Presentation – Italian GP: A Myth at Full Speed

This is one of the classic Formula 1 tracks. My favorite parts of the lap are the two Lesmo corners and the Ascari chicane. These are the corners that can make or break your lap. The combination of corners through Ascari is really nice to take with a Formula 1 car. The atmosphere at Monza is always special. The Italian fans bring such support to all the drivers and you feel their energy. There is so much history and tradition in the country related to motorsport!

Through these words, Esteban Ocon perfectly summarizes the passionate vibe and the history-laden atmosphere that prevails at the Monza Autodrome, an essential stop in the Formula 1 World Championship since its inception.

A true historic milestone in the Formula 1 World Championship

Already included in the calendar of the first Formula 1 season in history, the race in Italy has always taken place at the Monza Autodrome, with one exception in 1980, when the Grand Prix was held at Imola on the Enzo & Dino Ferrari track.

Located in the middle of an 800-hectare park about twenty kilometers north of Milan, the circuit has been a key venue in the championship since 1950.

Michael Schumacher holds the record for victories on this track with five wins, all achieved driving a Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton each have three victories in Italy, putting them on equal footing before heading into the 969th round of the Formula 1 World Championship.

Of course, throughout its prolific history, Monza has been the scene of many highlights of the discipline. It was right here in 2008 that Sebastian Vettel achieved his first pole position and won his first race driving a Toro Rosso in dire weather conditions. And what about his illustrious predecessor? In 2000, the Red Baron experienced a very strong moment after equaling Ayrton Senna’s total victories. The Ferrari spearhead broke down in tears during the press conference, surrounded by his brother, Ralf, and his title rival, Mika Häkkinen. Six years later, after a fifth victory on this track, Michael Schumacher announced his (first) retirement, not without emotion.

What if Monza marks a turning point in the season?

If no Italian driver will be present on the starting grid of this 68th Italian Grand Prix (an absence unbroken since the 2011 edition with the participations of Trulli and Liuzzi!), all the tifosi will have their eyes on Ferrari and its two drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen. Aware of this challenge, the four-time world champion also knows that this stage, the last one in Europe of the season, holds immense importance in the race for the title. And symbolically too! The edition (/f1/actualite/22227-belgique-course-hamilton-domine-les-debats-et-vettel-en-belgique.html) will celebrate in grand style the 70th anniversary of Scuderia Ferrari. The pressure will therefore be higher than ever for the two companions, who must not make the prancing horse blush with shame.

Winner last week at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Lewis Hamilton aims to win all the remaining races this season. On a circuit that should, on paper, favor the power of the Mercedes hybrid engines, the Briton has a slight psychological advantage in his relentless comeback. If he wins this Sunday, the triple world champion will be on track for the first place in the championship.

VET-HAM-VET-BOT-HAM-VET-HAM-RIC-BOT-HAM-VET-HAM

Still no back-to-back winner in /f1/actualite/22227-belgique-course-hamilton-domine-les-debats-et-vettel-en-belgique.html. Will Hamilton break the trend at Monza? #F1 pic.twitter.com/6jlSyPyVeI

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28 /f1/actualite/22227-belgique-course-hamilton-domine-les-debats-et-vettel-en-belgique.html

But of course, the show will also take place behind the two men who have monopolized attention since the beginning of the year. Many observers will focus on the internal duel between Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon, which almost took a definitive turn last weekend. The two Force India drivers no longer hide their rivalry, and their wheel-to-wheel duels at the limit of decency in Spa earned them reprimands from their team. The two men can no longer afford mistakes and will need to tone down their rivalry if they want to finish the season calmly.

To (really) know everything…

For the Italian stage, Pirelli has chosen to go with the same tire selection as last year, which are the medium tire, the soft tire, and the super-soft tire. If we believe the selection made by teams and drivers, the hardest compound will be shunned by the entire lineup, with a strong preference for the softest compound.

#Fit4F1 red is the most fashionable choice for the #ItalianGP. https://t.co/jtIhTcTduq— Pirelli Motorsport (@Pirellisport) 22 août /f1/actualite/22227-belgique-course-hamilton-domine-les-debats-et-vettel-en-belgique.html

Regarding the use of DRS, two activation zones are established in the “Temple”: the first is located on the opposite straight heading towards the Ascari chicane with a detection point before Lesmo 2, the second is traditionally placed on the start-finish line with a detection point at the Parabolica braking area.

Regarding the weather, current forecasts suggest that rain might join the festivities during both sessions on Friday as well as during the qualifying on Saturday. Thus, it’s (perhaps) in a typically Belgian climate that the Italian Grand Prix will take place, with temperatures around 20°C, significant cloud cover, and a lot of humidity. Stay tuned!

Don’t forget the TV schedule!