The week of the Italian GP started busy in Formula 1. Oliver Bearman appeared in a delicate situation involving his future at Haas and his connection with Ferrari, while Red Bull set a deadline to decide whether Isack Hadjar will be able to return to the car in Monza or if Liam Lawson will continue replacing the Frenchman.
Read more F1: Lawson points out big difference between Red Bull car of 2025 and 2026
According to information from Auto Motor und Sport reported by F1MANIA.NET, Bearman has a contract with Haas only until the end of 2026 and his link with the Ferrari Academy should end in 2027. Without a guaranteed spot in Maranello, where Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton occupy the seats, the Briton may face an important decision about his career. Haas has already evaluated Rafael Câmara, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Ryo Hirakawa, and the Brazilian remains among the alternatives considered by the team.
At Red Bull, Hadjar’s situation will be clarified by Wednesday. The Frenchman missed the Dutch GP due to a wrist fracture, allowing Lawson to return to the main team and finish seventh. The New Zealander stated this Monday that he found the 2026 car much more manageable than the model he drove during his short stint at Red Bull in early 2025.
Max Verstappen’s moment also drew attention. Even after renewing with Red Bull until 2030, the four-time world champion arrives in Monza having gone 12 weekends without a win, his last victory being at the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP. The team appears as the fourth force in the championship, despite its Red Bull-Ford power unit being pointed out as a reference among the combustion engines evaluated by the FIA.
In the title fight, Guenther Steiner considers that Lando Norris’s reaction came too late. The McLaren driver won in Hungary and the Netherlands but is still 83 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. For the former Haas boss, the gap and Mercedes’ ability to manage its drivers make a comeback by the current champion unlikely.
Read more F1: Montoya criticizes Mercedes for decision involving Russell and Antonelli
Ferrari is preparing a special weekend at its home race. The SF-26 will have a look inspired by the 1996 F310 to mark the 30 years since Michael Schumacher’s first season with the team, while Hamilton and Leclerc will also wear special overalls and kits, with seven stars representing the titles won by the German.
Honda, in turn, confirmed that drivability of its new power unit specification will be a priority for Monza after Fernando Alonso’s criticisms. Off the track, Imola continues to be considered an alternative to host the season decision if problems in the Middle East prevent the last scheduled rounds in the region from taking place.
Formula 1 returns to the track between September 4 and 6 for the Italian GP, the 13th round of the 2026 season, at the traditional Monza circuit.
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