Italian Grand Prix – Presentation and editorial predictions
As Max Verstappen has just taken the lead in the championship, F1 is heading to a high-speed circuit that should better suit the power of the Mercedes engine. MotorsInside presents this unique Monza track and offers you its predictions for this fourteenth round of the championship.
A legendary high-speed track.
The Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix is the only event that has been held every year without interruption since the creation of the championship in 1950, along with the British Grand Prix.
The race has always taken place on the Monza circuit. With the exception of the year 1980, when the Grand Prix was held in Imola. The Monza track is currently under renovation to increase its safety level.
It’s an atypical layout. Identifiable at first glance, it gives pride of place to speed with its four sections of straight lines or very fast curves interspersed with 3 chicanes. This is where average speeds send statistics soaring.
Thus, the 53 loops of 5.79km are covered in just 1h15. This allows Charles Leclerc to win at an average speed of almost 244km/h in 2019.
| Meilleur Lap | Année | Driver | Monoplace | Chrono | Vitesse moyenne | |
| 1 | Qualification | 2020 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes W11 | 1 min 18 sec 887 | 264.36 km/h |
| 2 | Course | 2004 | Rubens Barichello | Ferrari F2004 | 1 min 21 sec 046 | 257.32 km/h |
Kimi Räikkönen is to date the driver with the highest top speed, he was timed at 370.1 km/h in 2005 at the wheel of his McLaren MP4-20 on the Monza circuit.
Softer tires than those at Zandvoort
For this weekend at home, Pirelli offers an intermediate range to its customers. These are compounds ranging from C2 (harder in white) to C4 (softer in red).
Indeed, even if this track does not include any banked turns, the tires will be heavily solicited during braking and acceleration.
We must not forget the parabolic turn at the end of the track that will put the Italian tires to the test, lap after lap.
There's nothing quite like racing at home! 🇮🇹
Get ready! The #ItalianGP is coming! #Fit4F1
Discover more👉https://t.co/8XA4XiN59s pic.twitter.com/XbFJoRMM8P— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) September 6, 2021
The editorial predictions
Despite a slight domination by the Red Bull / Max Verstappen clan in many Grand Prix races, the editorial team is leaning towards a comeback by Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton.
Indeed, the strength of the Mercedes engine should allow the Brakley team to regain a slight advantage on this track requiring high top speed.
During Friday’s qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton is expected to be the fastest. The pole position will become definitive after Saturday’s sprint race.
For the supporting roles, we find Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas without surprise.
However, some fans of the team believe firmly in a surge of pride from Scuderia Ferrari at home. There is no doubt that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be even more motivated to extract every tenth from their car. The temple of speed could allow them to step onto one of the podium positions.
