The trophy the top three at Monza will lift on Sunday does not look like a trophy. It looks like a stack of small bowls and cups balanced on top of each other, and it is called FRAGILE.
It was unveiled by Pirelli, the work of Italian artist duo vedovamazzei, formed by Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino. It is 3D-printed in nylon powder, then painted, galvanised and polished into something that looks fresh out of a modern art gallery, not a pit lane.
The reaction on social media was immediate. On Reddit, one fan wrote that it “doesn’t seem appropriate for a trophy” and belonged in a “modern art museum,” while others defended the design as “pretty creative.” GPFans’ Chris Deeley was blunter, writing that it “looks a bit naff” and pointing out that “it’s not even metal.”
Keep it away from Norris
The bigger running joke online is about Lando Norris. Fans have been posting variations of “I hope Lando wins, but please keep him away from these” and suggesting Pirelli print spares in case he makes the podium.
Read also: Crystal Palace shatter transfermarket record as they sign Osorio
The reference is to Hungary 2023, when Norris slammed his champagne bottle on the podium hard enough to knock Max Verstappen’s winner’s trophy off its plinth. A piece broke off in the fall, and Verstappen was later sent a replacement by the Hungarian manufacturer. Pirelli’s tower of nylon cups would not need a champagne bottle to help it fall over.
The artists’ explanation
Scala and Crispino say the design is deliberate. Speaking to The Race, they explained where it came from.
“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.”
They wanted the stack to say something about how F1 success works.
Read also: “Destined for greatness” – the F1 star whose career ended at just 27
“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 wobble is the point.
“It is unstable, short-lived, and must be reclaimed. In fact, it is fragile.”
Sixth artist in the Pirelli series
FRAGILE is the sixth commission in an annual project Pirelli runs with its HangarBicocca contemporary art museum in Milan, which since 2021 has handed the Monza trophy design to a different Italian artist each year. Previous editions have come from Alice Ronchi, Patrick Tuttofuoco, Ruth Beraha, Andrea Sala and Nico Vascellari.
Read also: Mercedes' Antonelli swap sparks Hakkinen's title-battle backlash warning
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix is on Sunday, 6 September, with lights out at 3pm local time.
Read also: Rafael Leao grabs the flag as Galatasaray shift 50,000 of his shirts in three days
