Ferrari has secured pole position for the 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Monza, with Antonio Fuoco delivering a superb Hyperpole performance in the #50 Ferrari 499P. The Italian driver produced a lap of 1:33.364 in challenging conditions at the historic Italian circuit, beating the #19 Genesis by less than a tenth of a second after a closely contested battle for the top spot.
Qualifying and Hyperpole for both the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories took place on a track that was still far from ideal. Large sections away from the racing line remained damp, while thick cloud cover prevented any sunshine from warming the circuit. Air temperatures stood at just 10°C, with the asphalt measuring 12°C, creating particularly demanding conditions for drivers attempting to extract maximum performance.
While Ferrari claimed Hypercar honours on home soil, the LMGT3 pole position went to the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin, driven by Barrichello, with a best lap of 1:47.065. Both categories produced fiercely contested sessions as drivers battled changing levels of grip and difficult track conditions.
Ferrari dominates early Hypercar qualifying at Monza
The first Hypercar qualifying session began with the circuit still some way from optimum conditions, having been rubbered in only by the LMGT3 cars. All three Ferrari 499P entries were among the first to leave the pits, aiming to find clean air and avoid traffic.
Antonio Fuoco led the group, followed by Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Kubica. The three Ferrari prototypes immediately demonstrated strong pace, progressively lowering their lap times and comfortably securing places in Hyperpole.
Only the #19 Genesis managed to split the Ferrari entries, taking second position in the initial qualifying classification. Both Cadillacs, both Peugeots, one BMW and one Alpine also advanced to the final shootout.
The performance followed Ferrari’s promising preparations for its home event, with the Italian manufacturer’s pace having already attracted attention during Friday’s WEC Monza practice sessions.
Toyota suffers major setback as both Hypercars miss Hyperpole
The two Toyota entries endured a particularly disappointing qualifying session. Having recently secured the Manufacturers’ World Championship and remaining the only contenders for the Drivers’ title, the Japanese manufacturer’s cars could manage only 15th and 16th positions.
Both finished more than a second away from the fastest time, with their performance affected by the Balance of Performance restrictions associated with their dominant season.
Aston Martin also struggled to reach the required level of competitiveness. Although its cars managed to keep pace with their rivals during the first half of the session, their positions deteriorated significantly over the final two laps, leaving them outside the Hyperpole places.
Antonio Fuoco wins thrilling Monza Hyperpole battle for Ferrari
The final Hypercar shootout began much like the earlier session, with all three Ferrari 499Ps leaving the garage first and immediately positioning themselves at the front of the field.
Competition was particularly intense between the three Maranello cars, the #38 Cadillac and the #19 Genesis driven by Julien Andlauer’s team-mate Mathieu Jaminet. The leading positions changed repeatedly as the drivers pushed for every fraction of a second on the cold Monza asphalt.
As the session approached its conclusion, the fight for pole increasingly developed into a duel between Antonio Fuoco in the #50 Ferrari and Mathieu Jaminet in the #19 Genesis.
Ultimately, Antonio Fuoco delivered the decisive lap of 1:33.364, securing Hyperpole for Ferrari by just under one tenth of a second. It was an excellent result for the Italian manufacturer at its home circuit and a particularly satisfying performance in such difficult conditions.
Antonio Giovinazzi also produced a strong qualifying effort, placing fourth in his Ferrari 499P, while Robert Kubica finished eighth in the #83 entry.
The result gave Ferrari pole position for the six-hour race, completing an encouraging qualifying performance ahead of the 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Monza.
LMGT3 qualifying: Ferrari crashes at Ascari as Corvette leads first session
The LMGT3 competitors were the first to take to the circuit during the afternoon, encountering a surface that was still damp in several areas. The dry racing line was extremely narrow, while the kerbs remained particularly treacherous.
As in Hypercar qualifying, the Ferrari 296 GT3 cars were among the first to leave the pits and initially moved to the front of the field.
However, the session quickly took a dramatic turn before the drivers had even completed their warm-up laps. François Hériau, driving the #21 Ferrari, struck the inside kerb at the Ascari chicane, lost control and crashed heavily into the barriers.
The impact caused substantial damage to the front of the Ferrari and brought the driver’s qualifying session to an immediate end.
Once the action continued, the battle for the ten Hyperpole positions remained extremely competitive, with the order changing repeatedly throughout the session.
The two Proton Competition Ford Mustangs delivered particularly impressive performances, finishing second and third behind the #34 Corvette driven by Peter Dempsey.
Both Aston Martins and both Iron Lynx Mercedes entries also progressed, alongside the second Corvette and the #91 Porsche.
McLaren and the surviving Ferrari 296 GT3 struggled for competitiveness, with the Ferrari down in 15th position. The two Team WRT BMWs also failed to qualify among the top ten.
Aston Martin beats Lexus and Corvette to Monza LMGT3 pole
The ten drivers who advanced to LMGT3 Hyperpole immediately began pushing hard, producing another closely fought battle as positions changed frequently.
Three cars emerged as the principal contenders for pole position: the #27 Aston Martin, the #78 Lexus and the #33 Corvette. All three remained competitive throughout the final phase of the session, with the outcome decided by relatively small margins.
Barrichello ultimately claimed the fastest lap in the #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin, stopping the clock at 1:47.065.
The #78 Lexus finished second, 0.458 seconds behind, while the Corvette secured third position with a deficit of 0.472 seconds.
With both Hypercar and LMGT3 qualifying complete, the stage is set for the 6 Hours of Monza. Ferrari will start from pole position in the premier category thanks to Antonio Fuoco’s impressive performance, while Aston Martin heads the LMGT3 field after a demanding afternoon on the cold and partially damp Italian circuit.
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