix weekend. After the formation lap, the drivers will tackle 53 laps of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza as round 13 of the 2026 Formula 1 season gets underway.
2026 F1 Italian GP live: Pierre Gasly starts from pole
Against virtually every pre-weekend prediction, Gasly will start the Italian Grand Prix from pole. The French driver stunned his rivals with his final Q3 lap, denying George Russell what had appeared to be a strong opportunity to secure first place on the grid.
Russell had received a slipstream from Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli and looked to be heading towards pole before Gasly produced the decisive lap. The Alpine driver will therefore lead the field away at the Temple of Speed, with Russell alongside him on the front row.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton give Ferrari a second-row lockout
Ferrari occupies the entire second row, with Charles Leclerc third and Lewis Hamilton fourth. The two Scuderia drivers gained a position after Oscar Piastri was penalised for impeding, putting both SF-26s directly behind Gasly and Russell for the start.
The result also leaves Ferrari within a relatively small pace margin of Russell heading into the Grand Prix, creating several potentially interesting scenarios for the race. The Maranello team had approached its home weekend hoping to improve the SF-26’s competitiveness at Monza, with Charles Leclerc having already assessed Ferrari’s engine and floor upgrades for the Italian Grand Prix.
With Leclerc and Hamilton both starting near the front, the opening run towards the first chicane could immediately become one of the key moments of Ferrari’s race.
Championship leader Antonelli faces Monza recovery drive
Attention will also be firmly on championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver will start from the back of the grid and must do everything possible to limit the damage during the Italian Grand Prix.
That adds another major variable to an already unpredictable race. Gasly will attempt to convert his surprise pole into a major result, Russell starts as his immediate challenger, while Ferrari has both Leclerc and Hamilton close enough to take advantage of any opportunity that develops.
Who will come out on top at the Temple of Speed? Follow the minute-by-minute video coverage and join the discussion as the 2026 Italian Grand Prix unfolds at Monza.
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