In this article we take you through the F1 news of Wednesday 2 September 2026, so you are up to speed again. Monza dominates the agenda before a wheel has even turned, with grid penalties and engine tokens doing all the talking. Away from the technical arguments, a junior team launch and an old contract filled out the rest of the day.
Hadjar Ruled Out Again, Now for Monza
Isack Hadjar will sit out a second straight race weekend as his wrist injury still has not cleared in time for Monza. Red Bull’s willingness to wait rather than rush him back only works because the reserve options behind him keep delivering. Liam Lawson gets another chance at Monza, and the longer this drags on, the more it looks like a real dent in Hadjar’s season rather than a footnote.
Ferrari’s Engine Token Lands, Red Bull Cries Foul
Ferrari will fit a new engine upgrade at Monza, its reward for an ADUO ranking that still marks its power unit down as one of the weakest on the grid. That the same system calls Red Bull’s engine the benchmark while Red Bull keeps losing races is the contradiction David Coulthard picked apart in his criticism of the ADUO ruling. A test that only measures horsepower and ignores deployment hands Ferrari a free pass dressed up as progress.
Pirelli Goes Soft, Don’t Expect Fireworks
Pirelli has nominated the softest compound selection of 2026 for Monza, pairing C3, C4 and C5 at a track that barely stresses tyres anyway. The choice is about keeping drivers in a usable window at high speed, not about manufacturing extra stops. Anyone banking on a strategic lottery this weekend should lower their expectations before Sunday.
Mercedes’ Engine Pool Runs Dry
Kimi Antonelli will start his home race from the back after Mercedes confirmed a grid penalty for a fifth engine, with the upgraded unit not due until the American leg of the season. George Russell is one mechanical hiccup away from the same fate, which is why David Coulthard argued Mercedes should take the hit at Monza now rather than somewhere less forgiving. Monza is the cheapest circuit on the calendar to absorb a penalty, but doing it to the championship leader at his own race is still an awkward look.
Russell Admits Mercedes Is Racing on Hope
George Russell has said Mercedes’ championship lead now rests on an upgrade package that has not arrived, with nothing meaningful added to the W17 since May. Norris has taken pole and won the last two races in a row, which makes Mercedes’ points cushion look increasingly like a head start rather than current form.
Miami Grand Prix Gets a New Name
Hard Rock will replace Crypto.com as title sponsor from 2027, turning the race into the Formula 1 Hard Rock Miami Grand Prix. Given Hard Rock already owns the stadium naming rights and the paddock’s Beach Club, this reads less like a new partner arriving than a landlord finally putting its name above a door it already owns.
Norris Launches His Own Junior Team
Lando Norris has co-founded a junior single-seater outfit called LN4 Fusion, hiring Rene Rosin away from Prema with F2 the eventual target. Building a driver pipeline while still fighting Piastri for status at McLaren suggests Norris is planning for a career that outlasts this particular title fight.
Marti Thrives After Red Bull Let Him Go
Pepe Marti has signed a contract extension with Cupra Kiro in Formula E after a rookie season that brought two podiums. Another Red Bull junior finding success elsewhere is a quiet reminder of how much talent the pathway discards before it ever reaches F1.
Sainz Explains His Williams Loyalty
Carlos Sainz has signed a new multi-year deal with Williams, pointing to unseen progress behind the scenes as his reason for staying. That is not an easy claim to verify from outside the factory, and Williams currently sits closer to Cadillac than to the podiums Sainz collected last year.
Ben Sulayem’s Bias Defence Backfires
Mohammed Ben Sulayem tried to dismiss claims of FIA bias against Argentina after Zandvoort, only to reveal that British fans make the same complaint. If every fanbase believes the stewards are against them, inconsistent stewarding looks like the simpler explanation than any single conspiracy.
Free practice for the Italian Grand Prix opens this weekend at Monza, where Hadjar’s absence, Ferrari’s new engine token and two grid penalties finally get tested on track. Check the F1 calendar for the full schedule.
