It’s all about speed as Formula 1 travels to Monza this weekend for the 68th Italian Grand Prix hosted by the venue. 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.
This weekend will be an interesting test for the Red Bull teams as new drivers, new engines, as well as some associated penalties all come together on a circuit that normally wouldn’t suit either team. Both cars from both teams will be running Honda’s new Spec. 4 engine; however, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly will be taking penalties for it while Alex Albon and Daniil Kvyat took their penalties last weekend in Spa. Expect a podium to be possible but not likely for Red Bull although we should see both cars finish close together in the points. A double points finish for Toro Rosso is possible but not high points-paying positions.
Elsewhere on the grid, Ferrari seem poised to have a good weekend in front of the Tifosi. Mercedes will try for the win but are more likely just to split the red cars. Best-of-the-rest honors are tough to predict here. Renault showed impressive straight line speed at Spa so we’ll begin with them. Next, expect a three way battle between a McLaren, an Alfa Romeo, and a Racing Point; these cars should all finish very closely. Haas is a wildcard with good upside potential as this circuit favors their powerful Ferrari engine and puts less emphasis on cornering loads. Williams will continue to suffer here as the team does not have the right combination of power and downforce.
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1 – Friday, September 6 – 4.55AM – ESPN2
Practice 2 – Friday, September 6 – 8.55AM –
ESPNU
Practice 3 – Saturday, September 7 – 5.55AM – ESPN2
Qualifying – Saturday, September 7 – 8.55AM –
ESPNNEWS
Pit Lane Live – Sunday, September 8 – 7.30AM – ESPN3
On The Grid – Sunday, September 8 – 8.30AM – ESPN2
Race – Sunday, September 8 – 9.05AM – ESPN2
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: 1’19.119 by Kimi Raikkonen, 2018
Fastest lap*: 1’19.525 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)
2019 tyres: Hard (C2), Medium C3), Soft (C4) (2018: Medium, Soft, Supersoft)
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2018 RESULTS
Stats
Pole position: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:19.119
Race laps: 53
Fast race lap: Lewis Hamilton, 1:22.497
Podium
1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen – Ferrari
3. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes
CURRENT STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 268
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 203
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 181
4. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 169
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 157
6. Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso, 65
7. Carlos Sainz, McLaren, 58
8. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 33
9. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo Racing, 31
10. Alex Albon, Red Bull, 26
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 471
2. Ferrari, 326
3. Red Bull, 254
4. McLaren, 82
5. Toro Rosso, 51
6. Renault, 43
7. Racing Point, 40
8. Alfa Romeo Racing, 32
9. Haas, 26
10. Williams, 1
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