You can barely walk a few steps around the Formula 1 paddock at Monza without seeing a reminder that the circuit is the legendary “Temple of Speed.” But in 2026, that reputation could take a hit. Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, much of the conversation has centred on how the racing will unfold — and just how slow the cars could be.
Key Points for F1's Future at Monza
- Monza could be slower than Hungary despite its long straights
- F1’s 5MJ energy harvesting limit is creating a major challenge
- Super clipping and energy management could trigger more “yo-yo racing”
- Oscar Piastri expects the Italian GP to be chaotic and unpredictable
Why Monza could be slower than Hungary
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri revealed that his team’s simulations showed its car reaching lower peak speeds at Monza than at Hungary, despite the Hungaroring being a far slower and more technical circuit. The problem comes down to Monza’s huge number of straights and relatively few corners. Drivers spend almost 80% of the lap at full throttle, meaning the cars can quickly drain their electrical reserves while having limited opportunities to recharge.
F1’s energy problem is back in the spotlight
The issue is closely linked to the 2026 power unit regulations, with almost half of the car’s power coming from its electrical system. To prevent excessive lift-and-coast and super clipping, the FIA has limited how much energy can be harvested to 5MJ per lap.
While that helps prevent drivers from constantly cutting power down the straights, it also means they have less electrical energy available to deploy — ultimately hurting top speed. “At a circuit like this, you've got a problem no matter which direction you go,” Piastri explained.
If the harvesting limit were higher, drivers could suffer from even more aggressive super clipping and potentially lose 30-40km/h at the end of the straights. But with the current limit, the cars simply don't have as much energy available to use.
Super clipping could shape the Italian GP
Energy management has already been one of the more controversial aspects of the 2026 F1 season. Lift-and-coast has been part of Formula 1 since the hybrid era began in 2014, but drivers are now having to manage their electrical energy much more frequently.
Super clipping is particularly unpopular because the system can suddenly slow the car down while the driver is still at full throttle, well before the traditional braking zone. That has affected some of the most challenging corners on the F1 calendar, while creating a new dynamic in wheel-to-wheel racing.
Different approaches to deploying and harvesting energy have also produced more overtaking this season. However, some of those moves have been less about driver skill and more about which car has more battery energy available. At Monza, that could lead to even more “yo-yo racing”, with cars gaining and losing performance depending on their energy levels.
Piastri predicts a chaotic race
The unusual racing dynamics could make the Italian Grand Prix particularly unpredictable. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has previously defended the increase in overtaking, arguing that “overtaking is overtaking”, while the debate around super clipping has continued among fans.
Piastri, meanwhile, expects the race to be anything but straightforward. “I think the race is going to be chaos, especially at the beginning.” With multiple long straights offering opportunities to deploy electrical energy, the McLaren driver believes the combination of energy management and overtaking could produce an “extraordinary” race.
Whether that makes Monza more exciting or simply more artificial remains up for debate — but one thing appears certain: the 2026 Italian Grand Prix is unlikely to be a quiet one.
