7 moments you might have missed at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix

Monza delivered another dramatic Sunday, with the Temple of Speed bringing plenty of action throughout the 53-lap Italian Grand Prix.

On track, home race hero Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes took a spectacular victory from 19th on the grid, ahead of team mate George Russell and Max Verstappen of Red Bull, whilst Charles Leclerc’s race came to an early end on Lap 2 after the Ferrari driver crashed at the exit of the Parabolica as he fought McLaren's Oscar Piastri for position, bringing out the red flags.

However, those weren’t the only stories from the Italian weekend – here are some moments you may have missed…

In the name of Michael

Thirty years on from Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari debut, Monza provided the setting for a particularly special tribute to the seven-time World Champion courtesy of another German great.

Ahead of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel – who raced for the Scuderia between 2015 and 2020 - returned to the wheel of Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002, taking the iconic car around Monza in front of the Tifosi.

The F2002 remains one of Ferrari’s most successful cars, taking 15 victories across the 2002 and 2003 seasons, but it was the unmistakable sound of its V10 engine that really turned heads around Monza.

“There is still a race to win, for my friend Michael,” Vettel wrote on social media.

Piazza Del Duomo is red – again!

Nothing says Italian Grand Prix weekend more than a Piazza Del Duomo in Milano full of Tifosi in red.

Ferrari fans once again had the chance to show all their love and support to their favourite drivers in an entertaining afternoon with Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and some special guests.

What better way to celebrate with fans than some modern music and a special DJ, with such an iconic backdrop?

South Korean DJ, Peggy Gou, was the star of the musical entertainment, and Leclerc decided to give it a shot too...but after his attempt at spinning the decks, perhaps it’s better if the two-time Italian GP race winner sticks to driving cars.

And for such a special day, a special guest was needed. And who is more special than a mother?

Hamilton chose to share this moment with his mum as Linda enjoyed a deserved response from the crowd with one of the biggest cheers of the day for her and a true Tifosi welcome to Italy.

The seven-time World Champion said of his mum being in Italy: "And my mum’s here this weekend because she’s never experienced — she’s never actually, I don’t think, been to Monza — but also particularly on a Ferrari weekend. And I wanted her to experience that and, you know, bring any of the lucky dust she can bring."

A smooth operation in Venice

The smooth operator himself, Carlos Sainz, swapped the race suit for a more elegant one to wear on the red carpet of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

The Williams driver seems at ease in the glamorous scene of Venice, making a statement appearance for Danny Boyle's new film Ink, wearing Giorgio Armani on the red carpet as he was accompanied by his partner Rebecca Donaldson.

Lightning McQueen turns 20

The Disney-Pixar blockbuster Cars turns 20 this year, and to celebrate this special anniversary, the seven-time Piston Cup champion Lightning McQueen landed in Monza.

While the famous movie car didn’t race in the Italian Grand Prix, the Safety Car marked the 20th anniversary with a special livery. For some of the drivers, it was a dream come true to meet their childhood hero in the paddock. Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto couldn’t resist getting closer to Lightning McQueen.

A special helmet for a special race

It was a home race weekend for Kimi Antonelli with the Italian driver arriving in Monza as the leader in the drivers’ standings, and he could not miss the chance to wear a special helmet in front of his home crowd.

Antonelli was inspired by Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi for its design, creating a new personalised version of the helmet the Doctor wore at the 2002 Mugello Grand Prix.

It featured the Italian flag, vignettes of Italian daily life (including an espresso cup and a slice of pizza), a sun, the sea, a family and then – at the back – two cartoon figures: one Antonelli, the other Rossi.

Kimi Antonelli becomes a...duck

In what proved to be aa memorable weekend for Antonelli, he also entered the Disney universe for one of the most unique moments of his career.

A cartoon version of himself, Kimi Paperelli, made its debut in a series of stories in Topolino magazine this weekend, all set in the world of Duckburg.

Speaking exclusively to F1.com, Joss Hastings, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Disney Consumer Products, explained why Antonelli was the perfect fit for the collaboration.

“Fuel the Magic is all about bringing Disney storytelling into the world of Formula 1 in unexpected and creative ways. Seeing Kimi become Kimi Paperelli is especially meaningful knowing that he grew up reading Topolino and loving Donald Duck."

When in Italy…

In a typical Italian tradition, Barilla chose to bring the Formula 1 family together for a special dinner: a moment to slow down, enjoy good food and good company before all the racing action.

For one evening, F1's Official Pasta Partner transformed the starting grid into a unique dining room, complete with an F1-inspired menu. Diners were treated to a three-course meal, with each course presented as a different 'lap'.

Few dinner reservations come with a view quite like this.