It’s all about speed as Formula 1 travels to Monza this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix. On the verge of signing a deal to keep the race until 2019, Monza is known for its long straights that produce high top speeds and a crowd with so much passion for their home team, Ferrari, that they have their own name: the Tifosi.
McLaren Honda goes into this weekend with a cautiously optimistic outlook as new upgrades contributed to a respectable result last weekend at Spa, another power-hungry circuit. A repeat won’t be easy but we can expect that further optimization has taken place using the data collected at Spa which should contribute to a double points finish.
Elsewhere on the grid, we can expect a podium battle between Mercedes and Ferrari. Mercedes may have the best overall package but Ferrari will introduce an engine upgrade anticipated to provide a small incremental step. Couple that with this being Ferrari’s home Grand Prix and we can expect a real fight to the finish. We also can’t discount Red Bull after they took their package to a podium finish at Spa which many expected to be more of a challenge for them. Likewise, we shouldn’t be surprised to see Force India in the fight.
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1: Friday September 2nd, 4:00AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Practice 2: Friday September 2nd, 8:00AM
EST
,
NBCSN
Practice 3: Saturday September 3rd, 5:00AM
EST
,
NBC
Sports Live Extra
Qualifying: Saturday September 3rd, 8:00AM
EST
,
NBCSN
Race: Sunday September 4th, 7:00AM
EST
,
NBCSN
CIRCUIT
INFORMATION
Lap data
Lap length: 5.793km (3.6 miles)
Race laps: 53
Race distance: 306.72km (190.587 miles)
Pole position: Left-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1’21.046 (257.321 kph) by Rubens Barrichello, 2004
Fastest lap: 1’19.525 (262.242 kph) by Juan Pablo Montoya, 2004
Maximum speed: 337kph (209.402 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Start/finish straight and straight to Ascari
Distance from grid to turn one: 380m
Car performance
Full throttle: 76%
Longest flat-out section: 1520m
Downforce level: Low
Gear changes per lap: 46
Fuel use per lap: 1.9kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.057s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 24.079s by Mercedes (see full list)
2016 prime tyre(s): Medium & Soft (2015: Medium)
2016 option tyre: Supersoft (2015: Soft)
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2015 (V6
TURBO
ERA
) RESULTS
Stats
Pole position: Lewis Hamilton
Race laps: 53
Fast race lap: 1:26.672
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
2. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari
3. Filipe Massa – Williams
CURRENT
STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, 232
2. Nico Rosberg, 223
3. Daniel Ricciardo, 151
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 455
2. Red Bull Racing, 274
3. Scuderia Ferrari, 252
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