Pirelli Unveils Fragile Art Trophies for 2026 Italian Grand Prix
- In Formula 1, this collective includes the team, the fans and the entire universe surrounding the drivers.
Pirelli has unveiled the unconventional “Fragile” trophies for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, continuing a multi-year partnership with the Pirelli HangarBicocca contemporary art museum, according to reports from grandepremio.com and motorsport.com.
Scheduled for September 4 to 6, 2026, the thirteenth round of the Formula 1 season features awards designed by the Italian artistic duo Vedovamazzei, comprising Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino. According to grandepremio.com, the trophies consist of several cups and small bowls arranged horizontally to resemble a precarious stack of tableware. Crafted primarily in silver with a chrome finish, the unorthodox design employs a 3D printing process utilizing nylon powder, as noted by motorsport.com.
Artistic Inspiration and Cultural Metaphor
According to grandepremio.com, the artists drew their primary inspiration from the ancient custom of passing a celebratory vessel from hand to hand during communal festivities. The creators explained that the design symbolizes an individual victory that simultaneously reflects the collective spirit of the drivers’ teams, fans, and broader support networks.
In Formula 1, this collective includes the team, the fans and the entire universe surrounding the drivers.
Vedovamazzei via grandepremio.com
The composition is also intended to evoke everyday gestures and the transient nature of athletic success. According to grandepremio.com, the artists stated that a race victory never corresponds to an eternal status, remaining unstable, ephemeral, and ultimately fragile.
Monza Tradition and Fan Reaction
The unveiling marks the sixth year that Pirelli has partnered with the Pirelli HangarBicocca museum to commission unique trophies for the Monza race, blending motorsport with contemporary Italian art. Motorsport.com highlighted widespread fan commentary surrounding the fragile aesthetic, with social media users drawing humorous parallels to the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix incident where Lando Norris accidentally knocked over Max Verstappen’s porcelain winner’s trophy.
As teams prepare for the track action, home hero Kimi Antonelli leads the championship standings heading into the Monza weekend, holding a 59-point advantage over teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who sit level on points, according to motorsport.com.