Rain again to disrupt F1 weekend at Monza
For several races now, rain has been disrupting the Grand Prix schedule, notably at Zandvoort and Spa-Francorchamps. At Monza, the sun will give way to less difficult conditions this weekend. While Friday and Saturday are expected to remain dry and warm, rain could return on Sunday.
For some weekends now, rain has become a crucial issue in Grand Prix races. Up until now, the most recent races have been accompanied by rain and wind. This was notably the case at Zandvoort, but also during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. While the drivers were hoping to enjoy the sun in Italy this weekend, they will instead be facing grey skies. The ideal conditions they had encountered in 2023 are expected to give way to more challenging weather conditions, particularly on Sunday.
The Grand Prix in Monza will experience summer conditions in the first days and the first race sessions. With heat and good weather. But if the temperature and the sky will be ideal to start, current forecasts indicate that it will not last. The race weekend, which takes place from August 30th to September 1st, will undergo the same fate as the previous ones and could once again disrupt the standings.
Friday: The perfect conditions
The first day at Monza this week will not only host Formula 1, but also Formula 2 on the track. Four sessions are scheduled for this day: the first and second free practice session of Formula 1, as well as the free practice and qualifying sessions in Formula 2. Fortunately, each of the sessions should take place in almost perfect conditions. Temperatures will be around 32°C outside, which could even cause some heat problems for the drivers in the single-seater. The sun will shine all day long. However, if the grid was counting on Italy to get rid of the wind, it’s a lost cause. With occasional gusts reaching 20km/h, the car could become unstable. In addition, due to the track modifications and resurfacing, the compounds chosen this weekend are the C3, C4, and C5. These are the softest and least grippy tires in the Pirelli range.
Saturday: The clouds are coming and the heat is going away
The Saturday is expected to start similarly to Friday. The morning, which will host the third free practice session, should also see perfect conditions. Temperatures will be similar, reaching a peak of 32°C in the early afternoon. Unlike the previous day, Formula 1 will not face strong winds in the first part of the day. However, from noon, clouds will start to appear, bringing the temperatures down to 27°C by the end of the day. While rain is not expected at the moment, the wind will return to the track with gusts of up to 17 km/h. Blowing from the southwest, it will offer both an advantage and a challenge in the starting straight line. The second part of the day will feature the Formula 1 qualifying session and the Formula 2 Sprint race. During the night, showers are expected at the circuit and could impact the Grand Prix the next day, particularly by altering the track conditions.
Sunday: Another day under the rain?
If until now the rain had left the meteorologists’ radar, current forecasts announce possible precipitation for race Sunday. With a 30% chance of showers in the afternoon around 3 p.m., the Italian Grand Prix could therefore take place under wet conditions. Especially since Lombardy is currently on thunderstorm alert for this Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures, however, will not be lower compared to previous days. They could reach a maximum of 32°C again. The wind will also make a comeback in the afternoon, reaching up to fifteen kilometers per hour. This time, the wind will come head-on, and storms could make an appearance.
