Monza rewind: Three memorable moments from the Italian Grand Prix
02 September 2026As Formula 1 returns to Monza for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, we’re looking back at three of the most memorable races from the track’s history. From championship-defining collisions to fairytale wins in front of the Tifosi, Monza rarely disappoints…
1. 2021: Hamilton and Verstappen clash as Ricciardo and McLaren return to the top
After Saturday's Sprint, the smart money was on Valtteri Bottas cruising to victory, until engine-related grid penalties dropped him down the order. That left Daniel Ricciardo to share the front row with Max Verstappen, leading the Red Bull driver away at the start with Lewis Hamilton in third.
The race reached fever pitch when Hamilton emerged from the pits just ahead of Verstappen, and the pair collided at the first chicane, sending Verstappen's Red Bull over the top of Hamilton's Mercedes.
With the two title rivals eliminated on the spot, the McLarens of Ricciardo and Lando Norris seized their chance, delivering the team's first win since 2012.
For Ricciardo, the win came after a difficult period with McLaren. He led the race from start to finish, and after a 1,204-day wait, the Australian was back on top of the podium for the final time.
2. 2019: Leclerc gives the Tifosi something to cheer for
The 2019 Italian Grand Prix was Charles Leclerc’s first as a Ferrari driver, and, having just taken his first F1 victory at Spa the race prior, the Tifosi were eager with anticipation.
Leclerc was in imperious form all weekend, topping both practice sessions before converting that pace into pole position. But, in the race itself, the Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas kept the Tifosi on tenterhooks for the duration.
The Monegasque had to fend off both Hamilton and Bottas at different stages of the race, but Leclerc held his nerve to take victory in front of the passionate home crowd, and Ferrari's first victory at its home race since 2010.
3. 2008: Vettel's maiden victory
Long before he became a four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel produced one of Monza's most surprising results when, in just his first full season in Formula 1, the German claimed a shock pole position for Toro Rosso. That made him, at 21 years and 72 days old, the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history at the time.
When the Safety Car finally made its way back into the pit lane, Vettel stormed clear of the field, making an early, confident switch to wet tyres which only bolstered his advantage.
Vettel dominated through the treacherous conditions to beat McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen by 12.5 seconds, taking his and the then-named Toro Rosso team’s first-ever F1 victory.
