The Ferrari ‘jinxes’ Piastri
Despite a far from straightforward qualifying, Ferrari seems one step away from securing a double second row on the grid. The Q3 in Monza ended with Charles Leclerc in fourth position and Lewis Hamilton in fifth, after the Englishman came within a thousandth of what would have been a shocking and unbelievable elimination in Q2.
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Piastri finished Q2 in P2 but it looks likely he’ll be penalised for this incident involving Lawson#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/RGzzEeqyql
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 5, 2026
The second row is therefore certain for the Monegasque driver but it could also become a reality for the seven-time world champion: the author of the third fastest time, Oscar Piastri, has indeed been summoned by the stewards and seriously risks receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson during Q2. Naturally, the stewards’ assessment on the matter will have to be awaited, but the images seem to quite clearly confirm the infraction committed by the Australian McLaren driver.
Read more Wolff: “Verstappen very clever, he ruined Russell’s lap, we underestimated him”
Penalty incoming
An implicit admission of guilt has in a way also come from the papaya team, which in the last timed lap of Q3 used Piastri as a ‘wingman’ to try – unsuccessfully – to help Lando Norris, probably aware that #81 would not have been able to keep his grid position anyway. Now Ferrari awaits the verdict: two cars in the second row, ready to hunt down Russell, with Antonelli forced to start from the back of the grid, could represent a great opportunity for the Maranello team to try to reopen the World Championship right at the home GP.
Read more Hamilton: “Poor execution in Q3”
