Entertainment

McLaren addresses performance gap as F1 teams prepare for Italian Grand Prix

Driver adjustments, Mercedes engine penalties, and Ferrari strategies headline key questions ahead of Monza.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 07:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

Lando Norris enters the Italian Grand Prix trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while teammate Oscar Piastri works to adjust to low-grip car performance.
Mercedes plans to take a full engine penalty for Kimi Antonelli at Monza due to early-season reliability issues.
The Dutch Grand Prix will be removed from the F1 calendar for the foreseeable future after private organizers opted not to renew under rising fees.

Lando Norris has won the past two grands prix, putting him 55 points and three championship positions ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.[BBC News]
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella stated that Piastri's recent dip in relative performance is technical, stemming from mental effort required to adapt his driving style to low-grip conditions.[BBC News]
Oscar Piastri is under contract with McLaren through the end of the 2027 season.[BBC News]
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that driver Kimi Antonelli will take a new engine at Monza, resulting in a grid penalty intended to optimize performance over the rest of the season.[BBC News]
Kimi Antonelli currently holds a 59-point lead in the F1 drivers' championship ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.[BBC News]
Ferrari maintains a general policy of driver equality, though they instructed Charles Leclerc to yield position to Lewis Hamilton during the Dutch Grand Prix to maximize team points.[BBC News]
Private organizers chose to end the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort due to rising hosting fees, financial risks, and plateauing fan interest.[BBC News]

Whether McLaren will pursue Max Verstappen in the future remains dependent on Red Bull's upcoming performance and contract clauses.[BBC News]