7 September 2026 13:00 (UTC)
Flyovers, outstanding outfits and good food: Behind the scenes at Monza
Allow us to take you behind the scenes of the Italian Grand Prix and deep into the paddock, with our regular post-race wrap-up. Covering all the action you might have missed, we'll explore everything from the outfits that caught our attention to the strongest snaps and the standout quotes.
Dubbed ‘The Temple of Speed’, Monza is one of the most historic and iconic tracks in Formula 1, and the 2026 edition was another storied entry into its annals with a Grand Prix full of hard racing and plenty of position swapping.
After back-to-back wins for Lando, we were expecting a tougher challenge on Monza’s long straights and sweeping corners, and that’s how it proved, with LN1 finishing in P4 and Oscar right behind in P5.
Off the track, our fans turned out in force for one of the most colourful crowds in the calendar as we made more memories in Monza…
A highlight of any visit to Italy is always the food, and we made sure it was no different for Oscar and Lando in Monza this weekend.
First on the menu was getting hands-on with some pasta to try and replicate the famous Monza track. Bucatini, thankfully cooked, was the pasta of choice as our duo did their best to recreate the Temple of Speed.
Monza’s long straights certainly helped the cause, but Oscar was keen to get the corners just right, and Lando even made sure to include sector lines. Now that is attention to detail.
Sticking to the food theme, we also challenged Oscar and Lando to design their perfect Italian menu. Welcome to Lando e Oscar Ristorante! It’s fair to say it would be quite a varied menu if they really did open up their own trattoria at McLaren Technology Centre, as they firmly disagreed with each other’s opinions.
Lando went for some burrata, spaghetti bolognese AND spaghetti carbonara (hopefully not at the same time!) before finishing with ice cream, while Oscar kept it classic with prosciutto, penne bolognese and tiramisu. We think they both sound great and reckon there would be quite the queue waiting for a table.
If our duo were not aligned on their gastronomic choices, they were certainly in sync on their timing. Lando and Oscar were challenged to clap at the same time while back-to-back and almost nailed it first time! A reflection might have helped make it a perfect third try, but we’re still pretty impressed.
The Italian Grand Prix brought plenty of famous faces to Monza, and San Antonio Spurs’ Harrison Barnes popped by the paddock on Saturday to get a look behind the scenes. At 2.01m tall, Barnes might find it difficult to cram his huge frame into the MCL40, but he has got to be up there for one of the tallest members of the Papaya Family!
Monza is a track steeped in tradition, and the pre-race flyover is always a highlight of any Italian Grand Prix. The Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori were out in force once again on Sunday, displaying the famous Italian flag for the fervent Tifosi below.
Our team were able to pose for the perfect picture with the planes above, with the nine jets perfectly aligned behind Oscar’s MCL40 for the coolest shot we saw all weekend.
Harrison Barnes was not the only sporting star in the paddock this weekend, with England footballers John Stones and Djed Spence also stopping by.
Both players shone for the Three Lions at this summer's FIFA World Cup before sealing moves to Internazionale, just down the road from Monza.
Sprint star Amy Hunt also popped by fresh from her record-breaking haul of four gold medals at the European Athletics Championships last month.
When you’re in Italy, you always need to bring your best fits. That is especially true in Monza, with global fashion capital Milan just down the road. Luckily, Lando and Oscar had the perfect outfit for the Italian Grand Prix with an all-black racing suit for the weekend.
Every morning, the paddock turns into F1’s very own catwalk, and black was certainly the fashion theme of the weekend, with Lando sporting a black jacket and trouser combination on Thursday before both drivers rocked monochrome McLaren looks on Friday. Oscar opted for our retro Team McLaren graphic tee, while Lando went for a full Puma x McLaren fit.
While Lando and Oscar were loving the all-black looks this weekend, our fans kept Monza colourful with bright outfits and brilliant support.
Attending a Grand Prix is a bucket list event for every Formula 1 fan, and we loved seeing so many of the Papaya Family in Monza. One fan was attending the Italian Grand Prix as a 40th birthday present, and we made sure it was a weekend they’ll never forget by giving them two paddock passes. Her reaction was priceless.
"It was a positive and strong weekend for the team. The race was incredibly tense and entertaining, and both Lando and Oscar showed the same high level of performance throughout. What we saw today was good, hard racing that delivered an exciting spectacle for the fans."
Team Principal Andrea Stella was pleased with how Lando and Oscar performed in a race with plenty of overtaking and back-and-forth, on a track that we didn't expect to suit the natural strengths of the MCL40. Both drivers both gained positions and picked up valuable points, with Lando coming away with 12 and Oscar earning 10.
There’s not much time for rest after a weekend at the Temple of Speed, with our attention immediately switching to the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The Madring circuit will make its debut in Formula 1, so we are all set for an intriguing weekend of racing as all 11 teams tackle a new challenge. It will mark the final leg of the last European double-header of the 2026 season before we take on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix over 24-26 September.
