This week Formula 1 is heading back to Italy for the Italian GP at Autodromo Nazionale Monza. This track and GP has some history so real quick here’s a few fun facts for ya.
This track was built in 1922 and is the fastest track on the Formula 1 calender since 1991. The cars are able to be at full throttle for 80% of the race which is just crazy. It holds the record for fastest Grand Prix in history when the cars averaged a speed of 247 KPH (153.48 MPH) back in 2003 when Michael Shumacher won the race. Last year during the 2020 season Lewis Hamilton recorded a pole position lap of 1:18.887 which was the fastest in Monza history at an average speed of 264.362 KPH (164.267 MPH) which happens to be the fastest average lap speed recorded in qualifying for a World Championship event. The maximum speed the current cars will reach upwards to 360.8 KPH (224.2 MPH) at the start/finish straight. Because of its 99 years in existence and for all the speed the cars are able to reach unfortunately there has been a lot of tragedy at this circuit as well. Monza sadley has claimed the lives of 52 drivers and 35 spectators. The track does receive critism about a lack of run-off areas from a lot of the modern drivers and the feel it could be safer.
This year’s Grand Prix at Monza will look a little different from previous years because this will be the second time this season Formula 1 will be using the Sprint Qualifying (the first being at Silverstone). Unlike the usual 3 tier eliminator style qualifying sessions, the F1 Sprint is a race run over 100km in as many laps as it takes at whichever track it’s being held at (18 laps for Monza). The weeks schedule is a ittle different as well. On Friday, the drivers will have a 60 minute practice session and then followed by the usual Q1, Q2, and Q3 qualifying sessions to determine the grid for the Sprint. On Saturday, the drivers will have another 60 practice session and then followed by the Sprint race to determine the grid for Sunday’s race. The first time Formula 1 rolled this setup out was earlier this year at Silverstone where we saw Lewis Hamilton take Pole position during qualifying but Max Verstappen beat him off the line and never looked back and took Pole position for the race.
Should be a great weekend for Formula 1 with all the changes in the drivers market that came this past week: Bottas to Alfa Romeo, Russell to Mercedes, Albon to Williams and Raikkonen retiring. This track and race is being talked about with Mercedes coming out as the front runners with their improved power units and Lewis and the team will be looking to make up the ground lost to Max Verstappen and the Dutch Army. Look for Mclaren to right the ship after an unusual poor weekend for Lando Norris as the spped of Monza should work in their favor as well.
Predictions: I think the Sprint is a great addition to the race weekend and gives the fans more racing to watch. Look for Hamilton to come out of qualifying at pole position for the Sprint race and Lando Norris to win the Sprint race and take pole position for the Italian GP. And I’m taking Norris to finish off the weekend and claim his 1st victory in Formula 1.
