Watch out, Lando Norris! This Monza trophy is ‘fragile’

Now that’s an unusual trophy design! For the home race at Monza, tyre manufacturer Pirelli is not only the title sponsor but has also organised the trophies. The top three finishers in the Italian Grand Prix, as well as the winning constructor, will receive special trophies on Sunday.

A stack of crockery as the Monza trophy

As in previous years, Pirelli is once again bringing a special design to the track in 2026 in collaboration with local artists and the Pirelli HangarBicocca Museum of Contemporary Art in Milan. This time, an Italian artist duo is bringing household items onto the Formula 1 podium. Designers Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino combine irony and contradictions to create art, thereby drawing attention to the complexity of reality, according to Pirelli. Their contribution to Formula 1: a trophy in the shape of kitchen utensils.

Die Trophäen für den Italien-GP

Foto: A. Osio / courtesy Pirelli

The result is called ‘FRAGILE’, meaning ‘fragile’. According to the artists themselves, the idea came from the tradition of passing a trophy (in English, for example, a ‘cup’, as in a drinking vessel) from hand to hand.

The artists explain: ‘We wanted the trophy to be a symbol of victory held in the hands of an individual, yet one that nevertheless reflects the spirit of a community. In the case of Formula 1, this community encompasses the team, the fans and the whole world that revolves around the drivers. With its repeating elements, the composition also evokes everyday life and suggests a victory that is achieved lap by lap and never corresponds to an eternal, unchanging status. It is impermanent, fleeting and must be won anew time and time again. In fact, it is fragile.”

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Lando Norris has a history with trophies

So be careful during the celebrations! The trophy has been 3D-printed using nylon powder and then painted and electroplated, so hopefully it should be able to withstand a few celebrations. But things can get a bit rough on the podium: In 2023, Lando Norris (McLaren) smashed Max Verstappen’s (Red Bull Racing) winner’s trophy in Hungary (though that one was made of porcelain). So watch out, Norris – this trophy is literally fragile!

Lando Norris zerbrach 2023 in Ungarn beim Feiern Verstappens Pokal

Foto: XPB

On the sporting front: as well as the extraordinary trophies, Pirelli is also bringing tyres to Monza, namely the softest compounds ranging from C3 (hard) through C4 (medium) to C5 (soft). All three are likely to play a part in race strategy, provided it doesn’t get too hot. Pirelli’s recommendation: a one-stop strategy for what could be the fastest Grand Prix of the season.

Prediction: 2026 cars 2 seconds faster

Under the new regulations, the cars are forecast to be a good two seconds faster than last year. In 2025, Max Verstappen secured pole position with a time of 1:18.792. Lando Norris set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:20.901. The cars are particularly fast on this high-speed circuit, which spans 5.793 kilometres and features eleven corners. Consequently, the race duration is usually only around 75 minutes.

Pirelli predicts: “In terms of tyres, the front axle should be subjected to lower braking loads, as the braking zones are expected to be approached at reduced speeds. In contrast, the rear axle will be subjected to greater stress during the traction phases, when the powertrain’s full power is utilised. Braking stability and traction when exiting corners – particularly at the first chicane and at Ascari – will be the two decisive factors in gaining an advantage over the competition.”

New kerbs, an asphalted run-off area

With the exception of new kerbs at turns 1, 4 and 8 and an asphalt run-off area replacing the gravel trap at turn 5, no changes have been made to the circuit. The tarmac on this historic circuit was resurfaced in 2024.