Italian GP trophies revealed as 'ancient tradition' incorporated

The podium finishers at this year's Italian Grand Prix will lift something rather different from the usual silverware. 

FRAGILE, a trophy conceived by Italian artistic duo vedovamazzei, is the centrepiece of the 2026 edition of a multi-year project that sees a new Italian artist commissioned to design the Monza race trophy each year.

The project, now in its sixth edition, was initiated by Pirelli, the race's title sponsor, in partnership with the Pirelli HangarBicocca Museum of Contemporary Art. It represents an ongoing effort to intertwine the world of Formula 1 with contemporary Italian art.

This year's commission fell to vedovamazzei, the duo formed by Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino. Their practice is characterised by the use of irony and an ability to expose the contradictions and complexities of everyday reality, frequently through the reinterpretation of ordinary objects.

FRAGILE takes its form from a vertical stack of household objects, cups and small bowls piled upon one another in a composition that appears deliberately unsteady. The visual tension between grandeur and instability is entirely intentional.

The production process combined traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Initial drawings and sketches were transferred onto paper before a 3D printing process using nylon powder was employed to produce the physical form. The material was subsequently painted, galvanised, and polished to a reflective finish.

The 2026 commission continues a lineage of artistic collaborations that includes Alice Ronchi (2021), Patrick Tuttofuoco (2022), Ruth Beraha (2023), Andrea Sala (2024), and Nico Vascellari (2025).

"The idea for the trophy stems from the ancient tradition of passing a celebratory cup from hand to hand. It served as a large drinking vessel, creating a sense of shared celebration and festivity," vedovamazzei explained.

"We wanted the trophy to be the symbol of a victory that an individual holds in their hands, yet it reflects the spirit of a community. In the case of Formula 1, this community includes the team, the fans, and the entire world revolving around the drivers. 

"The composition also evokes an everyday dimension with its repeated gestures, suggesting a victory earned lap after lap that never corresponds to an eternal, unchanging status. It is unstable, short-lived, and must be reclaimed. In fact, it is fragile."