PREVIEW: All to play for in Round 8 at Monza

Monza plays host to the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA Formula 3 campaign and there’s always drama at the Temple of Speed.

The season's end is rapidly approaching, and Championship is far from decided with Freddie Slater leading Ugo Ugochukwu by eight points heading into this weekend.

Here’s all you need to know about what will be a pivotal weekend in the title fight.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Free Practice gets the weekend underway on Friday morning, with the green light scheduled for 08:35 local time.

Qualifying is split into two groups around Monza, with each group divided by car number and the running order for both groups determined via random draw ahead of Friday.

Group A will begin the grid-setting session at 14:00 local time with Group B following immediately after at 14:20.

Saturday is Sprint Race day and lights out is scheduled for 09:30 local time. Sunday’s Feature Race brings Round 8 to a close, with the race set to get going at 08:15 around Monza.

Pirelli will bring the red-marked Soft compound tyre for the race weekend.

STAT PACK

• The FIA Formula 3 Monza Feature Race has never been won from pole position
• Fourth position is the most successful grid position to have, with the last three winners starting from P4
• Frederik Vesti’s 2020 Feature Race win is the furthest back the Monza Feature has been won from, with the Dane going from P9 to the top step
• Ricardo Escotto is back for AIX Racing for the final two rounds while Alex Powell will see the season out with PREMA Racing

FROM THE GRID – Matteo De Palo, TRIDENT

“It’s a really fast track. It's my home race so it will be a special weekend for me and as usual, it will be a very exciting race.

“Turn 1 is probably the best place to overtake, you just have to send it on the brakes. Qualifying will be crucial. It’s a key point to have a really good tow in Qualifying to achieve a good lap.

“Monza is already special, but with it being my home race, it’s amazing to see and feel the Italian people in the stands, it’s a very nice feeling.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 3 Technical Director

“Monza always presents a unique challenge for the teams and drivers, with the aero demand much less compared to circuits like the previous round in Budapest.

“Straight-line speed is key to being fast and therefore braking and fuel demands are high. The biggest stopping point will be into the chicane that opens the lap.

“We will very likely see a lot of drivers seek out a slipstream in Qualifying however, as we’ve seen in the past, pole position isn’t integral to a good weekend around this famous venue.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

Monza hosts the penultimate round of this year’s Formula 3 championship. As was the case last year, the Soft compound has been selected for the Italian weekend, alongside a carry-over of the Hard compound from the tests conducted at the Madring circuit. Throughout the history of the series, races at Monza have consistently generated front-axle graining. Drivers will therefore need to manage degradation across both axles in order to maintain consistent performance through to the closing stages of the race. However, should track temperatures prove particularly high, as has been the case at previous rounds this season, the graining effect could be reduced.