Italian Grand Prix – Predictions and Presentation
As the Italian Grand Prix slowly begins, Motors Inside presents to you the upcoming race at Monza and provides you with the traditional predictions from our editorial team.
The Formula 1 returns to Monza, one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar, for its third consecutive Grand Prix after Spa and Zandvoort. It’s an opportunity for Max Verstappen to further solidify his colossal lead after four consecutive victories. But Monza has its fair share of surprises in store…
The Temple of Speed
The Monza circuit will host the Formula 1 Grand Prix for the 71st time. Since the advent of the modern era of Formula 1 in 1950, no other circuit has hosted more races than Monza. The historical track has only been absent once since 1950, when the Imola circuit hosted the Italian Grand Prix in 1980, as Monza’s stands were undergoing renovation.
With speeds reaching over 350 km/h on the long straight lines, Monza is the fastest circuit on the current F1 calendar and demands full power for over 75% of the lap. It is worth noting that in 2020, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap in the history of the sport, with an average speed of 264.362 km/h. It’s clear that Monza has well earned its nickname as the “Temple of Speed.” At this pace, the Italian Grand Prix is also the shortest race on the calendar, finishing in just over 75 minutes.
The current track is 5.793 km long and features 10 turns: 6 right turns and 4 left turns. The layout of Monza includes two chicanes, four fast corners, a high-speed sequence, and long straightaways that favor acceleration.
The choice of Pirelli
In Monza, Pirelli brings the C2 hard, C3 medium, and C4 soft tires, which are in the mid-range. The softest (C5) and the hardest (C1) will not be used this weekend.
The last in a triple-header of races, @F1 heads to Monza for the #ItalianGP 🇮🇹🏁
It’s a special race week, as #Pirelli enjoys its 150-year anniversary at home, while the circuit celebrates its 100th year!
👉 https://t.co/eS8R4FUE2R#F1 #Fit4F1 #Formula1 #Pirelli150 pic.twitter.com/0ZwTmlyCMH
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) September 5, 2022
The stakes of the race.
Max Verstappen will assert his supremacy in the championship at Monza, with a long lead of 109 points over his runner-up Charles Leclerc. The stakes are no longer as high for the Dutchman, almost guaranteed a second world championship title, barring a true catastrophe for the Red Bull driver.
For the Monegasque, on the other hand, being tied in points with Sergio Pérez, it will be essential not to let one’s guard down, for fear of losing the second place in the standings once again. Especially since Ferrari is coming to their home ground, in front of their Italian fans: another defeat would be even harder to swallow. Let’s remember that Charles Leclerc’s last victory dates back to the Austrian Grand Prix, five Grand Prix ago.
Behind, the Mercedes team has recently been eager to remind everyone that they are eight-time world champions, gaining valuable positions and points. George Russell arrives in Monza with confidence, thanks to his second position in Zandvoort and a successful strategy. His teammate Lewis Hamilton cannot say the same, but he will undoubtedly arrive with the determination to prove his worth, just 17 points behind Carlos Sainz.
In addition to all of this, there are penalties for many drivers, which will further spice up the race. Just like at Zandvoort, several of them will start at the back of the grid due to engine changes. It is already known that this will be the case for Lewis Hamilton, to whom Sergio Pérez and Carlos Sainz could also join. On his side, Bottas could receive a 15-place penalty, while Mick Schumacher will be relegated by five positions.
The editorial predictions
The editorial team is divided for this Grand Prix. On the pole position side, the Dutchman is favored against Leclerc (6 votes against 3). As for the victory, it is a tie between the two drivers (3 votes each)… While the surprises of the last two years at Monza lead to risky bets: could we see Fernando Alonso as the winner, 9 years after his last Formula 1 triumph? Two of us believe so, in any case.
For the rest of the podium, the second position would be fought between the two Red Bull drivers (4 votes for Verstappen, 3 for Pérez), and George Russell easily secures the third place (4 votes), ahead of Carlos Sainz and… Esteban Ocon (2 votes each). There’s no denying it, at Monza, all hopes are allowed.
