Charles Leclerc | F1 News

🇳🇿 Erik van Haren reports that Liam Lawson has also received a power unit change this weekend, with the new unit already fitted and used during FP3.

As a result, Lawson will also take a grid penalty and start Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix from the back.

3️⃣ His immediate priority is to make it into Q3, where he could then play a crucial role in helping Max Verstappen through slipstreaming tactics. Lawson has already indicated that Red Bull will discuss a plan for qualifying.

#ItalianGP26 | Poll
@charlesleclerc

FP3 is officially over, with a trouble-free session for the field.
Next up: qualifying.

Top 10 in FP3:

1 🇩🇪 George Russell — 1:22.219
2 🇮🇹 Lewis Hamilton — +0.226
3 🇦🇹 Max Verstappen — +0.350
4 🇩🇪 Kimi Antonelli — +0.361
5 🇬🇧 Lando Norris — +0.406
6 🇮🇹 Charles Leclerc — +0.489
7 🇮🇹 Arvid Lindblad — +0.505
8 🇬🇧 Oscar Piastri — +0.803
9 🇫🇷 Pierre Gasly — +0.877
10 🇫🇷 Franco Colapinto — +0.882

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🏳️ The third and final practice session is now underway.

We’ll keep this post updated with all the key moments and noteworthy developments.

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🏳 The first day of the race weekend is over.

Top 10 in FP1:

1 🇮🇹 Charles Leclerc — 1:23.008
2 🇮🇹 Lewis Hamilton — +0.173
3 🇩🇪 George Russell — +0.304
4 🇦🇹 Liam Lawson — +0.425
5 🇩🇪 Kimi Antonelli — +0.636
6 🇬🇧 Lando Norris — +0.711
7 🇮🇹 Arvid Lindblad — +0.794
8 🇩🇪 Gabriel Bortoleto — +0.998
9 🇫🇷 Franco Colapinto — +1.020
10 🇬🇧 Oscar Piastri — +1.176

Top 10 in FP2:

1 🇩🇪 George Russell — 1:22.559
2 🇮🇹 Charles Leclerc — +0.120
3 🇩🇪 Kimi Antonelli — +0.141
4 🇬🇧 Lando Norris — +0.384
5 🇮🇹 Lewis Hamilton — +0.457
6 🇬🇧 Oscar Piastri — +0.469
7 🇮🇹 Arvid Lindblad — +0.790
8 🇺🇸 Oliver Bearman — +0.811
9 🇦🇹 Max Verstappen — +0.818
10 🇮🇹 Yuki Tsunoda — +0.896

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🏳️ FP2 is underway!

We’ll be updating this post throughout the session as interesting moments unfold.

🏳 UPD 1: Session end.

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

⚡️ The Monaco Grand Prix result has been changed once again.

The FIA International Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of McLaren and Red Bull, reinstating Pierre Gasly’s two five-second penalties for pit-lane speeding.

As a result, Gasly is classified seventh, while Isack Hadjar is back on the podium in P3. Oscar Piastri returns to fourth, with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad moving back to fifth and sixth respectively.

The verdict follows a lengthy appeal process after Alpine initially had Gasly’s penalties rescinded through a Right of Review.

#MonacoGP26
@charlesleclerc

🏳️ The first practice session of the Italian Grand Prix is officially underway!

We’ll be updating this post throughout the session as interesting moments unfold.

🏳️ UPD1: Virtual Safety Car deployed. Colton Herta has stopped on track following a message from the team.
🏳️ UPD 2: Red flag.
🏳️ UPD 3: Green flag.
🏳 UPD 4: Session end.

There are four driver changes for the session (FP1):

🇦🇹 Ayumu Iwasa replaces Max Verstappen
🇺🇸 Luke Browning replaces Alex Albon
🇫🇷 Paul Aron replaces Pierre Gasly
🇺🇸 Colton Herta replaces Sergio Perez

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇮🇹 The 2026 Italian Grand Prix is almost here, as Formula 1 heads to the legendary Monza circuit for another high-speed weekend.

⏱ Here is the complete Formula 1 schedule for the Monza weekend, with every session listed in both local time (CEST) and UTC for viewers around the world.

Date: Friday, September 4
Session: Free Practice 1
Local time: 12:30 PM–1:30 PM, Monza time
International time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM UTC

Date: Friday, September 4
Session: Free Practice 2
Local time: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, Monza time
International time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM UTC

Date: Saturday, September 5
Session: Free Practice 3
Local time: 12:30 PM–1:30 PM, Monza time
International time: 10:30 AM–11:30 AM UTC

Date: Saturday, September 5
Session: Qualifying
Local time: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, Monza time
International time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM UTC

Date: Sunday, September 6
Session: Race
Local time: 3:00 PM, Monza time
International time: 1:00 PM UTC

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇮🇹 Kimi Antonelli will take a grid penalty for a power unit change and will start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid.

The Mercedes driver will take his fifth power unit of the season, triggering an automatic back-of-the-grid penalty.

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

🇫🇷 Isack Hadjar will miss the Italian Grand Prix at Monza as he continues to recover from his wrist injury.

Red Bull will retain the same driver line-ups as at Zandvoort. Liam Lawson will once again step up to the senior team alongside Max Verstappen, while Yuki Tsunoda will continue to substitute for Lawson at Racing Bulls.

@charlesleclerc

🇺🇸 According to Sports Business Journal, Nike is in talks with Formula 1 and Cadillac over a potential partnership.

The American brand was last involved in F1 between 1996 and 2002 through a sponsorship deal with Michael Schumacher.

🤩 Hints of a possible return emerged during the off-season, when Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were pictured together wearing Nike Dunk Low “Panda” sneakers. At the Miami Grand Prix, Nike also gifted Cadillac CEO and his wife exclusive Dunk Lows featuring the team’s branding.

#rumors
@charlesleclerc

🇦🇹 Kym Illman has shared a photo of the Red Bull garage in Monza. Isack Hadjar’s name and image are already displayed on the team’s garage, but a final decision on whether he will race will still be made at the very last moment.

🇫🇷 Isack also spoke about his injury:

“It’s actually the first injury of my life and my career. It’s strange being on the sidelines, and neither I nor the team likes it. Of course, I want to be out there for every lap.

The fact that there is no swelling is very positive. It’s a good sign. Recovery is actually going well. My mobility is improving little by little every day, and I’m expecting to race in Monza.”

#ItalianGP26
@charlesleclerc

⚡️ Lando Norris has committed his future to McLaren, signing a new contract that will keep him with the team until at least 2030.

After nine years with McLaren, Norris will continue to lead the team into a new era as they look to build on their recent success and fight for more Championships.

🇬🇧 Lando Norris:

“McLaren is my home, and I’m very pleased to be signing a new contract to keep me with the team until at least 2030. When I started this journey nine years ago, I was clear about the goals I wanted to achieve: to get McLaren back to the front and to win Championships. We’ve achieved that goal, but we want more; we want to keep on winning, and we know as a team that we’re capable of achieving it. I can’t wait to get back in the car in Monza, and I’m very excited about what the future holds for us, both over the rest of this season, and in the coming years.”

@charlesleclerc

🇫🇮 Today, August 28, Valtteri Bottas celebrates his 37th birthday — the experienced Finnish Formula 1 driver and current Cadillac racer.

🇫🇮 Bottas made his Formula 1 debut with Williams at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most successful drivers of his generation, recording 10 Grand Prix victories, 67 podium finishes and 20 pole positions. He finished runner-up in the World Championship twice, in 2019 and 2020, during his five-year spell with Mercedes. In 2026, Bottas returned to the Formula 1 grid with Cadillac for the team’s debut season.

🏆 Career Statistics & Results:
• Debut Season: 2013
• Total Grands Prix: 258
• Race Wins: 10
• Podium Finishes: 67
• Pole Positions: 20
• Total Points: 1797

#achievements
@charlesleclerc

🇦🇷 Franco Colapinto will remain with Alpine for the 2027 Formula 1 season.

As previously reported, Alpine had an option to extend the Argentine driver’s contract for another year, and the team has now exercised it.

“I am very pleased to remain with this team in 2027. I feel very happy and very settled here, and it’s been even better that we have made significant progress this year compared to last. We have a lot more milestones to reach, and I know the team is working so hard to find performance and make the car better and better.

Our long-term goals are obvious — to compete and win — and I am grateful to the team, Flavio and Steve, for the trust placed in me to be one of its drivers going into the future. I’m looking forward to seeing how everything plays out and focusing on my job on-track first and foremost.”

@charlesleclerc

🇪🇸 Real Madrid has joined the Spanish Grand Prix at MADRING as a Local Event Supporter for the inaugural race, taking place on 11–13 September.

According to the organisers’ press release:

“The agreement brings together the most successful football club with one of the most prestigious, popular and influential sporting events on the international stage, which will take place in Madrid. There is also an interesting coincidence: Real Madrid City and the northern section of MADRING are located next to each other in Valdebebas, with just 200 metres separating the circuit’s northern entrance from the main gates of Real Madrid City.”

Real Madrid will also be represented in MADRING’s hospitality areas during the race weekend.

Atlético de Madrid is also a Local Event Supporter of the Spanish Grand Prix under a five-year agreement.

#SpainGP26
@charlesleclerc