Preview: Alex heads to the Temple of Speed

Hear what Alex has to say as he heads to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix

Published

03 SEP 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

Following the return to racing at Zandvoort, Alex heads to Monza for Round 13 of the 2026 Formula 1 Championship.

The Italian Grand Prix marks the start of the first double header since the summer break, with Monza followed by the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend. As the championship enters another busy stretch of the season, Alex will be looking to build on the positives from the Netherlands when he returns to the iconic Temple of Speed.

With its long straights, heavy braking zones and high-speed corners, Monza presents a unique challenge on the F1 calendar, with finding the right balance between straight-line speed and cornering performance key to a strong weekend.

His thoughts

“Monza is always a special weekend - it’s incredibly fast, the atmosphere is amazing, and so is the Italian food!”

“The long straights and heavy braking zones make finding the right setup really important, while energy management will also be key with the 2026 regs.

“Luke will be in my car for FP1, so it’ll be important to make the most of the rest of the weekend.”

The track

Known as the Temple of Speed, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is one of the fastest circuits on the F1 calendar. Measuring at 5.793km, the track features 11 corners, long straights and heavy braking zones, with drivers spending roughly 75% to 80% of each lap at full throttle.

Some of Monza’s most recognisable sections include the Curva di Lesmo, the Variante Ascari and the high-speed Curva Alboreto, formerly known as the Parabolica. With its unique characteristics, getting the setup right will be crucial for Alex this weekend.

Previous outings

Alex has enjoyed some strong results at Monza during his time with Atlassian Williams F1 Team. After missing the 2022 Italian Grand Prix through illness, Alex returned to the circuit in 2023 and qualified an impressive P6 before finishing P7. He followed that up with P9 in 2024, before another P7 finish in 2025 after making up seven positions from P14 on the grid.

That means Alex has scored points in every Italian Grand Prix at Monza that he has completed with Williams, and he’ll be hoping to add another strong result to his record this weekend.

The weather

It’s set to be hot and sunny this weekend in Monza, with clear skies and light winds on the forecast. Temperatures are expected to reach around 30°C on Friday, rising to 31°C on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday, with no rain currently expected.

With the heat adding another challenge for the drivers and teams, tyre management and energy management could be particularly important across the weekend.

Don’t forget to claim Alex’s latest Fan Passport stamp, with a new Albono arriving in time for the Italian Grand Prix. You can add this week’s stamp to your collection via the link below.

Enjoy the Italian Grand Prix!

The 2026 Italy Albono is ready to collect!