Italian GP Thread - Contains Spoilers

[Fernando]

Due to the unsavory nature of the last race thread this is a pre-warning that abuse will not be tolerated you will be put on the naughty step

Round 13 of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship moves the action to its traditional early September date at Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix.

Monza is F1’s premier speed circuit, the last of its kind, a flat-out blast through parkland that sees cars, configured for low downforce, reach their highest velocities of the year. Its reputation as Formula One’s fastest track is likely to be enhanced this year. While 2014’s technical regulations have produced cars with less downforce than those of recent years, the corresponding decrease in drag may see cars hitting 360kph on the long straights.

But Monza isn’t simply about top speeds. Recent races have seen winners emerge from among the slowest through the speed traps, preferring a set-up that possesses sufficient downforce to carry speed through the circuit’s few corners and onto the long straights. Other requirements include a car that is stable under braking, rides kerbs well and has good traction out of the chicanes.

Racing on home ground, Pirelli brings its two hardest compounds to Monza. The fast Parabolica corner places high lateral energy demands on the tyre, while the stop-go nature of the chicanes means Monza also makes high longitudinal demands on the rubber. Even so, the presence of the Hard and Medium tyres combined with the long pitlane time makes this a good place to try a one-stop strategy.

Mercedes come into the race with a strong lead in the Constructors’ Championship, while Nico Rosberg has extended his margin over team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship thanks to second place in Belgium. The German driver now has a 29-point lead over his English team-mate but Hamilton has two pole positions and a victory at Monza to his name and will be optimistic of closing the gap this weekend. It promises to be a spectacular event. prvw-flag-italy.jpg

CIRCUIT DATA

AUTODROMO NAZIONALE MONZA

Length of lap:
5.793km
Lap record
1:21.046
(Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 2004)
Start line/finish line offset
0.309km
Total number of race laps
53
Total race distance
306.720km
Pitlane speed limits
80km/h in practice, qualifying and the race

CIRCUIT NOTES

► To enhance safety, the inner half of the gravel trap at Parabolica has been replaced with an asphalt run-off.

DRS ZONES

► There will be two DRS zones in Italy. The detection point for the first zone will be 95m before Turn Seven, with the activation point 210m after Turn Seven. The second detection point will be 20m before Turn 11, with the activation point 115m after the finish line.

[GSC]

Sad the gravel trap has gone.

Bottas for a debut win if its dry

[Fernando]

Be interesting to see if Mercedes have the same brake issues they had in Montreal

[dyrewolfe]

Sad the gravel trap has gone.

Bottas for a debut win if its dry

Me too. Its one thing to make circuits safer, but taking gravel traps away is just encouraging drivers to become lazy and allows them to get away with mistakes, or worse, attempt passes off the track.

Bottas is a good shout for the win...though I'd also add Ricciardo. Alonso would also be a good bet for a podium finish.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Mercedes' brake / engine issues could return to haunt them (though obviously I hope not).

[Fernando]

Mercedes say they will have to consider changing their driver line-up if Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg cannot race together cleanly.

The ultimatum from Mercedes sports boss Toto Wolff comes in the aftermath of the drivers' collision in Belgium.

The team have made it clear ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix that there must be no more on-track contact.

"We would have to take decisions and take the consequences of having a different line-up," said Wolff.

Well that doesn't sound promising for Lewis's Contract situation if there is would cost them alot to pay off Nico. Im wondering if it's bargaining by Mercedes was rumors he wanted £10m more then Nico.

[Fernando]

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:26.187 25
2 22 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.810 0.623 27
3 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:26.995 0.808 26
4 14 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:27.169 0.982 23
5 20 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.228 1.041 30
6 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:27.271 1.084 27
7 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.493 1.306 27
8 11 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1:27.687 1.500 13
9 26 Daniil Kvyat STR-Renault 1:27.741 1.554 33
10 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:28.112 1.925 23
11 21 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1:28.114 1.927 21
12 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1:28.148 1.961 20
13 19 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1:28.150 1.963 21
14 25 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Renault 1:28.300 2.113 30
15 36 Giedo van der Garde Sauber-Ferrari 1:28.429 2.242 19
16 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:28.487 2.300 12
17 34 Daniel Juncadella Force India-Mercedes 1:29.192 3.005 10
18 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 1:29.512 3.325 24
19 4 Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 1:30.017 3.830 25
20 17 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1:30.081 3.894 27
21 30 Charles Pic Lotus-Renault 1:30.125 3.938 23
22 45 Roberto Merhi Caterham-Renault 1:30.704 4.517 29
23 9 Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 1:30.948 4.761 16

[Bull]

I think its quite funny that Fernando played "Peace Ambassador" by sitting between Nico and Lewis during the press conference. xD

[dyrewolfe]

I think its quite funny that Fernando played "Peace Ambassador" by sitting between Nico and Lewis during the press conference. xD

Well, he does have experience from his work for UNICEF (now, now children, play nice...).

[GSC]

Hamiltons car won't start at present.

[Fernando]

1 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:26.225 41
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:26.286 0.061 16
3 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:26.331 0.106 31
4 14 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:26.565 0.340 26
5 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1:26.758 0.533 34
6 22 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.762 0.537 34
7 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:26.762 0.537 27
8 20 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.881 0.656 44
9 19 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1:26.935 0.710 33
10 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:26.992 0.767 37
11 11 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1:27.079 0.854 42
12 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:27.227 1.002 39
13 26 Daniil Kvyat STR-Renault 1:27.476 1.251 37
14 21 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1:27.840 1.615 33
15 25 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Renault 1:27.929 1.704 33
16 99 Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1:28.029 1.804 35
17 17 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1:28.659 2.434 34
18 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 1:28.700 2.475 42
19 4 Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 1:28.786 2.561 29
20 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:29.085 2.860 29
21 10 Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1:29.178 2.953 32
22 9 Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 1:29.275 3.050 37

[Fernando]

Romain Grosjean says the Lotus Formula 1 team has given up developing this year's car and will struggle to score for the rest of 2014.

The Enstone team has endured a spate of reliability and performance issues with its E22 F1 design since the beginning of the campaign, only scoring in Spain and Monaco in May.

Im surprised it's taken them this long to decide that. It's a heap of crap im surprised they didn't by Canada honestly.

[Guest]

They probably did give up a while ago, Grosjean wouldn't know what the scheduling is for the 2015 car & what the designers are up to. He isn't even confirmed for next year at Lotus. I expect they were planning for next year after the Mercedes deal was confirmed back at the end of June/July.

[Gerry SA]

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo looks set to the Italian marquee. He will become the new CEO for Alitalia Airlines. 


Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will take over at Maranello.

[mystiroakey]

Does the bold text include you nando?

It's like Rosberg telling lewis to be good..


Nah let's have a mellow one but hope for excitement..

Not going smoothly for Rosberg or Lewis tbh.. Both have issues. Rosbergs could be very bad though. He could get a grid penalty...

[GSC]

God the Sochi circuit looks boring. Like a more grey Korea

[GSC]

People questioned the decision to dump Maldonado after just winning the Spanish GP for Bottas according to EJ.

Is he going senile?

[Guest]

I avoid BBC, nonsense pundits & woeful commentator

Interesting Rosberg running lower downforce than LH, quicker in straights. Williams right in there

[GSC]

Better to give up some advantage on Saturday and get better straight line speed on Sunday

[GSC]

McLaren to retain both drivers apparently

[GSC]

You can feel the atmosphere disappear on the beeb when Montoya picks Rosberg for pole.

[Gerry SA]

Hamilton on pole and IMO, without a mechanical issue, roll stroll to victory tomorrow. 

Hamilton is 0.5 faster in the middle sector over everyone else.

[Guest]

Not sure about stroll, nothing is ever easy with Hamilton.

The Mercedes duo will be tentative going into that first corner, actually trying to not hit, could make them drive unnaturally & if I was a Williams, I would be fully committed to diving down the inside & making a move. Too much risk for a Mercedes to DNF now, so they might just be vulnerable at the first corner. Massa usually has rocket starts too, should be a fascinating start.

[mystiroakey]

It is when he is in front.

He is too fast on this track . I can see a pretty basic race for once. His middle sector is too good.

[Trebs]

It looks like Hamilton will win this race, although Rosberg seemed content to take second with a set up which favours race pace, i can see him potentially going for a two stopper with Hamilton on the one.

Looking forward to the race, hoping Alonso makes a podium.

[Gerry SA]

Hamilton has a mechanic issue. Problem with his energy recovery system.

[Guest]

You were saying. Hamilton doesn't do easy

[sportform]

Hamilton has a mechanic issue. Problem with his energy recovery system.

Sabotage by the German Mercedes team to get a German World Champion driving their car

[Gerry SA]

You were saying. Hamilton doesn't do easy

I did say without a mechanic Hamilton would win.

[Guest]

So just a software glitch on start mode. Damage done though

[Guest]

Rosberg showing his class there under no pressurw

[sportform]

Rosberg showing his class there under no pressurw

Funny how the commentators want Rosberg to 'give up' some time for 'gaining' the advantage of -1 second for weaving through those barriers.

[mystiroakey]

This is set up for a right dodgy race after that software start glitch. They will be together soon enough.

[mystiroakey]

Rosberg showing his class there under no pressurw

Funny how the commentators want Rosberg to 'give up' some time for 'gaining' the advantage of -1 second for weaving through those barriers.

What commentary are you listening to?

[mystiroakey]

Non point telling lewis to slow down..

He just isn't going to.

[Guest]

Save your tyres Lewis for the end. Quickly followed by a fastest lap.

So average is Rosberg

[mystiroakey]

Rosberg just done him himself in again.


Lewis driving well but didn't even need to overtake him. Gifted

[Gerry SA]

Hamilton leads after Rosberg makes another error at T1. 

Alonso out.

[Guest]

So average is Rosberg

Your just telling us what we already knew. So glad Lewis ignored that Merc demand to save himself. If you pressure Nico, brown stuff appears in that cockpit

[mystiroakey]

Rosberg is losing so much time. Maybe he is just settling for second.

[mystiroakey]

Really harsh on magnesson that one. Don't get that at all. They have let that sort of move off loads this year.

[mystiroakey]

Button and Perez wheel to wheel...

[Guest]

Cracking racing going on

[mystiroakey]

Riccardo... Respect...

[mystiroakey]

Kvayt sliding in style.. How did he survive that without a smash up.


Hamilton wins..  

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hamilton has a mechanic issue. Problem with his energy recovery system.

Sabotage by the German Mercedes team to get a German World Champion driving their car

#HAMILTONCONSPIRACYTHEORYKLAXON

[GSC]

Good win for Hamilton, had the pace around here on Rosberg.

Rosberg probably won't be upset I guess, still has relative breathing room at the top. He just needs to keep maximising his weekends at this stage.

[sportform]

Good win for Hamilton. It will be a shame though after such an enthralling season that Rosberg/ Hamilton win/ lose the championship because of the double points in the final race.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Good win for Hamilton. It will be a shame though after such an enthralling season that Rosberg/ Hamilton win/ lose the championship because of the double points in the final race.

Twas always gonna make it a complete farce

[mystiroakey]

It might make no difference at all. If the drivers are within 7 pts of each over . it will become immaterial who wins the last race.

[Bull]

Lawrence Stroll will soon take over the Swiss Formula One team known as Sauber. (Anyone know if that's true?)

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