- Spherical 16 of the 2024 Formulation 1 season will get underway this weekend
- The race takes place on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza situated close to Milan
- Franco Colapinto replaces Logan Sargeant at Williams for the remainder of the season
The 2024 Formulation 1 World Championship battle continues this weekend with spherical 16, the Italian Grand Prix.
The race is without doubt one of the actual highlights of the calendar given its historical past and the throng of passionate Ferrari followers that present up every year.
It’s run on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza situated simply outdoors of Milan, a circuit nicknamed the Temple of Pace because the prime speeds recurrently eclipse 217 mph. All the monitor has been resurfaced this yr and new curbs put in which can give drivers an opportunity to hold slightly extra pace into sure corners.
The Italian Grand Prix, just like the British Grand Prix, has been on the F1 calendar because the inaugural 1950 season. It has been held at Monza yearly besides 1980, when it was held on the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari situated at Imola. Lately, F1 has added a second Italian spherical held at Imola, referred to as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza, house of the Formulation 1 Italian Grand Prix
The present format stretches 3.6 miles and features a collection of straights and a few tight chicanes. The circuit accommodates simply 11 corners, and in consequence drivers sometimes spend 77% of the lap time and 80% of the lap distance at full throttle. Solely the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix’s Jeddah Road Circuit sees the next period of time spent at full throttle, at 82%.
In consequence, automobiles are arrange for low downforce to maximise their prime speeds. This in flip makes them extra depending on the mechanical traction from the tires to supply grip by the corners. Pirelli has nominated its softest mixture of C3, C4, C5 compounds for the race.
The climate at Monza this time of yr tends to be scorching, which is sweet because the lengthy straights imply the tires can cool an excessive amount of when the climate is milder. The present forecast requires sunny skies and peak temperatures above 90 levels F throughout each Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race.
Franco Colapinto – Photograph through Williams
There are some new drivers to be aware of. Williams has changed underperforming Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season with Franco Colapinto. Colapinto, a former Formulation 2 driver, has been a part of Williams’ driver academy since 2023 and has beforehand pushed for the group throughout a observe session on the 2024 British Grand Prix.
Mercedes-Benz AMG additionally had Andrea Kimi Antonelli spend time in George Russell’s automotive throughout a Friday observe session for the Italian Grand Prix. He proved to be fast however suffered a crash 10 minutes in. It was the primary time in an F1 automotive for Antonelli who’s extensively tipped to fill Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes subsequent season. Hamilton is headed to Ferrari.
Going into the weekend, Purple Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen leads the 2024 Drivers’ Championship with 296 factors. McLaren’s Lando Norris is second with 225 factors and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is third with 192 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Purple Bull leads with 434 factors. McLaren is second with 404 factors and Ferrari is third with 370 factors. Final yr’s winner at Monza was Verstappen, driving for Purple Bull.
