Official 2024 Italian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

After a great result for Lando, McLaren and the championships we’re in Monza, a classic, fast circuit. All the downforce comes off for this round, so relative car performance may change a bit.

RBR will be hoping to have found some answers after running the two cars in different specifications at Zandvoort. You’d expect McLaren and RBR to be right up there- Mercedes and Ferrari’s form is less predictable.

Will be interesting to see how the new Williams recruit (Colapinto) gets on- the team had a lot of good feedback about him after his Silverstone P1 run. Can’t do any worse than Sergeant, and I guess he’s cheap.

Note, Qualifying is at 3pm UK time, but the race is 2pm. Because Italy.

Poll is for the win.

Date(s): Friday 30 August to Sunday 1 September 2024.

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing live Qualifying and the Race.





2023 Highlights:

https://youtu.be/bd9eALWJRzY?si=uNjB7oF-CIdA-mvB

Tyres:

Soft compounds C3-C5



2023 Result:

Edited by Piginapoke on Tuesday 27th August 18:35

[Sandpit Steve]

Monza, always looks like a fantastic atmosphere at an historic venue, would love to go there some day.

Can anyone see anything other than McLaren and Mercedes fighting for the top four places here? Looking forward to the race, best of luck to young rookie Colapinto for his first race and well done to James Vowles on taking a risk.

Link to FIA official documents https://www.fia.com/documents/championships/fia-fo...

Link to timing information will be from https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

[thegreenhell]

It's forecast to be hot all weekend, mid-30s.

It's worth noting that the whole circuit has been resurfaced recently, and Pirelli have said they expect the new black asphalt to absorb and retain a lot more heat than previously, and tyre temperatures could be an issue for some.

[Diderot]

Yep, good point about the resurfacing. I think they've re-profiled several corners too IIRC.

Thanks as ever PiaP. Why break the habit of a season; I've gone for Lando again.

[Sandpit Steve]

thegreenhell said:

It's forecast to be hot all weekend, mid-30s.

It's worth noting that the whole circuit has been resurfaced recently, and Pirelli have said they expect the new black asphalt to absorb and retain a lot more heat than previously, and tyre temperatures could be an issue for some.

Ooh, interesting. Could we end up with a rare two-stop strategy here, that would make things a little more fun?

[SpudLink]

Thanks as always for starting the thread, PiaP.

For the first time in years I’m excited for each new F1 weekend.

I got a bit excited last weekend thinking both championships are open. But if Red Bull are not fastest here, then I really believe Llando can win. Needs a spectacular run, lots of luck, and for his teammate to support him. Mercedes finishing behind the McLaren and ahead of Verstappen would help.

[anyoldcardave]

said:

Me too, after 2.5 years pretty much ignoring it, oh how I hop Lando keeps winning, but cannot quite see him doing it enough, the Mercs are getting capable too.

Lando getting my vote for the first time.

[PRO5T]

Any big announcements coming? Young Kimi is Italian, is Newey's destination about to be made known, was it September that was post Red Bull embargo for him?

A move to Ferrari announced here would be epic, one to Aston Martin would really put the Tifosi on a downer! Has Ferrari announced anyone for their recently departed chassis guy or is it still Fred's remit?

[Big Nanas]

I was a bit confused initially.

It's worth highlighting that Logan Sergeant has been sacked and Colapinto is replacing him for the rest of the season (the graphic doesn't show that, and the OP hasn't been clear).

Good stuff, and I hope he does well!

[BrettMRC]

Thanks Mr Poke!

Can't see anything other than Max parking his car on Lewis' head here...

I suspect it will be 4 different teams in the top 5, the winner I can't decide.

[Derek Smith]

I reckon the top four teams will be pushing at Monza, perhaps thinking of it as a make/break race for the run out to the season. Might some, one or all of them decide to push their engines? RB need to break (or do I mean brake?) this run of no wins. McLaren want this one to maintain momentum. Merc must show they're not a one-hit wonder and Ferrari - they always turn up for Monza.

Could be the race of the season. If not, then we've had a few good ones so far. But here's hoping.

Piastri will go all out to beat Norris. Might be an adventure.

[Piginapoke]

Big Nanas said:

I was a bit confused initially.

It's worth highlighting that Logan Sergeant has been sacked and Colapinto is replacing him for the rest of the season (the graphic doesn't show that, and the OP hasn't been clear).

Good stuff, and I hope he does well!

Yes Sergeant is fired. Drugovich seems a better candidate to me with a lot more F1 experience

[suffolk009]

Voted for Lando to win. Doubt we'll ever see Sargeant on the podium now.

[vaud]

Gone for Leclerc as Ferrari sometimes take some PU risks for a home win...

[White-Noise]

Bonjourno I love monza. Proper old iconic track with lots of atmosphere. I've gone for lando but at present there are the 5 of them to pick between. I'd really like lando to take a proper challenge to max but it's a long trip and he has to sort those starts out or he will keep getting into trouble, and you really don't want to be trying to pass max while he has more points than you. Grazi Ciao ciao!

[cuprabob]

I notice that the CH4 highlights programmes are truncated to 1hr from the usual 1.5hr quali and 2.5hr race programmes, probably due to the Paralympics coverage.

[HocusPocus]

Thanks PiaP
Expect MB to dump the new floor and go back to 1-2.

[richhead]

monza is all about low drag , i think that maybe RB will be good here.
Used to love working at this track in old elsm, and the local restaurants are amazing.
Remember the first time i drove the truck into the park, before sat nav, and thinking is there really a race track here, as im driving the artic past families having picnics.

[732NM]

The big iron gates at the rear padock entrance and the insistence you had to follow a bloke on a scooter the few yards to the back of the garages let you know you arrived at Monza.

Standing on the grid on pole and my first international race win at Monza is quite a special memory.

Local food is epic.

[PhilAsia]

Thanks PiaP!

I trust Norris can keep the momentum going here, after coming back strongly after the break. His only error last week was the start and some of that is the car I feel, as Piastri did not get the launch either.

I think we may see Merc do well here also as, iirc they are softer on tyres and if the new surface holds temps and is abrasive we may see Lewis whisper his tyres into the win.

Max? The RB, and Max now he has no rocket ship, are harder on the tyres, so dependent on how they hold up, maybe will see a third? They still have straight line speed and not so many kerbs here.

Let's have a close race, and see who can dice skillfully.