It's Saturday, September 5 and it's almost time for the Italian GP in Monza. Mercedes ace George Russell certainly has his tail up having finished fastest in Free Practice 2. He pipped Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and team-mate and F1 Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who has to start at the back of the grid after taking an engine change.

George Russell set the pace in the final practice session for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, putting Mercedes in a strong position ahead of qualifying at Monza.

Max Verstappen disrupted Mercedes' qualifying plans at Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli aimed to give George Russell a slipstream

Max Verstappen complained over team radio about the behaviour of his RB22 during Q2 of Italian Grand Prix qualifying, reporting that the car felt “broken” at the rear axle.

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen is under threat of a race ban after a fired-up crash with Mercedes rival George Russell late in the Spanish Grand Prix. While Australia’s Oscar Piastri stormed to his fifth victory of the season in a one-two with McLaren teammate Lando Norris, Verstappen’s podium push came to an end after a safety car restart.

Monza: Title chasing George Russell topped the times for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari s Lewis Hamilton in Saturday s third and final free practice at

Pierre Gasly delivered the shock of the season by taking the first pole position of his career for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.