Charles Leclerc has stated that Lewis Hamilton has “priority” over where to place his car in the queue this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Monza F1 track contains several long straights, making it one of the fastest tracks on the schedule.
Slipstreaming has been an important factor in extracting lap time around the venue, but it is set to be even more prominent this weekend due to the new-for-2026 power units, which will likely see the cars lose speed at the end of straights as the battery depletes.
In qualifying, cars will be chasing any slipstream they can to punch a hole in the air and reduce drag - and for Hamilton, he may find it easier than his team-mate.
“For the slipstream, we've always had the same philosophy over the years, where one time Lewis has the priority to choose where he wants to start, and one weekend it's on me,” Leclerc told media including RacingNews365.
“This weekend, Lewis will have the priority, so I guess we'll go for a slipstream.
“Whether we are going to compromise one qualifying [for] the other, I don't think that will happen.
“If we can help each other, trying to start the lap at the optimum distance between each other, that will be done.
“I'll try to find another slipstream off someone else, hoping to put myself in the best possible place.”
On Sunday, it is anticipated that there will be a return of 'yo-yo racing', which was a common feature during the early season grands prix.
When asked if it will be equally as important to work with his team-mate during the race as it is in qualifying, Leclerc said: ”For the race, that is a very valid point.
“We've started to look at it now for quite a few days and trying to understand.
“It's also very, very difficult to predict because the thing is that once you are in the car, it always looks nice from outside.
“But the difference is sometimes that much that it is very difficult to react to the car in front.
“It's not that you can avoid yo-yo racing if you end up in a situation like this, but we'll try to do the best possible job and try to do better.”
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!