It’s all about speed as Formula 1 travels to Monza this weekend for the 69th Italian Grand Prix hosted by the venue. Monza is known for its long straights that produce high top speeds. The other thing Monza is known for, perhaps more than any other circuit, is a crowd with so much passion for their home team, Ferrari, that they have their own name: the Tifosi. Sadly, they will be absent from the grandstands this year.
This weekend it’s all about car setup for Red Bull. The team will be seeking the lowest possible downforce it can get away with to promote top speed while still needing to maintain maximum stability under braking, a tricky combination to be sure. Expect one car on the podium with a third place finish unless some luck and good strategy help them advance. A double points finish for AlfaTauri is possible but not high points-paying positions.
Elsewhere on the grid, Mercedes are clear favorites for a 1-2 finish as they seem to have a power advantage. 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 McLaren to be battling closely with a Renault. Racing Point should find themselves in the mix with these teams but ultimately may slot in behind them as the promise of the “pink Mercedes” hasn’t delivered the results some thought it would. Sadly, it’s no accident that we waited this long to mention Ferrari as their de-tuned power unit will be further exacerbated by Monza’s long straights. Outside of the points we can expect Haas and Alfa Romeo to be engaged in a close race with Williams just behind them.
US TV SCHEDULE
Practice 1 – Friday, September 4 – 5.00AM – ESPN2
Practice 2 – Friday, September 4 – 9.00AM – ESPN2
Practice 3 – Saturday, September 5 – 6.00AM –
ESPN
Qualifying – Saturday, September 5 – 9.00AM – ESPN2
Race – Sunday, September 6 – 9.10AM – 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)
2020 tyres: Hard (C2), Medium C3), Soft (C4) (2019: Hard (C2), Medium C3), Soft (C4))
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2019 RESULTS
Stats
Pole position: Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:19.307
Race laps: 53
Fast race lap: Lewis Hamilton, 1:21.779
Podium
1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
2. Valtteri Bottas – Mercedes
3. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
CURRENT STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 157
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 110
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 107
4. Alex Albon, Red Bull, 48
5. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 45
6. Lando Norris, McLaren, 45
7. Lance Stroll, Racing Point, 42
8. Daniel Ricciardo, Renault, 33
9. Sergio Perez, Racing Point, 33
10. Esteban Ocon, Renault, 26
Constructors
1. Mercedes, 264
2. Red Bull, 158
3. McLaren, 68
4. Racing Point, 66
5. Ferrari, 61
6. Renault, 59
7. AlphaTauri, 20
8. Alfa Romeo, 2
9. Haas, 1
10. Williams, 0
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