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Formula One action moves to Monza during the weekend for Italian GP – Round 13th of the 2014 Formula One Championship. The Italian GP was part of the 1950 inaugural Formula One championships, and has been held every year since then. This unique distinction of the Italian GP has been shared only by the British Grand Prix, another championship race during that time.
The climax to the Rosberg-Hamilton rivalry couldn't have unfolded at a better track. While Spa could have had a spectacular finish to it but sadly it ended with a Rosberg's ill-fated move on his teammate. But going by the history of the Temple of Speed (as the Monza track often referred), the battle for the Driver's Championship could be decided here. If Rosberg wins he will become the favourite and if Hamilton takes the podium top spot, things could go down to the last race at Abu Dhabi. So gear up for the race and read on to know more about Formula One's premier speed circuit. Mercedes as a team are miles ahead of the rest of the pack and would be looking to extend their lead. Other contenders are Ferrari, it being their home race and support from their home fans they would be hoping to reach the podium. Red-Bull have been in thick of things with Daniel Ricciardo taking up the mantle from Sebastian Vetter by winning three races.
The Magical Track
The Magical track at Monza runs through the parklands - Royal Villa Park and continues to be of one the most sought after races on the Formula One circuit. What makes the track exciting is that the cars reach their top-speeds more than any other track around the world. Add to that the speed-traps and the rivalry that spices up the Championship and we've got an exciting race on our hands. The Parabolica gravel trap remains a key figure for the track even after being replaced with a tarmac simply because of the kind of races held in the past and the horrific incidents it brought about.
Despite the new technical regulations giving the cars a lesser downforce and a bit more drag, the top speeds are expected to be somewhere around 350-60kph on the straights. But the car setup is expected to play a pivotal role to survive the race distance. The power unit will be a critical component, as the cars will be running full-throttle for almost three quarters of the race. This is one of the reasons that the track remains a favourite for the fans and drivers alike.
Tyres
Pirelli would be using two hardest tyres in their bags – the orange-marked hard and the white-banded medium at Monza. The tyre manufacturer would be aiming to tackle the high-speeds and manage the enormous amount of load on the tyres due to warm temperatures, high traction and critical break pressure.
DRS
There will be two DRS zones at the Italian Grand Prix. The first DRS zone will have its detection point between at the Lesmos (Turns 6 and 7) and the activation point just before the left-handed straight ahead of the Ascari curve (Turn 7 and 8). The second zone will have a detection point just before the famous Parabolica (Turn 11). The activation would be just before the start-finish line with the end point at Rettifilo (Turn 1).
Qualifying
Pole position is expected to play a crucial role in the race outcome given the recent races. Seven of the last 10 races at Monza have been won from pole position adding the number to 21 for the track since its first race. Michael Scumacher and Rubens Barrichello remain the two drivers who have won the race after starting lower on the grid in the last 12 years.
Weather
While there are chances of rain in Monza in September, the forecast for the race weekend remains dry and sunny. If there is rain, expect an even exciting race.
Past Winners
Michael Schumacher is the God of the Temple of Speed with five triumphs at Monza. Sebastian Vettel remains the most successful from the current grid with three victories at the Italian GP, including his maiden win in 2008 with Toro Rosso.
Below is the list of last five winners at Monza:
2013: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2012: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2011: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2009: Rubens Barrichello (Brawn)
Drivers to watch out for
The two drivers from Mercedes, Hamilton and Rosberg, have very little between them and it will be a close battle for the podium. Daniel Ricciardo remains the other favourite given his 3 race wins in the season. Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso would be expected to peform out of their skins with the tifosi cheering them from the stands. Williams have been failry consistent with their result with Valtteri Bottas outperforming his experienced teammate Felipe Massa. The team would be hoping for a top-5 finish at Monza with a change in the aerodynamics package. Mclaren and Force India would be looking to garner as many points as possible given their battle in the constructor’s championship only 2 points apart.
