Ferrari could be handed an all-red second row for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix after Oscar Piastri was summoned by the stewards over an alleged impeding incident involving Liam Lawson during Q2 at Monza. The McLaren driver qualified third, directly ahead of Charles Leclerc in fourth and Lewis Hamilton in fifth, but now faces the serious possibility of a three-place grid penalty.
Such a decision would promote Lewis Hamilton to fourth place alongside Charles Leclerc on the second row, potentially giving the Scuderia a significantly stronger starting position for its home race. However, Ferrari must first wait for the stewards to complete their investigation and issue a final verdict.
Ferrari wait on Oscar Piastri after tense Monza qualifying
Despite a qualifying session that was anything but straightforward, Ferrari now appears close to securing two cars on the second row. Q3 at Monza ended with Charles Leclerc fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth, although the seven-time world champion had come extraordinarily close to being eliminated in Q2.
Lewis Hamilton reached the final phase by just one thousandth of a second, narrowly avoiding what would have been a remarkable early exit. Charles Leclerc’s fourth position already guarantees the Monegasque driver a second-row start, while Lewis Hamilton could now join him depending on the outcome of the investigation into Oscar Piastri.
The Australian driver, who set the third-fastest time in qualifying, was called before the stewards after allegedly impeding Liam Lawson during Q2. Oscar Piastri appears to be at serious risk of receiving the customary three-place grid drop associated with an impeding offence of this kind.
The final decision remains in the hands of the stewards, so no penalty can yet be considered official. Nevertheless, the available images appear to show the incident quite clearly, leaving McLaren and Ferrari waiting for a ruling that could alter the second and third rows of the Italian Grand Prix grid.
Possible Oscar Piastri penalty could promote Lewis Hamilton to P4
There was also an intriguing element to McLaren’s approach during the final timed run of Q3. Oscar Piastri was effectively used in a supporting role in an attempt to help Lando Norris, although the tactic ultimately failed to deliver the desired result.
That decision could be interpreted as a form of implicit acknowledgement from McLaren that Oscar Piastri was at significant risk of losing his third-place starting position anyway. The team may already have been aware that the number 81 car was unlikely to retain its qualifying position if the stewards concluded that the Q2 incident with Liam Lawson constituted impeding.
For Ferrari, the situation could create a major opportunity. If Oscar Piastri is dropped three places, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton would occupy the entire second row, putting both SF-26 cars in a strong position immediately behind George Russell.
With Kimi Antonelli already forced to start from the back of the grid, having two Ferraris together on the second row could provide the Maranello team with an important chance to attack at its home Grand Prix. The Scuderia will now wait for the stewards’ verdict, with the possibility that the Monza starting grid could become considerably more favourable before the race begins.
Two cars on the second row and within striking distance of George Russell could represent a major opportunity for Ferrari to try to reopen the championship fight in front of the Tifosi at the Italian Grand Prix.
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