Formula 1 heads to Monza this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix, one of the truly iconic races on the calendar and a race that always promises drama, high speeds and passionate Tifosi support.
Lando Norris arrives as the man to beat on the back of two straight wins at the Hungarian and Dutch GPs, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces a tough weekend after picking up a grid penalty that will see him start from the back. Ferrari will also be looking to give the home crowd something to celebrate, and with Monza traditionally producing some of the most unpredictable races of the year, we should be in for a proper occasion at the “Temple of Speed”.
DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the Drivers’ Championship comfortably on 242 points, however his grid penalty this weekend means he will have work to do to keep his advantage growing. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are tied for second on 183 points apiece, with Lando Norris up to fourth on 159 following his back-to-back wins, and Charles Leclerc rounding out the top five on 155.
The bookies still see Antonelli as the clear favourite for the title at 1.28, with his big points lead firmly in his corner. Norris has shortened dramatically after his recent wins and is now next in the market at 9.00. Russell and Hamilton are both trading at 13.00, while Leclerc drifts out to 26.00 as a genuine long shot from here.
Click here for betting on Drivers Championship winner
CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Mercedes are cruising to the Constructors’ Championship, sitting on 425 points and holding an enormous 87-point buffer over second-placed Ferrari on 338. They are now trading at just 1.08 to lift the crown, while Ferrari have drifted out to 8.00. McLaren find themselves third on 263 points and are out at 21.00. This one really does look done and dusted.
Click here for betting on Constructors Championship winner
Motorsport Money Back
Minimum odds of 1/1 required to qualify.
Single/ Straight bets only.
Pre-match bets only.
Free Bets do not count towards this offer.
Refund must be claimed within 24 hours of the tournament finishing.
Refund limited to 1 refund per customer per event.
Free Bet vouchers received must be used within 7 days.
Max refund per account per day in Free Bets:
- Max refund per account per day – R5,000
- Max refund for Black card members per day – R7,500
- Max refund for Super Black card members per day – R10,000
Free Bets terms and conditions apply.
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘Motorsport Money Back’ within 24 hours of the tournament ending.
Last Race – Dutch GP 2026
The Dutch GP at Zandvoort was won brilliantly by Lando Norris, who took his second victory in as many races to keep his late-season momentum going. Kimi Antonelli came home second for Mercedes, with George Russell third in the sister car to make it a double podium for the Silver Arrows. Lewis Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari, ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc in fifth and Oscar Piastri in sixth for McLaren. It was another disappointing race for Max Verstappen on home soil, with the Red Bull driver retiring from the race.
Italian GP 2025
Last year’s Italian GP was won by Max Verstappen for Red Bull, in what was a superb drive from the reigning champion at the time. Lando Norris came home second for McLaren, with team-mate Oscar Piastri third to make it a double podium for the Woking outfit. Charles Leclerc came home fourth for Ferrari in front of the Tifosi, with George Russell fifth for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton rounding out the top six.
Circuit
Monza is one of the most historic circuits on the F1 calendar and rightly earns its nickname as the “Temple of Speed”. The layout is dominated by long, flat-out straights and a handful of heavy braking zones, which puts a massive premium on straight-line speed and top-end power. Low downforce is the name of the game here, and any team that gets the aero balance right for Monza tends to have a real advantage across the weekend. The Tifosi always create a fantastic atmosphere, and slipstreaming and DRS make overtaking very much on the cards. Expect a fast, exciting race with drama not far away at any moment.
BETTING (2026 Italian GP) – Click here to bet
Lando Norris (Mclaren) 2.60
George Russell (Mercedes) 3.10
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 6.00
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 6.00
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 13.00
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 15.00
Betting and Verdict:
With Antonelli picking up a grid penalty and starting at the back of the grid, there is surely going to be a different winner this weekend, and who better to back than the driver who has won each of the last two races. It has taken a while for Norris to really find his form, but a dominant drive at the Hungarian GP followed up with another solid drive at the Dutch GP saw him win back-to-back. McLaren also seem to get the aero package right each year for Monza, as we saw last year with their cars finishing 2nd and 3rd. We think Norris stands a great chance this weekend and we like him at 2.60 to make it three wins in a row.
Suggested bet: Lando Norris to win at 2.60.
This one may be a bit of a long shot, but the way he has been driving this year we really could see it happening. Kimi Antonelli will start at the back of the grid come Sunday, but at Monza anything can happen. A sudden red flag or a perfectly timed safety car could see him all of a sudden right near the front, and if he gets that opportunity there is no doubt he will pounce. The Italian driver will also be looking to put on a solid performance in front of his adoring home fans, which only adds to the appeal.
Suggested Bet: Kimi Antonelli top 3 at 4.30.
Click here for all Italian Grand Prix Betting Markets
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
