On July 9, Monza hosted the “Aspettando Confartigianato Motori” event, which served as the official presentation of the 2026 Confartigianato Motori Award, scheduled to take place on September 4 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
The evening featured sports journalist Roberto Chinchero, ACI Sport General Manager Mario Isola, and Romeo Ferraris General Manager Michela Cerruti. Together, they discussed the world of motorsport, the importance of Italian craftsmanship, and the close relationship between industry, innovation and racing.
During the discussion, the conversation naturally turned to the 2026 Formula 1 season and the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. When asked about Ferrari’s chances of success at Monza, Roberto Chinchero made a prediction that immediately caught the audience’s attention:
“Ferrari won’t win at Monza.”
Why Roberto Chinchero believes Ferrari will struggle at Monza
Chinchero then expanded on his reasoning:
“I’m saying that because Monza isn’t really Ferrari’s track, just as Barcelona and Silverstone weren’t their tracks last week. This season we haven’t managed to get a single prediction right. Every time we’ve made a forecast, we’ve ended up looking ridiculous. Looking at the 2026 season, we simply don’t have any solid reference points to rely on, and that’s actually a great thing. Every time you think you know how it’s going to end, the exact opposite happens. Honestly, after years of dominance—especially in 2023, when Red Bull won 21 of the 22 races, with Max Verstappen taking nineteen of those victories and getting out of the car barely celebrating anymore because even he was tired of collecting trophies—I think we’re in for a fantastic Monza.”
The veteran journalist also highlighted how Formula 1 has regained enormous popularity over the past few seasons.
“There’s huge interest this year, and I can see it in the television ratings and in the traffic figures for motorsport websites. But I also notice it when I go to a café. There were years when nobody talked about tennis or Formula 1, whereas now both sports have come back in a massive way. That’s why I believe this year’s Monza will be something special. We also have everything we need to see plenty of Italian colours on the podium. I really hope to hear the Italian national anthem at the end of the race. For years we simply weren’t competitive at all. This time, though, I believe there’s a real chance.”
Although Chinchero does not expect Ferrari to claim victory on home soil, he believes the unpredictable nature of the 2026 Formula 1 season could still deliver an unforgettable Italian Grand Prix. With the competitive order continuing to change from one weekend to the next, Monza could once again produce surprises that few are able to predict with confidence.
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