The drivers of the Hypercar category face qualifying for the 6 Hours of Monza with great uncertainty due to the intense rain that has prevented them from completing meaningful laps in dry conditions during the previous day. The weather conditions have caused a cold and humid start for the final round of the 2026 World Endurance Championship.
During the practice session, the conditions were so adverse that three red flags had to be issued, with several vehicles from both classes getting stuck in the gravel. Despite the scarcity of activity, the slightly drying asphalt in the afternoon allowed the drivers to switch to slick tires, but the times they recorded remained approximately five seconds below the expected speed.
Nighttime rain is expected to leave the circuit damp for the FP3 session, meaning that Saturday afternoon’s qualifying could be the first opportunity for the cars to run on a completely dry track.
Mathieu Jaminet, driver for Genesis, commented on the difficulties they faced in keeping the vehicle on track during Friday’s sessions. ‘The conditions were not ideal. It’s very cold in Monza, and obviously, we are in November. FP1 was extremely wet, and although conditions improved in FP2, it was still complicated,’ he said.
Ferrari driver Antonio Fuoco triggered the first red flag of the day when he lost control of his vehicle at Parabolica. They returned to the pits under their own power, but he admits he had not accurately calculated the amount of water on the track. ‘The conditions have been very difficult, especially in the morning. With the new asphalt, water does not drain easily,’ he explained.
Effects of the new track surface
Monza was completely remodeled in 2024, a year after the WEC had competitions there. Drivers have pointed out that the characteristics of this new surface affect the way water drains from the circuit. Jaminet noted that while the track offers good grip, even light rain can produce a high level of aquaplaning.
With a lack of representative data in dry conditions, the drivers will face qualifying not knowing exactly how their vehicles will perform during the race. ‘It’s hard to know where we stand after two sessions that amount to nothing,’ concluded Alessandro Pier Guidi from Ferrari.
Driver Jaminet agreed with Pier Guidi’s assessment, stating that the damp Friday will hinder teams’ preparations for Sunday. ‘It will be complicated conditions for warming the tires, especially when the track is damp and low-energy,’ he added.
These exciting and uncertain circumstances mark the start of an event that promises to be a great spectacle in Monza.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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