Monza’s Temple of Speed Set for F1 Showdown
The long summer lull is over. On Sunday morning in the United States, Formula 1 slams back into top gear at the place where speed is religion: Monza.
The 2026 Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio D'Italia is set for Sunday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. ET, with every inch of the action live on Apple TV, the exclusive home of F1 in the U.S. this season.
Title fight roars into Monza
The story at the front is clear. It’s still a silver front line.
Kimi Antonelli arrives in Italy with a commanding lead in the drivers’ standings, 53 points clear of Mercedes teammate George Russell. Russell, though, is locked level on points with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, adding a delicious extra layer to a weekend where the Scuderia will feel the weight of a nation on its shoulders.
Monza doesn’t do subtle. The 22-car field will scream past the old banking and under the trees at more than 200 mph, slipstreaming and braking on a knife edge at the ‘Temple of Speed.’ Mistakes here are brutal. Bravery gets rewarded.
And just as Mercedes have looked comfortable, another threat has surged into view.
McLaren’s charge and Norris’ momentum
McLaren arrive with the form team on the grid. Lando Norris, the defending world champion, has taken the last two Grands Prix and dragged the papaya cars right back into the conversation.
Those recent upgrades have bitten. Norris has turned them into trophies.
Monza will test whether that surge is sustainable. Long straights, low downforce, ruthless emphasis on power and efficiency. If McLaren’s package really has the legs, it will show here against the might of Mercedes and the emotion-fuelled push from Ferrari on home soil.
One thing is certain: after a week off, the series is about to ignite again.
How and when to watch the Italian Grand Prix
For fans in the U.S., there’s one way to see it all unfold.
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix from Monza Circuit:
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 6
- Time: 9 a.m. ET
- Venue: Monza Circuit, Monza, Italy
- Live coverage: Apple TV
Every practice lap, every qualifying run, every sprint and every race of the 2026 Formula 1 season airs exclusively on Apple TV in the United States. That includes Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, with full live coverage from lights out to the chequered flag.
Apple TV access for F1 is priced at $14.99 per month and includes a seven-day free trial for new subscribers, giving fans a chance to sample a full race weekend from the comfort of home.
Monza will answer a few big questions. Can Antonelli tighten his grip on the title? Will Russell and Hamilton turn the chase into a three-man fight? Or does Norris turn this championship on its head at the Temple of Speed?
