[Official] Italian Grand Prix 2015 - 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 just two months, it’s time for the final encounter in Europe in this 2015 season, at Monza near Milan.

It’s usually a spectacular way to end the European sector of the calendar, as Monza has one of the biggest histories in Grand Prix racing, an enthusiastic crowd (particularly for Ferrari) flocking to the pistol-shaped circuit every year and a rather distinctive layout. The Italian Grand Prix gives us the fastest track in Formula 1.

Racing began here in the early 1920s and it has hosted more Formula 1 races than any other circuit, on the calendar since the inaugural world champiuonship in 1950 and only missing one year (in 1980).

The track these days is punctuated by three chicanes and apart from that made up primarily of long straights. 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 at a record average speed of247km/h (153mph).

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.

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.

Constructors’ championship standings: http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/championship/results/2015-constructor-standings.html

Drivers’ championship standings: http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/championship/results/2015-driver-standings.html



Circuit length: 5.793km
Number of laps: 53
Race distance: 306.72km
Dry weather tyre compounds: Soft and Medium
DRS Detection Zone 1: before Turn 11 (Parabolica)
DRS Activation Zone 1: on the start-finish straight
DRS Detection Zone 2: between Turns 6 and 7 (the two Lesmos)
DRS Activation Zone 2: on the next straight before and after the kink and between Turns 7 and 8
Lap Record: 1:21.046 (2004 – Rubens Barrichello – Ferrari)
First World Championship Grand Prix: 1950

[sizzle]

I think the stupidity of the engine rules are really highlighted when the teams are even calling it tactical when they take new engines.
Toro Rosso makes tactical F1 engine changes

[bjohnsonsmith]

Normally I'd look forward to the Italian GP but like so many races this year, I think I'm just in for more of the same. I hope not.

[chillibowl]

Q3 was very good. gives some hope tomorrow will be better!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Great to see the Kimi in P2 and Vettel in P3. Makes a welcome change. Hope this bodes well for tomorrow.

[JeremySmith]

Well what can I say about Monza that has not allready been said many times over.. I love this track and the passion of the fans ...
Who said these cars were slow :- )
I predict a Ferrari win...

[JeremySmith]

Thank you for the intro BR .... Nice !

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Thank you for the intro BR .... Nice !

Agreed.

[wolfhound]

2 Ferrari almost at the front of the field should see a full house on Sunday. If not there is something wrong. I hope we will see many more GP's at Monza and that this is not the last.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Well what can I say about Monza that has not allready been said many times over.. I love this track and the passion of the fans ...
Who said these cars were slow :- )
I predict a Ferrari win...

A Ferrari win at Monza, now that would be good.

Nearly forgot, excellent intro.

[canamman]

Could this be the weekend for a Ferrari win ?
Maybe LH is due for a mechanical / tire issue
that might allow some room up front. I don't think
Nico has T1 figured out but still will find his way to the
podium.

[djinvicta]

Cheers BR...

[Finski]

Awesome to see Kimi on the front row and both Ferrari in the top3, especially here! I'm not usually one to make bets, but seeing how big the odds are I'm tempted to throw some money at kimi or seb winning

[cds_uk]

I think a little nod should be given to Ericsson, putting aside the three place grid drop penalty which sounds like a genuine mistake rather than anything cynical, he made it into Q3 and has again outpaced Nasr, in my opinion he is doing a good job, largely unnoticed, hopefully he can sneak into the points again this afternoon.

[Razzzor]

I just hope the video director doesn't butcher this race like he has in gp3/gp2 watching whatever random mid-race pass there is instead of actually watching the ones that count ie. the lead!

But that was 4 good races so far, with both gp2 and gp3 getting lead changes on the last lap and some epic drives through the field from Ghiotti and Evans. Hopefully the main event isn't a yawner.

[Mixer]

Looking forward to this race, but after watching free practice and quali, Renault look like a bunch of assclowns, 100+ grid penalties handed out to Renault runners, more than 1 car had to use 2 brand new engines...

Yet they still haven't spent a development token.

MORONS.

[canamman]

I know this goes against motoracing principals, but this
is the kind of race today that could be won or lost at the first
corner. Ferrari Fan Today!

[Mixer]

Hamilton's only real issues in the last 2 years have been his inability to race closely with people without someone coming off second-best...

[bjohnsonsmith]

It would happen. Kimi stalls at the start.

[wolfhound]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Looking forward to this race, but after watching free practice and quali, Renault look like a bunch of assclowns, 100+ grid penalties handed out to Renault runners, more than 1 car had to use 2 brand new engines...

Yet they still haven't spent a development token.

MORONS.

The Renault teams are not all that stupid. They want to get the penalties in where they will have the lest negative impact and Monza is a good place for a number of reasons.

Its a power circuit so if you have a weak engine you are unlikely to get a good result.
The circuits coming up are better suited to cars with good chassis which means if you have a good car (as opposed to PU) a good result is much more likely.
Singapore is a difficult place to pass so you need to be as far up the grid as possible hense you don't want penalties.

[Mixer]

Yeah but they put a brand new engine which blew up after less than a handful of laps...

For Ricciardo at least, don't know about Kyvat's story or the Toro Rosso.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Very frustrating for both McLaren drivers, you can see they are off the pace, even when Button was using DRS.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Very frustrating for both McLaren drivers, you can see they are off the pace, even when Button was using DRS.

With DRS they can just hang on down the straight to the Toro Rosso, but get murdered through the corners, they are obviously using ultra low downforce to make up for the power deficit.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Mixer

With DRS they can just hang on down the straight to the Toro Rosso, but get murdered through the corners, they are obviously using ultra low downforce to make up for the power deficit.

Not enough though to get ahead as they approach the corner.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Not enough though to get ahead as they approach the corner.

No hope to pass and if they lose DRS they literally get left behind. Woeful.

OMG Merhi nearly drilled Kimi into the pits!