2026 F1 Italian GP Schedule: Plan Every Monza and COTA Session
2026 F1 Italian GP Schedule: Plan Every Monza and COTA Session
Monza’s 2026 Italian Grand Prix and the FIA WEC’s Lone Star Le Mans share the same weekend, but they demand very different skills. Formula 1 and Formula 2 will attack Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones, while COTA hosts a six-hour race built around traffic, pit stops, and driver changes.
The 2026 F1 Italian GP schedule includes F1 practice, qualifying, the Grand Prix, and two F2 races from September 4-6. The WEC event runs at Circuit of The Americas on the same dates. Times and coverage can change, so check the official event pages on race day.
The 2026 F1 Italian GP schedule at Monza
Monza is two hours ahead of UTC. The official F1 timetable lists all sessions, support races, ceremonies, and press events.Friday practice and F2 sessions
| Session | Local time | UK time | US Eastern |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2 practice | Fri, Sept. 4, 10:00 | 09:00 | 04:00 |
| F1 Practice 1 | 12:30 | 11:30 | 06:30 |
| F2 qualifying | 14:55 | 13:55 | 08:55 |
| F1 Practice 2 | 16:00 | 15:00 | 10:00 |
FIA Formula 3 and Porsche Supercup also run at Monza. F1 TV Pro carries live coverage in selected markets, while F2 sessions are included in the F1 broadcast package where rights permit.
Saturday qualifying and track position
Saturday begins with F1 Practice 3 at 12:30 local time. The F2 Sprint Race follows at 14:15, with F1 qualifying at 16:00.
The F2 Sprint lasts 21 laps or 45 minutes plus one lap. Its top-ten reverse grid comes from Friday qualifying, creating overtaking chances for drivers starting outside the front row. F1 qualifying lasts one hour and will decide the grid for Sunday’s 53-lap race.
A tow can save time on Monza’s straights, but poor timing can place a driver in traffic. Yellow flags, red flags, and cars slowing to create gaps can also ruin a final flying lap.
Sunday race times at Monza
| Event | Local time | UK time | US Eastern |
|---|---|---|---|
| F2 Feature Race | Sun, Sept. 6, 09:45 | 08:45 | 03:45 |
| Drivers’ Parade | 13:00 | 12:00 | 07:00 |
| Italian GP national anthem | 14:44 | 13:44 | 08:44 |
| F1 Italian Grand Prix | 15:00 | 14:00 | 09:00 |
The F2 Feature Race runs for 30 laps or 60 minutes plus one lap. The F1 race is scheduled for 53 laps or a maximum of two hours. Actual finish times depend on safety cars, red flags, and other delays.
How to watch the 2026 F1 Italian GP and F2 Monza races
F1 TV and regional coverage
The official F1 watch guide confirms live coverage of every session on F1 TV Pro in selected countries. The service also provides live timing, onboard cameras, team radio, commentary, and replays.
In the United States, Apple is the official F1 broadcaster for 2026. Rights differ elsewhere, so check local listings before Friday practice. A broadcaster may show the F1 race live while placing practice or support races on a separate streaming service.
F2 Monza coverage and replays
F2 practice, qualifying, the Sprint Race, and Feature Race can be available through F1 TV and regional F1 rights packages. Check whether your market offers both races live or only as delayed coverage.
When video is unavailable, the official FIA Formula 2 timing page still provides classification, lap times, gaps, and penalties. The FIA Formula 2 Monza page lists the weekend sessions and results.
Time-zone changes and updates
Monza uses Central European Summer Time, while COTA uses US Central Daylight Time. UK viewers should subtract one hour from Monza times and add six hours to COTA times. US Eastern viewers should subtract six hours from Monza times and add one hour to COTA times.
Official F1, F2, Monza, FIA WEC, and COTA pages remain the best places to check changes caused by weather, incidents, or support-race delays.
The key F1 and F2 storylines at Monza
Why Monza rewards low drag and strong braking
Monza’s setup choice is clear but difficult. Teams want low aerodynamic drag for the long straights, yet the cars still need stability under braking and enough grip through the Lesmo corners and Alboreto, also known as Parabolica.
The circuit’s 5.793-kilometre lap includes the long start-finish straight and several slow chicanes. Slipstream can help a driver attack, but it can also make braking harder when a car arrives too close behind another.
The F1 championship battle
The official 2026 F1 standings before Monza show Kimi Antonelli leading on 242 points. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton share second on 183, while Lando Norris has 159 and Charles Leclerc has 155.
| Driver | Points before Monza |
|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | 242 |
| George Russell | 183 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 183 |
| Lando Norris | 159 |
| Charles Leclerc | 155 |
Antonelli holds a 59-point lead over both Russell and Hamilton. Norris arrives after back-to-back wins, while Ferrari faces the pressure of its home race. Reliability, grid penalties, and qualifying execution could matter as much as raw speed.
F2 title pressure and race format
Nikola Tsolov leads Gabriele Mini by 20 points before the Monza round, according to F1’s official weekend preview. Rafael Câmara, Alexander Dunne, Noel León, and others remain within range as the season moves toward its final rounds.
The Sprint uses the reverse top-ten grid and usually rewards early overtaking. The longer Feature Race puts more weight on tire use, pit timing, and clean air. Any mandatory-stop or tire rules should be checked in the final FIA sporting documents.
The WEC 6 Hours of COTA schedule
The event is officially named Lone Star Le Mans, and it is round five of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The official FIA WEC event page lists the following schedule in COTA local time.
| Session | COTA local | US Eastern | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1, Fri | 11:30 | 12:30 | 17:30 |
| Free Practice 2, Fri | 16:00 | 17:00 | 22:00 |
| Free Practice 3, Sat | 11:00 | 12:00 | 17:00 |
| LMGT3 qualifying, Sat | 15:00 | 16:00 | 21:00 |
| LMGT3 Hyperpole | 15:20 | 16:20 | 21:20 |
| Hypercar qualifying | 15:40 | 16:40 | 21:40 |
| Hypercar Hyperpole | 16:00 | 17:00 | 22:00 |
| Six-hour race, Sun | 13:00 | 14:00 | 19:00 |
US viewers can watch every session live and on demand through FIAWEC+, according to the official COTA viewing guide. Other markets should use the FIA WEC “Where to watch” listings.
How endurance racing differs from F1
Each WEC car has multiple drivers who share the race. Teams must manage fuel, tires, driver changes, pit-lane time, and traffic between the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes.
Full-course yellows, safety cars, and slow zones can erase a lead. A car that looks out of contention with two hours remaining may return to the fight after the next pit cycle.
COTA factors that could shape the result
COTA is 5.513 kilometres long with 20 turns. Its steep climb to Turn 1, long back straight, technical middle sector, bumps, and triple-apex Turns 16-18 place heavy demands on brakes and tires.
Heat and track evolution will affect grip across the six hours. Night running may also change visibility and tire behavior. Toyota leads BMW by five points in the Hypercar manufacturers’ standings, while Cadillac seeks its first COTA win on home soil.
Why this weekend matters across motorsport
Sprint racing versus endurance strategy
| Championship | Main priority |
|---|---|
| F1 | Qualifying position, low drag, tire life, race pace |
| F2 | Reverse-grid overtakes, pit strategy, championship points |
| WEC | Reliability, driver changes, traffic, stint control |
The best viewing order
Start with F2 qualifying and F1 Practice 2 on Friday. Saturday’s main targets are the F2 Sprint and F1 qualifying, followed by WEC qualifying and Hyperpole.
Sunday brings the F2 Feature Race, the Italian Grand Prix, and the start and finish of the six-hour COTA race. Use official timing to follow COTA during the long middle hours.
Fan checklist and trusted sources
Save the official timetables, convert times to your location, confirm streaming rights, and set reminders for qualifying and race starts. During the races, watch tire choices, pit stops, driver changes, safety cars, and penalties.
After the chequered flag, check provisional results against confirmed classifications. FIA documents and official F1, F2, WEC, Monza, and COTA updates can change the final points picture.
Conclusion
The 2026 F1 Italian GP schedule brings F1 and F2 to Monza on September 4-6, with F1 qualifying at 16:00 Saturday and the Italian Grand Prix at 15:00 Sunday local time. F2 adds its Sprint at 14:15 Saturday and Feature Race at 09:45 Sunday.
At the same time, WEC’s Lone Star Le Mans runs at COTA, with qualifying on Saturday and the six-hour race starting at 13:00 local time Sunday. Monza rewards speed, braking, and track position. COTA tests reliability, traffic management, and teamwork.
Check the official schedules before each session because times, coverage, and support-category running orders can change. 2026 F1 Italian sabkagyan.in