George Russell set the pace in the final practice session at the 2026 Formula 1® Italian Grand Prix, posting the fastest lap ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The session took place at Monza, with teams fine-tuning their setups just before qualifying.
Russell recorded a best time of 1:22.219, benefiting from slipstreaming alongside teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton followed closely in second place, 0.226 seconds behind, aided by a tow from McLaren’s Lando Norris. Max Verstappen completed the top three, despite Red Bull Racing still facing some handling challenges.
The session also saw Kimi Antonelli deliver a strong performance in fourth place, although he will start the race from the back of the grid due to an engine penalty. Antonelli’s pace was notable, but he made a mistake at the final Parabolica corner during a soft-tyre run. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri placed fifth and eighth respectively, with Piastri expressing frustration over multiple lock-ups. Rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed by finishing seventh for Racing Bulls, ahead of Piastri.
Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten, showing signs of regaining midfield competitiveness. Meanwhile, Aston Martin and Cadillac were positioned near the back of the field. The session also featured Ferrari running a special 1996-inspired livery as a tribute to Michael Schumacher’s debut season.
Red Bull’s difficulties with car handling were still evident, highlighted by Liam Lawson’s spin during the session and Verstappen’s performance. The final practice session provided teams with valuable data ahead of qualifying, reflecting the close competition among the leading drivers and teams at Monza.
This session’s results offer insight into the current form of several drivers and teams, with Mercedes showing strong pace, Ferrari maintaining competitiveness, and Red Bull working through ongoing challenges. The Italian Grand Prix weekend continues to develop as qualifying approaches.