Posted on 5th September 2014
After events of the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago, Formula One is back at the Monza circuit in Italy which has hosted the longest Grand Prix on the calendar since 1950. The teams and the drivers love coming to Monza and enjoy the challenge it presents them with and also the atmosphere that the circuit has over the course of the weekend.
Monza is not only home of the Ferrari team and its fans which are the tifosi, but it is also the home race for tyre manufacturer Pirelli who are located just half an hour's drive from the company's global headquarters in Milan, where this year's Formula One tyres are designed.
The Monza circuit has significant lateral energy demands, thanks to its famous fast corners such as Parabolica and also big longitudinal demands in terms of traction and braking, because of the long straights followed by slow chicanes. For this reason, Pirelli is bringing the two hardest tyres in the range to the Grand Prix this weekend which is the P Zero Orange hard and P Zero White medium tyre compounds and structures.
As well as the forces going through the tyres, the actual tyre structure itself faces heavy punishment due to the high kerbs that are a well-known feature of the Italian circuit. The drivers use these extensively to find the fastest racing line, and the tyre plays a key role in absorbing the impacts as part of the suspension. With this year and the new levels of aerodynamic downforce have been reduced by the regulations that have been implemented in the sport starting this season, this means that while cornering speeds are slower, the cars will still reach some of the highest top speeds seen all year which is in the region of 360kph.
This weekend we will see the drivers and the teams use the lowest downforce set-up of the year, in order to extract maximum speed on the fast straight and that is the key to a quick lap time around the Monza circuit. This means that the tyres have to provide the entire mechanical grip necessary to get the cars through the corners as quickly as possible without losing degradation or performance.
Facts and Figures
• Italy has hosted the Grand Prix since 1950.
• Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at the track with five wins.
• Sebastian Vettel is the most successful driver currently to win the Grand Prix with three wins.
• Ferrari is the most successful constructor to win the Grand Prix with nineteen wins.
• Race distance: 306.72km (190.59 miles)
• Number of turns:11
• Top speed: 339kph
• Lap record: Rubens Barrichello- Ferrari (2004)- 1.21.046
• Winners from last 5 Italian Grand Prix: 2009- Rubens Barrichello, 2010-Fernando Alonso, 2011-Sebastian Vettel, 2012-Lewis Hamilton, 2013-Sebastian Vettel.
My Top 5 Things to look out for this weekend
1. Performance of the Ferrari team- As its Ferrari's home race this weekend, all eyes will be on the team and its drivers to get the best possible result this weekend in front of their home fans and their beloved tifosi fans (which would be a home win!). With Alonso and Raikkonen (especially Raikkonen) improving at the last Grand Prix, will we see Ferrari built on what they achieved in Spa two weeks ago and have a great home Grand Prix at Monza?
2. Tyres- With the Pirelli tyres being tested to their limits due to the characteristics of the Monza track, we might just see over the course of the weekend that tyre management and tyre strategy in the race may play a part as to who will be rewarded with a great race weekend and who will struggle over the weekend.
3. Brakes- With brakes being critical for the teams and the drivers to get right in order to be quick, we could see a few teams or drivers suffering with brake problems during the course of the weekend while trying to achieve the best lap time or performance possible.
4. Aerodynamics- The teams and the drivers over the course of the weekend use the lowest possible downforce settings in order to get the perfect lap time around the Monza circuit. With teams such as Red Bull who are one of the best teams on the grid who engineer a car to produce downforce while driving around corners, they could do very well at Monza during the course of the weekend. With Sebastian Vettel winning his first Grand Prix here in 2008, then in 2011 and then last year, he could be in a very handy position to capitalise by using his experience at this track and this could give him an advantage this weekend.
5. Hamilton V Rosberg- After everything that happened at the Belgian Grand Prix, will we see another repeat this weekend? Who will lead the way this weekend? Can Rosberg show his recent form and extend his championship lead further? Or can Hamilton after suffering such bad luck the past few races get the upper hand on his team mate and close Rosberg's gap in the championship down? All eyes will be focusing on this battle throughout the weekend.
If the Italian Grand Prix is anything to go by after Belgium, we look set to witness yet another exciting race this weekend. Will Mercedes improve on their form in Belgium and not collide with each other? Will Ferrari, Williams and McLaren be able to also challenge in the race? Will Red Bull make another step forward to challenge the front?
Sky Sports F1 are showing uninterrupted coverage of every Practice session, Qualifying and race for the Grand Prix (and every race of the season) and the BBC also are showing coverage, details for both are below:-
• Sky Sports F1:- Friday (Practice 1 and 2) 8.45am and 12.45pm [Replays throughout Thursday and Friday], Saturday (Practice 3 and Qualifying) 9.45am and 12.00pm [Replays throughout Saturday], Sunday (Race) 11.30am
• BBC– Friday (Practice 1 and 2) 8.55am and 1pm, Saturday (Practice 3 and Qualifying) 9.55am and 12.10pm, Sunday (Race and Race Highlights) 12.10pm and 7.00pm
Thanks to www.grahamandleigh.co.uk for “Monza”
