[Official] Italian Grand Prix 2019: Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[Born Racer]

Before Formula 1 jets off around the globe to Asia, North America and South America for its final whirlwind tour that will take in seven Grands Prix in a little over two months, it’s time for the final encounter in Europe in this 2019 season, at Monza, near Milan.

Monza has one of the biggest histories in Grand Prix racing and an enthusiastic crowd (albeit mainly for Ferrari!) flocking to the pistol-shaped circuit every year. The Italian Grand Prix gives us the fastest track in Formula 1 for average speed and the shortest race. In the 50s and 60s, it featured some incredible banked corners that made up a 10km version.

Nowadays, Monza has one of the shortest laps in the season and usually the shortest race time. Michael Schumacher completed the race in 2003 in 1 hour 14 minutes 19.838 seconds, which is a record and he did it a record average speed of 247km/h (153mph). Last year, Kimi Räikkönen also set the fastest ever lap for average speed here in qualifying, at 263.587km/h (163.785 mph). Personally, I always find it a pity that the race can’t be longer, but the sprint race feel gives it a slightly different feel.

Racing began here in the early 1920s and the circuit has hosted more Formula 1 races than any other circuit, on the calendar since the inaugural world championship in 1950 and only missing one year, in 1980, when the race was held at Imola. Therefore, the Italian race has the distinction of being one of only two (with Britain) to exist in every year of the world championship.

Among its dramatic records, Monza also hosted the closest race finish in history; in 1971, Peter Gethin led a six-car train across the line that was covered by a 0.61 seconds. Gethin’s margin over Sweden’s Ronnie Peterson in second was a mere 0.01 seconds.

The track these days is punctuated by three chicanes and apart from that made up primarily of long straights.

It’s a tricky track that has those awkward chicanes to fumble over, on which drivers try not to clatter over any kerbs which may cause damage or penalties. The Lesmos, two fast right-handers (Turns 6 and 7 on the map) are great fun for the drivers, the reward for getting them right, shooting out onto the next straight with a significantly higher average speed for the lap, the punishment for getting them wrong, big problems for the lap as they hit the gravel trap.

The third and final chicane is a very fast one and propels the drivers and cars towards arguably the most interesting corner, the final one – Parabolica. A long, long right-hander, apexing this just on point hangs on a fine thread of grip. The corner tempts drivers to barrel in there, later and later on the brakes as they build themselves up through the weekend, but they also have to get the start-finish straight right.

Charles Leclerc achieved a timely victory in Spa to take Ferrari's maiden win of the season just before the team's home race. Formula 2 resumes action with Anthoine Hubert much in people's memories, following his death in an accident at Spa.

Circuit length: 5.793km
Number of laps: 53
Race distance: 306.72km
Dry weather tyre compounds: C2, C3 & C4
Lap Record: 1:21.046 (2004 – Rubens Barrichello - Ferrari)
First Italian Grand Prix: 1921
First Grand Prix at Monza: 1922
First World Championship Grand Prix: 1950



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Constructors’ championship standings: https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2019/team.html

Drivers' championship standings: https://www.formula1.com/en/results....9/drivers.html

Italian Grand Prix tyre choices:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...f3i9bHdKg.html