History and tradition. The Italian Grand Prix, which has been on the Formula 1 calendar since the championship was founded in 1950, is not neglected either. And yet we’re returning to Monza this year for an Italian Grand Prix with a bit of a twist, a touch of something new – well, new – as the weekend takes over the sprint qualifying format that debuted at Silverstone two months ago. How much this will stir up everything is still uncertain, but one thing is certain: Monza’s irresistible charm will not escape this weekend.
To prepare for what’s ahead, keep scrolling for our latest preview. It contains the thoughts of McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo as well as production director Piers Thynne and lifts the lid of a new line of merchandise that will make you sit back and relax … in pink.
So follow you
| Round | 14th |
| Where | Monza National Circuit |
| When | September 10-12 |
| Start time | 3:00 p.m. local, 2:00 p.m. BST, 9:00 a.m. EDT |
| follow | TEAMStream and the McLaren App for exclusive comments and insights |
What you say
“I’m really looking forward to going to Monza, especially after a tough weekend at Zandvoort. I’m looking forward to getting back on my feet and hopefully to be where we deserve to get more points and qualify a little further up the front. We will work hard for that. It’s another great track. We are really spoiled with this triple header that drives on three extremely cool tracks. Monza is a track where we have had good results in the past so hopefully we can have another good weekend. ”
“Monza is a good race and a fun weekend. It’s a great track to drive and great for racing too. It often offers good opportunities. If you are faster than the car in front and if you have speed, you can usually overtake, and I’m definitely looking forward to that.
“Italy is always fun, good food and another track with a great atmosphere. It’s also the second sprint weekend, which is going to be pretty intense. We have a training session to familiarize ourselves with and then we’re in the qualification. It’s definitely one higher pressure situation for us, so we have to get going right away, get up to speed quickly and take some points with us. I’m looking forward to it. “
“The way to the back end of this triple header is certainly a risky season from an operational point of view. This risk manifested itself in Spa with Lando’s accident in the third quarter on Saturday. This presented us with a number of challenges as a team. What was fantastic, however, was the collaboration between the operational teams from Saturday evening to Sunday and into Monday, as the damage and the effects on us were recognized. The situation underpins our teamwork and our collective ability to find solutions.
“The real pressure at the back of a triple header is not only to make sure the right level of performance is in place, but also, if you’ve had an accident like us, to make sure you’re never in a place where it is Will compromise racing stock.
“We had a challenging weekend at Zandvoort and scored one point that is still important for the constructors’ championship. Monza is a completely different track and we hope the traits play more in our favor. The team is working hard this week to make sure we are in optimal shape and are going into this event with the right stocks.
“Sprint races are still relatively new to us. We approached the first Sprint Event at Silverstone as a base to understand the format and consider different strategies for a different operational approach. Based on our insights, we decided to keep our existing approach in Monza, with the extra inventory in the system being able to support the team and enable us to respond to problems. It will be interesting to see how this other format plays out on one of the most exciting tracks on the calendar.
“We also have to look beyond Monza, because the quality and aero care of our parts are of the utmost importance and there is a lot of performance in that. When we look at the flyaway races, where we don’t get to stock as often as we do in Europe, we’re working on a number of sets that will stay with the team from Russia for the end of the season. That’s why we have to push our way through to Russia this week and in the coming weeks. There is always a balance between risk, performance and quality. “
What the statistics say
0.415 seconds was all that separated us from winning last year’s Italian Grand Prix, and that’s the next win since Jenson Button won the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2012, which happens to be our tenth year. and most recently won the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
Whether Monza, Mugello or Imola, Lando has never driven outside of the points in races in Italy. His best result at Monza was his fourth place last year and he will be looking for more of that this time. Daniel, who has only scored once in Italy in the past eight years, has a similarly impressive record.
Tire compound choice for the Italian GP
What to look out for
Sprint qualification. Yes, it’s back after making its British Grand Prix debut earlier this season. Many of you probably already know the deal: Qualifying on Friday, Sprint Qualifying on Saturday and Grand Prix on Sunday. But for those in need of a refresher, here’s a breakdown of this weekend’s format …
There is only one practice session on Friday before qualifying. This qualifying is the same as a normal F1 qualifying, but it does not determine the starting grid for the race on Sunday, but the starting grid for the sprint qualifying, which takes place on Saturday after another one-hour practice session. Sprint qualifying is a 100 km race – that’s 18 laps in Monza – and takes around 25-30 minutes. The order in which they are placed determines the starting line-up for the Grand Prix and points are awarded to the top three – three for the winner up to one point for the third.
Okay, that’s out of the way now, what else should I watch out for? Well, there should be a lot of overtaking maneuvers – certainly more than we saw at the Dutch Grand Prix. Zandvoort is all about tight corners and bends, but Monza is all about long straights – it’s not called the “temple of speed” for nothing – and this should offer plenty of slipstream and overtaking opportunities. In fact, slipstream could be a big topic of conversation this weekend, especially in qualifying – and by qualifying we mean that on Friday, not Saturday. Riders will battle for position on the track that will give them the opportunity to use towing.
Monza’s many straights mean the gas is on the ground for much of the lap and it’s one of the most performance sensitive tracks on the calendar. The need for speed will result in cars having the least amount of downforce they have all season – through thin wings and removing unnecessary aero flips and flicks from the body – while teams try to minimize drag and to maximize straight-ahead speed.
However, it’s not just about the straights, the speed when exiting the bends onto the straights is crucial. The aim is to get the speed on the straights by running over the curbs, managing quick changes of direction and getting good traction from the chicanes and the famous last corner of Monza, Parabolica, which was renamed “Curva Alboreto” in honor of the deceased , has Michele Alboreto, who drove for Ferrari in the mid-1980s.
After all, as we all know, Italy is synonymous with style. Monza itself is only a stone’s throw from Milan, the world’s fashion capital. And although we don’t expect Lando and Daniel to strut their things down a catwalk in the middle of the Piazza del Duomo this weekend, they will model a very special set of gloves with a unique design to commemorate our 25-year partnership with the leading racing clothing supplier Sparco .
Weather forecast for the weekend
What to wear
At the Dutch Grand Prix, the color was definitely orange. We don’t know for sure whether all of the orange on the display was papaya, but we are sure that papaya is the way to go again this weekend. Unless, of course, you want to wear pink … Yes, right, pink. Daniel got creative over the summer break and the DR Pink Range we’re launching this week is the result of his hard work. Caps, t-shirts, hoodies, this brand new merch will make you look pretty in pink.
Plus one
Now that we’ve heard about this exciting new line of apparel that is all about drop, we’re pretty confident that you’ll want to get your hands on them asap. But how does one do it? Well that’s easy. To be the first to know more details about the introduction, make sure you are signed up for McLaren Plus by completing the form below. It’s completely free and gives you unprecedented access to the team, as well as exclusive contests and giveaways.
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The post McLaren Racing – Everything you need to know about the Italian Grand Prix first appeared on monter-une-startup.
