By: The Italian Grand Prix is an important event for Scuderia Ferrari: its home race, an opportunity to be with its fans and feel the public’s affection. We journalists sometimes play our part, but there is nothing more genuine than passion.
Monza speaks for itself. However much a fan may crave victory, however much they may reproach the Scuderia for having gone 18 years without a constructors’ title (the last one coming in 2008), supporters cannot wait to get to the circuit and show their closeness to the team.
Ferrari ADUO: an important step, but not a decisive one
How will Ferrari repay them for their affection? Certainly not by standing still. At Monza, the second ADUO step will make its debut: an upgrade involving the configuration of the turbine blades, which should allow the Maranello team to take a step forward.
An important step, but not a decisive one. Thanks to ADUO, both Hamilton and Leclerc should close the gap to Mercedes, but not catch them, not least because the Stuttgart-based team will itself bring an ADUO update concerning the internal combustion engine.
The opportunity and a possible Mercedes boost
Ferrari’s real opportunity stems from the grid penalties that Antonelli and Russell will have to serve. The sanctions will not stop them: the drivers of the two W17s will recover many positions, but Ferrari have hope. Leclerc and Hamilton have already shown they can be competitive at high-speed circuits such as Spain and Silverstone, but they know Monza could be different.
To have a chance of victory, they will need to deliver a strong qualifying performance and then protect their advantage until the end of the race. The two Mercedes cars will fight back and, should there be any neutralisations or a Safety Car, they will be even more favoured.
Ferrari will nevertheless have a major opportunity, and it will not lie in the ADUO step but in the Mercedes penalties. Calling it a boost before knowing how the contest will unfold may seem premature, but it will be their greatest chance. The men and women of Maranello will have to work hard to make the most of it, but we know that, whatever the result, they will give everything not to disappoint their fans.
Cover and interior photos by Luca Martini / WHYOUT Images
All the news, photos, weather, session times and times from the Italian GP 2026
