Formula 1 journalist Ralf Bach believes there is a clear desire within the championship for Ferrari to perform strongly at Monza, where the Scuderia will contest its home race in front of hundreds of thousands of passionate supporters. Although he dismissed any suggestion of improper assistance, Bach argued that almost everyone without a direct competitive interest would like to see the Italian team deliver at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix.
Ferrari is expected to arrive at Monza with its next engine upgrade, giving the development particular significance at a circuit where power-unit performance is traditionally crucial. Mercedes and Red Bull may possess packages better suited to the demands of the high-speed venue, but the possibility of a competitive Ferrari remains one of the most compelling storylines surrounding the weekend.
Why Ferrari success at Monza matters to Formula 1
The Italian Grand Prix represents the most important race of the season for Ferrari’s Tifosi. Attendance for the 2026 event is expected to reach between 300,000 and 370,000 fans, transforming Monza into the championship’s largest annual celebration of the Maranello team.
Ferrari drivers have stood on the top step of the podium at Monza a record 20 times. That history, combined with the circuit’s setting in the Lombardy woodlands and its close association with the Scuderia, makes a strong home performance especially valuable to Formula 1.
The Italian manufacturer has participated in every World Championship season since Formula 1 began in 1950. Its identity has consequently become inseparable from the championship itself, and the enormous global following behind the Prancing Horse means that its success can benefit the wider appeal of the series.
That relationship is particularly visible at Monza. A competitive Ferrari can transform the atmosphere around the Italian Grand Prix, while victory provides one of the most recognisable and emotionally charged scenes in Formula 1.
Ralf Bach expects widespread support for Ferrari at Monza
During an episode of the F1-Insider podcast, journalists Alex Warneke and Ralf Bach discussed Ferrari’s planned engine development for its home race. The Maranello team is conducting intensive reliability work before introducing the 2026 Monza engine upgrade, which is intended to improve its competitiveness without compromising durability.
Introducing an important technical package at the Italian Grand Prix is not a new strategy for Ferrari. Bach acknowledged that bringing upgrades to Monza was once considered normal practice for the team and recalled the jokes that previously circulated about Ferrari supposedly arriving with a four-litre engine while its rivals used three-litre units.
He emphasised that those stories were never true. Instead, they reflected a historic perception that stewards might be more forgiving when Ferrari brought new components to its home event because of the exceptional place the team occupies within Formula 1.
Bach maintained that there was no reason to suspect any underhand activity. However, he considered it obvious that people throughout the championship wanted Ferrari to present itself well at Monza, because Formula 1 recognises the significance of seeing its most historic team fighting at the front or winning in Italy.
He clarified that this broad group effectively included everyone without a direct competitive reason to oppose Ferrari, naturally excluding employees of Mercedes and other rival teams.
Ferrari faces a circuit that could favour Mercedes or Red Bull
Public support alone will not overcome the technical demands of the 3.6-mile Monza circuit. Its long straights, heavy braking zones and emphasis on power and aerodynamic efficiency could make the 2026 cars produced by Mercedes or Red Bull particularly effective on the Italian track.
Ferrari’s upgrade programme could therefore become decisive in determining whether the Scuderia can challenge its rivals in front of the Tifosi. The team is attempting to increase performance while avoiding the reliability problems or component penalties that could undermine Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the second half of the season.
Monza is scheduled to host the Italian Grand Prix on 6 September as the 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. For Ferrari, the weekend will bring together competitive ambition, technical development and the expectations of its largest home crowd.
Whether the Italian team can overcome the apparent suitability of the Mercedes and Red Bull packages remains uncertain. What Bach considers far clearer is the widespread hope, beyond Ferrari itself, that the championship’s oldest and most famous team will give the Tifosi a performance worthy of the occasion.
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