.png "os2 trasparenza (1)")
On Sunday, September 1, 2024, the Italian Grand Prix will take place at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, marking the 16th round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. Starting from this Grand Prix, Argentine Formula 2 driver Franco Colapinto from MP Motorsport, a member of the Williams Driver Academy, will replace regular American driver Logan Sargeant in the Grove-based team for the remainder of the season. In fact, on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Williams Racing announces that Franco Colapinto will race with the team for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season and will compete from the Italian Grand Prix alongside Alex Albon. He will use the race number #43. Franco is a member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy and made his FP1 debut in this year's FW46 at the British Grand Prix. His F2 campaign this year has seen him secure a race win in Imola and podiums in the Barcelona and Austria Feature races, as well as seven further points-scoring outings. The 21-year-old will become the 49th Grand Prix driver for Williams Racing, is the first Argentine driver in F1 for 23 years and the second Argentine to drive for the British outfit, following his countryman Carlos Reutemann. The team would like to take the opportunity to thank Logan Sargeant for his hard work and contribution over the past two seasons. He has competed in 36 Grands Prix and, at the US GP last year, became the first American driver to score an F1 point since Michael Andretti 30 years prior. Logan will remain in the Williams family and we will support him to continue his racing career. Franco Colapinto says:
"It is an honour to be making my Formula 1 debut with Williams - this is what dreams are made of. The team has such amazing history and a mission to get back to the front which I can't wait to be part of. Coming into F1 mid-season will be an enormous learning curve but I am up for the challenge, and I'm fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex and the team to make it a success".
James Vowles, Team Principal Williams Racing, adds:
"To replace a driver mid-season is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season. We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximise every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle. We also believe in investing in our young drivers in the Williams Racing Driver Academy, and Franco is getting a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what he is capable of across the final nine rounds of the season. This is undoubtedly incredibly tough on Logan, who has given his all throughout his time with Williams, and we want to thank him for all his hard work and positive attitude. Logan remains a talented driver and we will support him to continue his racing career for the future. I know that Franco has great speed and huge potential, and we look forward to seeing what he can do in Formula 1".
For this race, Pirelli, the exclusive tire supplier, is offering the C3, C4, and C5 compounds—the softest tire range available for the World Championship. Compared to last year, the Monza circuit has undergone a series of upgrades and modernizations. The first phase of the work included a complete resurfacing of the track, upgrades to several underpasses, and the construction of a new one to separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Additionally, the water drainage systems were overhauled, particularly at turns 3, 6, and 11, which now feature a slight increase in banking. The two corners of the first chicane have been widened on the outside - turn 1 on the left and turn 2 on the right - without altering the ideal racing line, to provide more space and reduce the number of incidents, especially at race starts. The speed bumps in the runoff area on the left side of turn 2 have been replaced with a 2.5-meter-wide gravel strip. Similarly, a 2.5-meter-wide gravel strip has been added between turns 4 and 5 on the right-hand runoff area, located one meter from the track edge. The curbs on the right side at the entrance to turns 4 and 8 have been removed, while all other curbs have been replaced with new ones. The double curbs at the exits of turns 6, 7, and 10 have been replaced with single curbs. These modifications aim to enhance safety and improve the racing experience at the iconic Monza circuit. Max Verstappen has won the last two editions of the Italian Grand Prix, and in 2023 he achieved his tenth consecutive victory, setting the record for the longest winning streak in Formula 1.
However, the Dutch driver has not won in five races, and Red Bull Racing has yet to find a solution to the balance issues plaguing the RB20:
"We have several things to try with the car. At Zandvoort, the wind and rain didn’t help us analyze whether what we were doing was working or not. Perez says we’ve found the solution? We’ll see - it’s not like his car was suddenly super fast. We’re working with the engineers to solve the issue, and everyone is pushing hard".
Commenting on the changes made to the Monza circuit, Max Verstappen said:
"The Ascari chicane is completely different. I don’t know if it’s better or worse - I want to drive it before making a judgment. What’s certain is that grip here was an issue, and now, with the new asphalt, it won’t be. For us, who struggle with low grip, this could be good news".
Verstappen also addressed the departure of Adrian Newey and Red Bull Racing’s struggles, stating that the two are not directly linked:
"They’re not related. I know that the timing worked out that way, but they’re not connected. I didn’t expect such a performance drop, especially considering how the season started, but I just focus on doing my best. Whether it’s enough to win the title, I don’t know. Would I like to win the title? Of course, but whether I do or not, my life doesn’t change. Right now, I’m not in control of the situation. Will a 70-point lead be enough? It doesn’t take much for things to change. I’d rather win races than do the math, but I’m aware that a perfect season finale is needed, and that’s very difficult".
It’s not common to bring significant updates to Monza, as it’s a unique track. However, Scuderia Ferrari is introducing important upgrades to the SF-24 in this specific circumstance, aiming to resolve the side effects that emerged following the technical updates after Imola. On the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur, explains that the goal of these updates is to eliminate bouncing, but that Monza may not be the best track to determine whether this goal has been achieved:
"The update we made to the floor is meant to solve the bouncing issue, but Monza is not the best track to see if we’ve succeeded, as we run with an extreme wing setup here. There are no updates that magically turn a car around and are worth 0.3 seconds - just look at what’s happening not only to us but also to other teams. We remain focused on ourselves; sometimes when a team brings updates, the results are not immediate, but then they start to show in the next race. The rules have been stable for three years, and we’ve all reached a performance ceiling. Trying to increase aerodynamic load in some areas can lead to unwanted effects in others".
Charles Leclerc also commented on the upcoming Grand Prix, a critical event for Scuderia Ferrari, which is bringing significant technical updates:
"Monza with less charm without the bumps? We often say it’s important for tracks to retain their personality, but the goal of resurfacing was to eliminate roughness. The track is now flatter and has more grip. Tire management will be different compared to recent editions. In Monaco, we were good on the curbs, but there you take them at low speed, here it’s high speed. So, even if the feedback is negative, I wouldn’t be disappointed. We’ll see how things go starting tomorrow. I don’t think Monza is the best track to verify if we’ve improved; Baku and Singapore will be more representative. The only corner here that might give us some indication is Parabolica. We don’t expect our weaknesses to be as exposed here, but we’ll see on other tracks".
He added:
"The gap between Red Bull and McLaren has shrunk, but not yet between us and those teams, and we need to close that gap. I definitely like that the playing field is leveling out because, at that point, the driver can make the difference. For the spectators, a more unpredictable Formula 1 is certainly more exciting".
At the same time, Carlos Sainz Jr. is preparing for what could be his last race at Monza as a Ferrari driver, though the Spanish driver emphasizes he doesn’t feel melancholy or sad about it. In 2023, Carlos Sainz Jr. took a magical pole position and finished the race on the podium. On Sunday, September 1, 2024, he will celebrate his birthday and will try to gift himself a victory:
"McLaren is the benchmark because every time they bring updates, they work. We, Red Bull, and Mercedes are chasing the 0.1-0.2 seconds we’re missing. Until we test the updates on Friday, I can’t make predictions. Our performance is so close that this is what happens when you get something wrong or race on a more or less favorable track. I’ve never felt underestimated, neither by other drivers nor by team principals. Over 24 races, I always manage to bring out my strengths".
There’s great curiosity about the drivers’ first comments after completing the FP sessions on Monza’s track, which has been modernized with new asphalt, new curbs, and modifications to some corners. Mercedes driver George Russell is, however, quite critical of these changes, stating that they have diluted the track’s character:
"Drivers are often the last to find out about track changes. Personally, I think it’s a bit of a shame because there was so much character in places like the Ascari chicane. I don’t think it’ll be as impressive with these changes. Honestly, I don’t know who makes these decisions. I don’t think it’s the FIA, but the circuits themselves. We need to appreciate circuits designed for an entire season and for all categories, but we’ve always said that these old-school tracks with incredible character should be preserved at all costs. We want the best tracks in the world to race on, with the most character. These changes won’t necessarily help or hinder racing, but they do make the track slightly less enjoyable for us drivers. So, we’re a bit selfish, and we want the best of everything, but hopefully, we’ll find a better way in the future. The Ascari curbs used to be very unique. They had a kind of drainage channel that dipped about ten centimeters, then came back up, and you could fit the inside wheel through these channels. It always made for an iconic photo. You’d see cars sliding through the corners with the inside wheel dropping into the drain. Now, they’re completely flat, and drivers will be able to cut the corner entirely. We’re still limited by the gravel, and now it’ll be a faster corner, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it felt like one of those corners that didn’t need any changes. I’m not very convinced, but, as I said, it might have saved someone’s job".
George Russell arrives at Monza a week after the Dutch Grand Prix, where Mercedes tested the new floor:
"Engineers always want to hear that a new floor is better, but that’s not always the case. You have to be honest with yourself, but in the end, you have to trust the numbers. If you don’t trust the numbers, you’re in for a world of pain. We’re going from Zandvoort, a high-downforce, cold, and windy track, to Monza, a low-downforce track with a very grippy surface and C5 tires. There’s no comparison between weekends or even between sessions. The track probably evolves by two seconds during the day, with Formula 3, Formula 2, and Porsche driving. Even if you test something with Formula 1, once Formula 2 runs, it’s a completely different session again. As long as the characteristics are similar, you have to trust those numbers and believe in the engineers’ expertise".
The English driver also humorously addressed rumors about Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a possible teammate in 2025, in a weekend where the Italian driver will participate in FP1 driving the Mercedes in his place:
"To be honest, we’ve never talked about it. I’ve been with this team for a long time, and we’ve always said we’ll continue together for the foreseeable future. There are a lot of rumors that are quite amusing to read, but I’m not focused on any of that. I’m just focused on my driving. I can’t wait to find out who my teammate will be next year".
This weekend, the official announcement regarding the promotion of Andrea Kimi Antonelli to the Mercedes team starting in the 2025 season is expected. In the meantime, the Italian driver will make his Formula 1 debut during the Italian Grand Prix, participating in the first Free Practice session behind the wheel of the Mercedes W15. He will carry the number #12, and as mentioned, George Russell will temporarily give up his seat. On this topic, Red Bull Racing’s external consultant, Helmut Marko, describes Mercedes’ decision to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a bold move. It’s no coincidence that, on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, Toto Wolff emphasizes that he will try to protect the young Italian driver from the pressure that the media - especially the Italian press - usually heaps on everyone:
"You only find out if someone is ready for Formula 1 when you throw them into the mix. I believe Kimi is ready. We are doing everything we can to give him test days. We’re not sitting in the car with him; he has to do that. He has the talent, the intelligence, the capability - everything to do well. Our job is to ensure he has the right environment where he can learn and grow. Young drivers need time. George is a formidable driver, one of the best. You can’t expect an 18-year-old to sit in the car and beat him. It won’t happen. It’s impossible. That’s why we need to ensure the press, especially in Italy, doesn’t put too much pressure on him".
On Friday, August 30, 2024, a peaceful protest by about a hundred Alpine employees from the Viry-Chatillon facility - the site responsible for producing the Power Units used in Formula 1 - is expected in Monza. The protest, as specified in the statement, will not interfere with the normal track operations:
"Each group will display a banner with a clear, non-aggressive message, advocating for the continued presence of a French engine in Formula 1. Everyone will wear a white T-shirt with the Alpine logo, the message #ViryOnTrack, and a black armband. No actions will be taken to disrupt track activities".
The issue at stake is Alpine’s decision to turn to Mercedes for its Power Units starting in 2026. In response to the employees’ concerns, Alpine released a statement on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, emphasizing that a final decision has not yet been made:
"We are aware of some activities planned for this weekend by the Viry staff. From their statement, we understand that these will be peaceful protests, which will not affect the team’s operations. The transformation project is still under evaluation, and no final decision has been made by Alpine management. The dialogue, which began when the project was presented to the Viry employee representatives in July, is important to Alpine management and will continue in the coming weeks".
On Friday, August 30, 2024, during the first free practice session (FP1) at the Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, focusing on fast lap performance, set the best time, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. Ferrari struggled with understeer, although Carlos Sainz Jr. confirmed the team's speed with the fourth-fastest time. Surprisingly, Valtteri Bottas secured fifth place. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, making his debut with Mercedes, suffered an accident shortly after the start of the session.
The Italian driver, unharmed, crashed at Parabolica, ending his session against the barriers. Both Franco Colapinto, another debutant, and Carlos Sainz Jr. also narrowly avoided going off track at the same corner. The second free practice session (FP2) was highly competitive, with Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest time, edging out Lando Norris by just 0.003 seconds. Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third, just 0.103 seconds behind Hamilton. The top sixteen drivers were separated by less than a second, showcasing a tight field. However, Mercedes faced challenges with cockpit overheating and a delay in sending George Russell out on track due to repairs needed after the morning session. The session also highlighted tire graining, which seemed to affect Ferrari earlier than other teams. Max Verstappen, fastest in FP1, only managed fourteenth place in FP2, partly due to a red flag caused by Kevin Magnussen's crash at the Roggia chicane. The red flag did not stop the clock during the session. During Friday's free practice sessions, Lewis Hamilton used a new gearbox assembly outside the allocated pool allowed by the technical regulations. However, the British driver was not penalized on the starting grid, as this change was within the permitted limit under the rules. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was dreaming of a very different outcome for his debut in a Formula 1 race weekend. The Italian driver, in front of his home crowd, initially topped the timing charts but then made a mistake, crashing into the safety barriers at the Parabolica corner after just ten minutes. Antonelli's debut lasted only one and a half laps, sparking controversy over the decision to entrust the W15 seat to an 18-year-old. However, he is a driver that the Mercedes team believes in, and after the session, team principal Toto Wolff reiterated this:
"First of all, he apologized, and I think that's what you should do when you bring a damaged car back to the pits. It was like a box of Legos dropped on the floor. He also told us that he felt a lot of confidence in the car, that it was fast. This incident will have zero impact on who will be Russell's teammate in 2025. I believe the most important thing is to choose based on ability. A bad FP1 is not the reason to judge a driver negatively. The most important thing is that he's okay because the crash was 45G, so it was significant. The second priority is preparing the car for George so that the program isn't too affected, and we hope everything will be fine. We might be a bit delayed, but it will be okay. It's a shame because I believe we would have seen some good performance with an hour of track time. But as we always say: he's a rookie, he's very young, and we're ready to invest in his future. These moments will happen, they'll continue to happen even next year, but there will also be many great moments. What we saw today is that we have more problems slowing him down than making him faster: that lap and a half was simply amazing and very fast".
Toto Wolff thus confirms that Andrea Kimi Antonelli is Mercedes' future driver, even before the official announcement of his promotion. The Italian driver will likely have the chance to redeem himself at the end of October:
"We haven't yet decided on his next assignment with us, but I believe it will be in Mexico. We won't rush his second FP1 with us because of this incident. I think he's a strong driver who needs to bounce back from these things and handle the pressure. Before the session, I told him to have fun, take the pressure off, and not forget that this is the best job in the world. And I repeated that to him after the session. This weekend hasn't been easy for him: he still has to compete in Formula 2, plus he's an Italian guy driving a Mercedes for the first time, and that must be a heavy burden. But if he wants to become a champion one day, he has to face all of this. I have no doubt that he can do it and that he will".
Andrea Kimi Antonelli's debut lasted ten minutes and ended against the barriers at the Parabolica corner. The Italian driver may have pushed too hard, having already set the fastest lap and was improving his sector times, but after losing control of the rear of the W15, he couldn’t regain control of the car. Antonelli’s mistake stemmed from inexperience (others faced the same issue but managed to handle the car) and the weight of expectations that the fragile shoulders of a newly-turned adult may struggle to bear. Helmut Marko, who has launched many young talents into Formula 1, shares this view:
"He was under a lot of pressure. He was racing in his home country, and for the first time, he was in a Formula 1 car. Perhaps all of this was too much for him".
During the Team Principals’ press conference, Toto Wolff defended his protégé, stating that it is through these mistakes that a young driver can respond and grow if they want to become a World Champion in the future. The incident will not jeopardize the Italian driver's future in F1. For his part, the Italian driver apologized to the team, saying:
"Unfortunately, the first session ended early because of the crash. The impact was hard, around 52G. I’m very sorry, I apologize to the team and to George. It was my mistake; I pushed too hard. I should have started pushing more gradually. But I’ve learned the lesson for next time. I’m very grateful to the team for making this experience possible, and I thank the fans. Now I want to focus on the rest of the weekend".
A few hours later, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team unveils driver line-up for the next chapter. Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli will race alongside George Russell in 2025, with both drivers having graduated from the team's Junior programme. Multiple Grand Prix winner George Russell will be partnered by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2025 as the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team unveils its new driver line-up. Antonelli steps up from FIA F2 and graduates from the team's junior programme, like Russell before him. Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, commented:
"Our 2025 driver line-up combines experience, talent, youth and out-and-out raw speed. We are excited about what George and Kimi bring to the team both as individual drivers, but also as a partnership. Our new line-up is perfect to open the next chapter in our story. It is also a testament to the strength of our junior programme and our belief in home-grown talent. George has proved that he is one of the very best drivers in the world. He is not only fast, consistent, and determined, but has also developed into a strong leader within the team. Kimi has consistently shown the talent and speed needed to compete at the very top of our sport. We know it will be another big step up, but he has impressed us in his F1 testing this year and we will be supporting him every step of the way in the learning process. In George, he has an experienced team-mate from which he can learn and hone his craft. I am confident that both will contribute greatly as we continue to build momentum and fight at the front of the field".
George joined the team's junior programme in 2017. He rose rapidly through the single-seater ranks to F1, winning the GP3 and F2 championships in his first season. After three years starring at Williams - including an impressive cameo for Mercedes at Bahrain in 2020 - he was promoted to partner Lewis Hamilton in 2022. He claimed his maiden F1 victory in the São Paulo Grand Prix and became a multiple race winner with success in Austria this year. George added:
"I'm really excited to be partnering with Kimi for 2025. His record in junior formula has been formidable and his promotion is truly deserved. He's a fantastic young talent and a fellow graduate of our junior programme. I look forward to using the experience I've gained from my own journey to provide guidance to Kimi as he makes the step up to F1. I know how much of a support Lewis was for me throughout my time as a junior driver and since I've been his team-mate. I've learned so much from him and I hope to play a similar role for Kimi. As a team, we're building a lot of positive momentum heading into next year. We continue to make progress on track and are working hard to put all the pieces in place to fight for world championships. It is a really exciting journey we are on; I am confident Kimi and I can continue to push the team forward and help deliver on the promise we are showing".
Kimi meanwhile has enjoyed a stunning rise through the lower ranks of motorsport, and joined the team's junior programme as a 12-year old in 2019. After success in karting, including FIA Karting European Championship and WSK Euro series titles, he graduated to single-seaters. He stormed to both the ADAC and Italian Formula 4 titles in 2022, before claiming the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship. Kimi made the step up to FIA Formula 2 for 2024 and has handled it with aplomb. He has claimed two victories so far this season, including an impressive Feature Race success in Budapest. Kimi commented:
"It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025. Reaching F1 is a dream I've had since I was a small boy; I want to thank the team for the support they've given me in my career so far and the faith they've shown in me. I am still learning a lot, but I feel ready for the opportunity. I will be focused on getting better and delivering the best possible results for the team. I’m also really excited to become George's team-mate. He came through the team's junior programme just like myself and is someone I have a huge amount of respect for. He is super-fast, a multiple Grand Prix winner, and has already helped me improve as a driver. I am looking forward to learning from him and working together to deliver on track".
Markus Schäfer, Non-Executive Chairman & Mercedes-Benz AG CTO, added:
"It is an exciting time for the team as we unveil our driver line-up for 2025. We open the next chapter in our story next year and have a fantastic partnership with which to do so. George, as a multiple Grand Prix winner, has developed into a top-tier driver. It has been a pleasure to see him come through the ranks of the team's junior programme, establish himself in F1 over the past few years, and become a leader within the team. Kimi, just like George and Lewis, is one of our home-grown talents with a very promising future. His record at junior level is incredibly impressive and his raw speed is clear to see. I can't wait to see him in a race seat next year and watch his supreme talent shine in a Mercedes F1 car".
After Lando Norris’ triumphant run at Zandvoort, McLaren arrives at Monza as the favorite to win the Italian Grand Prix. The British team aims to use this opportunity to close the gap on Red Bull Racing in the Constructors' Championship standings. However, to achieve this, a strong performance from Oscar Piastri will also be needed, after he finished only fourth in the Netherlands behind Charles Leclerc.
The weekend started well for the Australian driver, as he recorded the fourth-fastest time during FP2, just 0.120 seconds off the best time set by Lewis Hamilton.
"The day went well. There are a few things to fix, but the pace and potential are definitely there. I’m happy".
Among the issues that need to be resolved over the weekend, Piastri pointed to tire management - made particularly difficult by the intense heat plaguing Monza and the surrounding Brianza area these days - as well as adapting to the new circuit layout.
"The tires were definitely an interesting factor for everyone today. We’ll need to understand how this will evolve over the weekend, but our pace was good. Monza has changed quite a bit with the adjustments that have been made: the curbs and resurfacing. It takes some time to get used to, but overall, it was a good Friday. Heat? You can definitely feel it, though fortunately this isn’t the most physically demanding track on the calendar. It’s more of an issue for the tires, but it’s the same for everyone".
Piastri was just 0.003 seconds off Lewis Hamilton and a potential threat within his own garage. According to the telemetry data, without a mistake at the Ascari corner, Piastri could have set the fastest lap of the day, with room to spare over his competitors.
Lando Norris finished second in both practice sessions and showed one of the most promising race paces, despite the MCL38 experiencing some tire graining. Norris analyzed the day, which hadn’t started with the best feelings:
"FP1 didn’t go well because I felt a bit uncomfortable with the car. FP2 was better, but we need to make progress overnight ahead of tomorrow’s Qualifying. There are some areas I need to focus on during FP3, but we have a good data base to work from".
McLaren Racing Team Principal, Andrea Stella, emphasized that it will be a very close weekend among the four top teams:
"Both sessions today were quite demanding. We had a lot of work to do in gathering data and evaluating our aerodynamic updates. As usual at Monza, we also tried to optimize the setup for the long straights while preserving some grip in the corners. This year, the asphalt seems much smoother, and this opens up opportunities in terms of setup. We have a lot of work ahead, but overall, it’s been a couple of positive sessions. We’ll go through all this data and prepare for the rest of the weekend, which looks very, very tight in terms of competitiveness, with the usual four teams in contention for the podium".
The Italian Grand Prix weekend appeared to start promisingly for Max Verstappen, who is aiming to end a five-race winless streak at Monza. However, during the second practice session, the Dutch Red Bull Racing driver finished only P14, without setting a fast lap on soft tires.
"I tried a few things and there was a lot to do. FP2 wasn’t great initially, but then it seemed like the long run was a bit more competitive. At the moment, the tires seem quite aggressive. They’re wearing out, and it will be interesting to see how the situation evolves during the race. I believe we can take the car in the right directions; we just need to sort things out a bit, and I think the race will be competitive among many cars, as you can see, and I hope we can be among them".
Max Verstappen does not seem very convinced about the setup of his Red Bull:
"We’re working to explore different directions and to be competitive. Ultimately, practice is for this purpose and to learn a bit about the car, which is what we’re doing. FP1 seemed quite decent, unlike FP2, at least in the first part, so we’re trying to make the most of these two sessions ahead of tomorrow".
Fuck sake. With a good dose of frustration, Max Verstappen commented on the loss of grip of his Red Bull at Parabolica while closing out his flying lap in FP2. The Dutch driver, who had been the fastest in FP1 with a new set of soft tires, finished the second practice session in P14 because his subsequent attempt was also thwarted by a red flag caused by Kevin Magnussen’s off-track incident at the second Lesmo corner. However, Helmut Marko is satisfied, as Verstappen’s long-run simulation appears to be in line with Lando Norris’s performance.
"We started with a good balance, which allowed us to work consistently. Verstappen didn’t set a fast lap due to a mistake at Parabolica, but then in the long run, before graining occurred, we maintained a good pace. On the dry lap, we haven’t fully exploited the engine yet, but we were still in the mix. There are still some issues that are not easy to resolve. We’ll see how the car reacts in FP3".
Mercedes began the weekend with Andrea Kimi Antonelli's crash in FP1 but ended with Lewis Hamilton posting the fastest time.
Unlike other drivers, Hamilton managed a long run in reverse, starting slowly and then improving his times, while competitors were slowed down by graining.
"I’m glad Antonelli is okay because it was a significant impact. In terms of our car’s performance, it was a good day. The new asphalt and smoother curbs presented an interesting challenge, but the car has behaved well from the start. Graining emerged in FP1 on almost all cars. We made some substantial changes before FP2, and the car made progress. There is still work to be done overnight, both here and at the factory, especially on the long run, so we can be as competitive as possible for the rest of the weekend".
On his part, George Russell had limited options, having inherited the car from the crashed Antonelli:
"It’s never nice to see an incident like Antonelli’s, and the important thing is that he wasn’t hurt. The mechanics did a great job preparing the car for FP2. Around the red flag, I had 30 minutes to work, and I really appreciate that. The car seems to be performing well. Lewis did a great job to be at the top of the timesheets, while I focused more on the long run. The track will evolve significantly, so we’ll need to be good at interpreting the data we have".
The weekend has started off well for Scuderia Ferrari and Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver finished FP2 in fifth place, just under 0.2 seconds behind the leader, his future teammate Lewis Hamilton. After a surprising podium finish at Zandvoort, given the weekend's initial expectations, Charles Leclerc hopes to have a car capable of competing for a top-three position and potentially even more, considering the apparent effectiveness of the technical upgrades.
"Overall, it was a fairly positive day. Our performance is good, driving the car was enjoyable, and the updates we made are working as expected. What we need to focus on is the car’s balance because there is still some room for improvement in this area. Sunday's race will be challenging for everyone, especially due to the new asphalt, and tire management will be crucial. We are closer to our rivals than at Zandvoort, but they are still very strong, and I expect a lot of competition tomorrow".
Alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s debut, Scuderia Ferrari was another highly anticipated presence in the Italian Grand Prix’s practice sessions. The Maranello team was welcomed by the warmth of the home fans, eager to see Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc in action with the new technical updates. The new package was tested on a circuit with previously unknown factors, such as the new asphalt and other modifications to the curbs, particularly those at Variante Ascari. Both Ferrari drivers finished in the top five across the two sessions, with a balanced performance among all the top teams. In FP1, Sainz Jr. completed 24 laps, starting with medium tires and then switching to softs, also finishing a race simulation. The Spanish driver, in his final race with Scuderia Ferrari, ended FP1 in fourth place and then moved up to third in FP2 with a time of 1'20"841, just 0.1 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, who will take his place in the Ferrari in 2025:
"It was a very intense and interesting Friday. The Monza track has changed quite a bit, with very different curbs and new asphalt. Because of this, the challenges and limits of the car are quite different from previous years, and we had to adapt to a new scenario in terms of setup and understanding tire degradation. There’s a lot of work to do tonight to improve for tomorrow, but overall, it was a positive start to the weekend".
On Saturday, August 31, 2024, FP3 confirmed the strong competitive balance among the top teams. During the session, Mercedes continued to dominate, with Lewis Hamilton setting a time that was faster than the pole position time from 2023.
Close behind, just 0.063 seconds off Hamilton’s pace, was George Russell. Charles Leclerc finished third, after posting his time on the final of his nine laps during a mini long run. The Monegasque driver was ahead of the two McLaren Racing drivers, while the Red Bull Racing team used the session for additional aerodynamic testing. During FP3, Kevin Magnussen experienced technical issues with his Haas, forcing the Danish driver to abandon his car on track. A few hours later, after Esteban Ocon set the fastest time in Q1, various drivers took turns at the top, but the first significant reference was Charles Leclerc, who lapped in 1'20"074. Carlos Sainz Jr. was penalized by an off-track excursion at the second Lesmo curve. Sergio Pérez was fourth, also beaten by Max Verstappen, who was 0.15 seconds off the Monegasque driver's time. Shortly after, Lando Norris lowered the limit, bringing it under 1'20"0, while Oscar Piastri, hindered by a mistake at the first chicane, didn’t climb the standings. Soon after, Alex Albon moved up to fifth, ahead of Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo, while Franco Colapinto was eighth. On his second attempt, Oscar Piastri moved up to fourth, while Fernando Alonso took fifth, before George Russell secured the fourth fastest time. Right behind him was Lewis Hamilton. The battle heated up in the final minutes of the session, with many drivers trying to advance to the second phase. Alex Albon climbed back up the rankings, reaching eighth place, while in the pit lane, there was a potential incident between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Shortly after, Franco Colapinto made an error at the second Lesmo curve but managed to keep his Williams under control. Kevin Magnussen also made a small mistake at Parabolica; shortly after, Oscar Piastri improved to third position, while Max Verstappen had a lap time deleted that would have put him at the top of the timesheets. The drivers eliminated in this phase were Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, Valtteri Bottas, and Guanyu Zhou. The start of Q2 was delayed for a few minutes to allow track cleaning at the second Lesmo curve, where many drivers had brought gravel onto the track. In Q2, Carlos Sainz Jr. was the first to complete a lap, but his time was soon bettered by Charles Leclerc, who lapped in 1'20"296.
Nico Hülkenberg got within 0.1 seconds of the Spanish driver’s time before Sergio Pérez slotted between the two. Shortly afterward, Max Verstappen took the top spot on the timesheets, only to be beaten by Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris then lowered the limit to 1'19"727. George Russell was fourth, Fernando Alonso tenth, while Lewis Hamilton took the lead with a lap of 1'19"641. The Ferraris encountered some issues that left them at risk of not qualifying, and the Haas cars weren’t particularly competitive except in the first sector. Sergio Pérez couldn’t do better than eighth, but thanks to the slipstream provided by the Mexican driver, Max Verstappen climbed to second place. Failing to enter Q3 were Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, and Esteban Ocon. In the third phase, Max Verstappen was once again involved in a near-incident in the pit lane: this time, Carlos Sainz Jr. cut across his path. After Alexander Albon set his time, it was Sergio Pérez who recorded the first significant lap with a 1'20"062. That limit was soon beaten by Oscar Piastri, who clocked 1'19"436. Once again, it was Lando Norris who outpaced his teammate, setting a 1'19"401. The Ferraris were 0.3 seconds behind, with Carlos Sainz Jr., and 0.1 seconds behind, with Charles Leclerc. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen remained behind Sergio Pérez, while George Russell placed ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who, in turn, lapped faster than the Ferrari drivers. After the first attempt, the standings showed the two McLarens ahead of the two Mercedes, the two Ferraris, and the two Red Bull Racing cars. On the second attempt, there were no major improvements for Red Bull Racing, with Sergio Pérez ruining his lap with a small off-track excursion. The Mexican driver then helped Max Verstappen by giving him a slipstream, but this only allowed the Dutchman to surpass his teammate in the standings. The driver who did improve, however, was Lando Norris, who lapped in 1'19"327. Oscar Piastri remained second, without improving on his first attempt. Carlos Sainz Jr. managed to overtake both Mercedes drivers in the standings but was, in turn, outpaced by Charles Leclerc. Shortly after, George Russell regained third place. At the end of the last-completed lap, Lando Norris says over the radio to his engineer:
"Ohhh. What a shitty lap. I’m sorry. My fault".
But Joseph responds:
"Ok mate. No worries. Your shitty lap was enough to take pole".
To which the British driver replies, saying:
"Cool. That means your setup was fantastic. Well done, guys. Lovely 1-2. Congratulations".
The Italian Grand Prix will start with Lando Norris' McLaren on pole position. The British driver, the main challenger to Max Verstappen in the World Drivers’ Championship, continues his golden streak by securing pole position at Monza, ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. It’s a triumph for the Woking team, which now seriously threatens Red Bull Racing’s dominance in both championship standings. George Russell took third position, with Charles Leclerc alongside him in the second row. The third row will see the second Ferrari and the second Mercedes, with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lewis Hamilton. The two Red Bull Racing cars only managed the fourth row, with Max Verstappen in seventh, ahead of Sergio Perez. Raise your hand if you could have imagined an all-McLaren front row with two Red Bull Racing cars chasing behind. The Italian Grand Prix qualifying at Monza not only highlights the superiority of the MCL38 but also presents a perfect scenario for the Woking team, which in the race could not only strike a blow in the Constructors' Championship but also reignite the fight for the Drivers' Championship. That is, assuming Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri don’t get in each other's way at the start or during the race, in a repeat of what happened between Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in 2018. This begs the question: will it be a free race between the two McLaren drivers, or could the young and talented Australian driver be sacrificed for a greater good? Lando Norris says:
"Team orders? Well, it’s something we’ll talk about before the Grand Prix. Although we’ve already addressed the issue a bit. For now, we’re free to race, as it’s always been".
Oscar Piastri didn’t contradict his teammate's comments, adding:
"Yes, we’ve talked about it a bit, and I’m sure we’ll talk about it again. I don’t think there’s much more to add".
For now, team principal Andrea Stella doesn’t seem inclined to disrupt the plans.
"In terms of the approach to the first corner, our recommendation to the drivers is always to race by the team’s rules. That means when you’re driving a papaya-colored car, you must be careful not to crash with rivals, but you also need to be particularly cautious when the other car is also papaya-colored. Especially now that the car is so competitive, we need to make sure we reach the checkered flag. There must be synergy between our two drivers, rather than the mentality that the teammate is the first rival. We want to stay as far away as possible from that kind of attitude, because it’s not productive".
Aside from team orders, Lando Norris admits that this is an important opportunity to try to gain some points in the Drivers' Championship:
"Of course, it can be a good opportunity, though I expect Verstappen will overtake a few cars and quickly be on our tail. Red Bull’s pace looked very strong on Friday during practice, they were on the right side of degradation and graining, so I think they might be more hopeful for the race. For some reason, they couldn’t make the usual improvements during qualifying, but they still looked fast as in Q2 Max was quicker than me on used tires. The final gap to Perez wasn’t as large as usual, I don’t know if he had some difficulties or just didn’t manage a good lap. Either way, we’ll definitely try to make the most of this situation".
Oscar Piastri, who will start from second position, adds when talking about his qualifying:
"The first lap in Q3 was very good. The second one, however, wasn’t good enough. I think I’ve said that too many times this year, but it’s still a great performance and a solid team effort. The grid has been very close this weekend. There were no guarantees of locking out the front row, but it’s been a great showing from us. Starting further up than last week is a positive. Being second here, with the long straight, isn’t the worst thing. But let’s see how the tires perform tomorrow. It could be an exciting race with such close competition at the front".
He might have expected something more, but the fourth place on the grid puts Charles Leclerc in a position to aim for something important in the race. The Monegasque driver hopes so, even talking about victory despite McLaren looking superior, and the Ferrari fans, who have been waiting for a win at Monza for five years, dream of it too. For the winner of the 2019 edition, the Grand Prix will be open, with tire management being the key. If Ferrari can do a good job on that front and stay within McLaren’s DRS zone, Charles Leclerc believes nothing is out of reach:
"I want to look forward. Behind us, there are many very fast drivers that I would have expected to be ahead of us today. Hamilton had a great race pace in FP2, but he was a bit too slow at the start, something he can’t afford tomorrow. We will all have a very similar pace, and tomorrow I hope to win. We need a good start and then try to stay in McLaren's DRS, which we expect to be very strong. Then it will be a tire management race, that’s what will make the difference tomorrow. Red Bull will be strong too, but I don’t expect them to be much stronger than us in the race".
Leclerc's weak point was the first sector, where he lost 0.2 seconds, which cost him the chance to fight for pole position. Carlos Sainz Jr., on the other hand, set record partials in Sector 1:
"He was definitely a bit stronger in turns 1-2. It's something we’ll analyze - we’ve already analyzed it. We didn’t make progress with my setup on that front. Until turn 5, we had exactly the same issues as in FP1. In FP2, there was just understeer; we couldn’t turn the car. In FP3, for some reason, the problem disappeared, but then it returned in qualifying. That’s frustrating because I think we lost more than two and a half tenths in four corners at the start of the lap, and making up time is very difficult. Now we have to focus on the race pace. I don’t expect to have the same problems tomorrow".
The Spanish driver pointed out that Ferrari's updates helped eliminate the bouncing issue. However, Charles Leclerc believes this improvement was also due to the circuit:
"Monza is a track where we don’t usually have these kinds of problems. Even last year, it was a fairly good race for us in terms of bouncing. We’ve made a step forward, and the numbers show that everything is going much better. But I don’t think we would have suffered from bouncing on this track even with the old package. Everything we expected from this floor is there, which is a good sign for the future".
Carlos Sainz Jr., who last year snatched the top spot from Max Verstappen by a few thousandths of a second, failed to secure Ferrari's third consecutive pole at Monza, nor the second in a row at the Italian Grand Prix. This time, the Spanish driver couldn’t go beyond fifth place, although just 0.140 seconds off Lando Norris’s best time. But these are the incredibly close gaps separating McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari at Monza. After qualifying, Carlos Sainz Jr. tried to explain where he lost that tenth that dropped him from the front row to the third, pointing to the track temperature changes during the session.
"Personally, I didn’t have any issues with the tires. What cost me a bit was in Q3 when the temperature dropped, making it harder to get the front tires working. I lost a lot in the second and third sectors compared to Q1 and Q2 in the fast corners. That’s a shame because in the first sector, I was very happy, and we added a lot of front wing to make the front work better, but even then, we weren’t strong in sectors two and three. Maybe the temperature drop at the end cost us that tenth, but we were in the fight".
Fourth and fifth place, just over a tenth of a second from pole position. That’s how Ferrari's qualifying ended for the Italian Grand Prix. A result that may not ignite the passion of the fans but is certainly viewed positively by Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, who emphasized that the SF-24’s setup is more race-oriented.
"The positive side is that we’re right there, while last week we were 0.7-0.8 seconds behind and managed to recover a bit in the race. Now we’re already there, and the important thing is that the race is long. We have low downforce, which could be beneficial tomorrow, but of course, it makes the car harder to drive in these conditions, and it’s easier to make small mistakes. That’s the price we paid, but overall, the balance wasn’t too bad. We would have liked to be on the front row, but it’s fine. When we’re talking about hundredths of a second, small details can make a big difference".
Frédéric Vasseur also focused on what Ferrari’s race strategy will be, suggesting the possibility of two stops while emphasizing that the team won’t be too focused on rivals, preferring to concentrate on themselves.
"At Zandvoort, we managed tire degradation better than our rivals, and I hope tomorrow will be the same. But it will depend on the pace we set in the opening laps. If we’re cautious, we might do one stop, but if we push hard, it’ll be difficult, and I think everyone will push like crazy. No doubt, starting from the second row and being a tenth off pole means anything is possible. We don’t have much margin to play around with strategy. If we push flat out, we’ll have to consider whether to go for two stops".
The French engineer also hinted that he hasn’t given up on either of the World Championships:
"A battle between Max and Lando? I don’t care; I’m focused on Ferrari. We’re not too far off in both championships, especially in the Constructors’. No one knows what will happen. There are still 500 points up for grabs, so everything is still open. Let’s just focus on ourselves".
Surely, when Helmut Marko said before Qualifying that Max Verstappen could finish anywhere between first and seventh place, he didn't really expect the Dutch driver—without making any mistakes—to end up on the fourth row. Yet, that's exactly what happened. After finishing Q2 in second place, Max Verstappen wasn't able to repeat the performance.
"This has never happened to me before. In Q3, the balance completely disappeared, and I couldn't push in any corner. It seems we were more competitive on used tires. Can I still be in contention for the win? In a normal race, no. We're starting at the back of the group of top teams. We just need to see what happens ahead of us, as there are some uncertainties like graining, but our race pace wasn’t very exciting. Based on the timings, it might look like we’re competitive, but the rear tires were quickly struggling. When the car is unbalanced, the tires suffer, and once you fix one issue, another arises. I’ll try to score as many points as possible, but I can’t do more than that. Not having a wing specifically for Monza didn’t help, we tried to optimize one we already had, but it’s not enough".
Max Verstappen finished Q2 in second place behind Lewis Hamilton, but in Q3, the Championship leader could do no better than seventh, just ahead of Sergio Perez. Christian Horner, the Team Principal, didn’t hide the bewilderment inside the garage:
“We just can’t understand. We did a 1'19"6 on used tires and then a 1'20”0 on new tires in both laps. We’re not competitive at the moment, and we need to figure out why. In Q2, things didn’t look too bad, but there were still the driveability issues Verstappen mentioned. We need to quickly reverse this trend. McLaren has made a huge leap forward, and now we’re also behind Ferrari and Mercedes. Something is wrong with the car, and we need to figure out what it is and find a solution".
Meanwhile, Helmut Marko gave statements that seem even more pessimistic regarding the result Red Bull Racing achieved in Qualifying at Monza.
"Since Miami, something has happened. From that point onwards, the victories we’ve achieved have all been thanks to Verstappen’s brilliance. We have a huge amount of data, but we have no idea what we got wrong".
The RB20s didn’t do better than the fourth row, and with the two McLarens on the front row, the lead in the Constructors' Championship is seriously at risk in the upcoming race. The Austrian manager admitted that Red Bull Racing’s engineers don’t know what’s wrong with the RB20, and apparently, even Max Verstappen’s attempt to run an old floor in Zandvoort didn’t yield results, as confirmed by Christian Horner.
"Fortunately, there’s a one-week break before Baku. From Zandvoort to Monza, we couldn’t do anything, but now the situation is becoming serious, and the complexity of current Formula 1 cars doesn’t help with analysis processes. Chances of making a comeback in the race? It’s unlikely anyone will break away, but if the issues we had today persist during the race, it certainly won’t be possible".
After stepping out of the car at the end of Q3, Lewis Hamilton already seemed particularly downbeat about his sixth-place finish in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, and his comments to the media confirmed this feeling. The British driver admitted his disappointment with very self-critical remarks. There was significant regret about the missed target and the difficulties encountered in the recent qualifying sessions, to the point where he even called these sessions his weakness:
"I think I could have at least finished on the front row, maybe not pole, but at least on the front row. We did a good job, but I made a mistake in turns 1 and 2 and then lost another tenth in the last corner. I have no one to blame but myself. Qualifying has been my weak point for a while now, and I can’t figure out why. I’ll keep trying, and we’ll see. I’m going to kick myself over it for the next two hours and then move on".
A rather harsh comment from the British driver, the record holder for pole positions in Formula 1 with 104 career starts from the front of the grid. However, unlike after his last qualifying session in Zandvoort (where he wrote off his weekend before the race had even started), Lewis Hamilton is more optimistic ahead of the Italian Grand Prix:
"We have a great race car, and the team has done a fantastic job this weekend. The car felt much better today compared to yesterday and the last race, and the team deserves better from me. Tomorrow, I’ll need to respond".
On Sunday, September 1, 2024, Lando Norris had a quick start, while his teammate Oscar Piastri moved across the track, not to defend but to challenge for the lead. This forced George Russell to go wide, putting his wheels on the gravel and using the escape road. Piastri then overtook Norris at the della Roggia chicane to take the lead. Norris then even lost one more position in favor of Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen complained that Lewis Hamilton didn’t leave him enough space, saying he got a penalty for that in the past. They were running in P5 and P6 early on, both ahead of Russell. Sergio Perez, behind Russell, mentioned that Russell had some dangerous damage. By lap 10, Piastri was leading by seven-tenths ahead of Leclerc, with Norris in third, followed by Sainz, Hamilton, and Verstappen. Perez had passed Russell, and they, along with Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso, were in the final points positions. McLaren then boxed Norris early, to make an undercut on Leclerc, which they managed easily. Piastri went with plan A and stayed on the track a bit longer but still managed to come out in from of Norris, after his pitstop later on. Meanwhile Haas got another penalty, but this time it was their another driver, Kevin Magnussen, who recieved 10 seconds for crashing into Pierre Gasly, who wasn’t able to find the pace for the rest of the race. Championship leader Max Verstappen struggled with the car during the whole race, which was pretty noticable mainly in his way of communication with his engineer over the radio. The RB20 had no grip and problems with understeer throughout the whole weekend. Close to the end both McLaren drivers managed to overtake Carlos Sainz, thanks to fresher tyres but didn’t have enough to fight Charles Lerclerc, who amazingly secured the victory for Ferrari at their home track. Piastri then finished second, followed by Norris and Sainz. Lewis Hamilton took fifth place for Mercedes, Verstappen sixth for Red Bull, followed by George Russel and Sergio Perez. Alex Albon managed to score 2 points for Williams after finishing ninth, with Kevin Magnussen completing the top ten, even after his 10 second penalty. In the turmoil of Monza, Scuderia Ferrari executes a strategic masterpiece. The Monegasque driver, with only one pit stop, undermines the certainties of the McLaren team and outsmarts both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who finished second and third respectively, and both - like everyone except Carlos Sainz Jr. - were on a two-stop strategy. For Charles Leclerc, it's his second victory of the season and his second win at Monza, following his triumph in 2019. Carlos Sainz Jr. finished in fourth place, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, who, thanks to Charles Leclerc's success, also limits the loss of points to Lando Norris in the Drivers' Championship standings.
"The emotion was strong and it was a very special day. From the beginning, I managed to get ahead of George at the start, then I saw that the McLarens were battling. When I overtook Lando, I immediately believed in the victory. I saw that Oscar and McLaren in general had more pace than us, and when we did the undercut on Lando, I thought I might lose the race. However, I stayed focused and knew that managing the front left tire would be crucial for the race. Once they both stopped, I started pushing, and then I knew there would be a good chance to win here again. As a driver, I shouldn't have emotions, but before being a driver, I am a person. It's very hard to be stone-faced when you win both in Monaco and at Monza in front of all the fans. It’s truly special; once again in the last 3-4 laps, I looked at the stands to the left outside of the First Chicane because everyone was standing. It was another really special day with memories that will last forever. I hope the same is true for the fans at the track and also in front of the TV. Tonight, I will let myself relax by sleeping, without celebrating".
Now Charles Leclerc doesn't want to relive the experience of the post-Monte Carlo period, when his victory was followed by four races of extreme suffering:
"Ferrari did a great job; we had guys here on Thursday seeing the paddock for the first time, and there are many production staff we’re asking a lot from. It’s difficult because we want parts faster and faster, but I know how hard they have pushed, and credit goes to them and the development guys who have made better parts. We still need to be careful; we saw how hard it was after Monaco. This is a very particular track where we performed well, and I couldn’t be happier today because Monaco and Monza are two races that are much more important to me than others, but we need to stay focused. Tomorrow we’ll do a complete reset; we shouldn’t go to Baku with the same expectations because it will be a completely different track. McLaren remains the main force, but I will do my best".
A second place for Oscar Piastri, just like in Belgium. And, as in Belgium, the Australian driver found himself chasing those who were going to win by outsmarting everyone with a one-stop strategy (with the difference that George Russell was disqualified in Belgium). While the result in Belgium was somewhat well received, the results Oscar Piastri achieved at the end of the Italian Grand Prix are very bitter. The Australian driver, who started from second position, had overtaken his teammate on the outside of the Roggia corner and dominated the Italian Grand Prix. However, Scuderia Ferrari had a different plan, stopping Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. at the pits only once, forcing the Australian driver to make a comeback which, even with a 23-lap younger tire, was not at all simple. And indeed, it slipped away by just three seconds. At the end of the race, Oscar Piastri doesn’t hide his disappointment, especially since he believes he was disadvantaged by the behavior of some colleagues:
"I thought it would be tough, but possible. With the pace I had at the beginning, I think I was gaining on them at two seconds per lap. There was someone who didn’t help me much, Stroll for example, who drove as if it was his first go-kart race, and this cost me a couple of seconds. I don't want to lie; it hurts a lot. Today we did many things well. There were many questions about the strategy to adopt in the race, but in the position we were in and with those tires, a one-stop strategy seemed like a very risky choice. In the end, though, it was the right move. I’m very happy with the pace and the race I managed to do, but finishing second hurts. In hindsight, it would have been better to stop once, but everyone is good after the checkered flag. Unfortunately, today we made a mistake, and I did too. Charles could have tried something different since he would have finished third anyway, and he chose the right gamble. Our tires, however, were wearing out, my front left had a lot of graining".
Lando Norris wasn’t able to break the first-lap curse even at Monza. The English driver exited the First Chicane in the lead but was immediately overtaken on the outside by his teammate, Oscar Piastri, at the Roggia corner. Lando Norris almost spun out in what would have been a replay of the 2018 incident between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, but he managed to keep control of his McLaren and was also overtaken by Charles Leclerc in traction as they headed towards the first Lesmo corner. Through an undercut, Lando Norris passed Charles Leclerc, but then the single pit stop by the Monegasque Ferrari driver relegated Lando Norris to third place at the end of a race where he managed his tires worse compared to Oscar Piastri. The fastest lap on the last lap, however, allowed Lando Norris to gain 8 points on Max Verstappen, just like at Zandvoort. After the race, Lando Norris essentially admits he was surprised by Oscar Piastri’s attack on the outside of the corner:
"I could have braked much later to defend against Oscar, but... I don’t know. I expected to struggle with the tires; the race went exactly as I expected. I was surprised that Ferrari did so well, but we weren’t able to make a pit stop. They had a better race car, while we were better in qualifying. Today Ferrari was better in the race, they did better than us and did a better job".
The two McLaren drivers had stated before the race that they were free to race. Lando Norris confirms this after the Italian Grand Prix, despite all the regret for yet another pole position that didn’t translate into a win, instead turning into a more bitter third place:
"This season, we’ve shown that we work well together".
The topic, of course, is team orders, as defined by the team’s rules. For now, Oscar Piastri has never helped Lando Norris in the pursuit of Max Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship. In fact, at Monza, the Australian driver directly attacked Lando Norris at the Roggia Chicane, taking first place away from him on the first lap and even making him vulnerable to Charles Leclerc’s attack, who was quick off the line to take advantage of the duel between the two McLaren drivers. However, Lando Norris reiterates that he does not want to ask for special treatment, turning the question over to his team’s leadership:
"It’s not up to me to decide. It’s up to the team. I believe we’re still working well together, we’re still helping each other, and I think this year we’ve shown several times that we work well as a team and are the best team on the grid".
Norris, however, is aware that the first person he needs to help is himself, and for now, he’s not always doing that:
"I still believe we can make it. The pace is obviously great. I’m still convinced that today we are probably close, if not even the best car. When you’re fighting for a World Championship, you want every little thing, and I’m doing everything possible. The best way is simply to win races. This time I didn’t succeed due to some silly mistakes. So, yes, this topic [team orders management] is for the team, not for me".
In short, the rule within the McLaren Racing team remains clear: the drivers are free to battle. At least for now. This is also confirmed by the team’s CEO, Zak Brown:
"Lando started well, was in the lead after Turn 1, and then Oscar made a fairly aggressive move at Turn 3. They are always free to race as long as they don’t touch. Hats off to Ferrari for taking a gamble that paid off for them; you can never be too angry when Ferrari wins at Monza. The rules are to race cleanly and as the teammates they are. Both drivers want to win and have smelled victory, but we reminded them that they need to race cleanly. We are just over halfway through the championship; both drivers want to win, and for now, we let them race. We need to understand each situation before the race to see if Oscar can help Lando. He can do it in different ways that not everyone may see, but for now, we’ll let them race".
So, victory slipped away, with Scuderia Ferrari coming out on top by opting for a one-stop strategy. An idea that was actually considered by McLaren as well, as admitted by the American manager:
"We all thought we could win this race, but we must be happy with second and third place. We earned many points, set the fastest lap, and had the fastest car. Many times you think you’re going to win and don’t, but these are bumps in the road and that’s fine. The plan was for two stops, but then we thought about making one stop and asked the drivers, who didn’t think it would work. Ferrari took this gamble: if it works, you win; otherwise, you fall to third place or have to stop again. They took the risk and it turned out to be the right choice, so congratulations to Vasseur and the team".
With this result, McLaren is now just 8 points behind Red Bull Racing in the Constructors' Championship standings, but Brown doesn’t exclude other competitors:
"We are closing in on Red Bull, but Ferrari is not far behind, so I think the Constructors’ battle is a three-way fight. We’ll continue doing what we’re doing; it’s working. We’re on twelve consecutive podiums and hope to make it thirteen in the next race".
Charles Leclerc won at Monza just like in 2019. Scuderia Ferrari once again thrilled the fans, this time with a strategic gamble that paid off. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. made only one stop against the two stops of the McLaren Racing drivers, and this tactic was successful. Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur, is visibly satisfied in the Monza paddock after Charles Leclerc’s fantastic victory. This victory was achieved thanks to excellent management of tire wear on both cars, which allowed the Monegasque driver to beat the formidable McLarens, who until this point in the season seemed unbeatable on race pace.
"It’s definitely a great victory. For Ferrari and for Charles, winning in Monaco and winning in Monza, I think, along with Imola, are the three races you want to win in the season. It’s a victory with more emotional than mathematical value because, in the end, winning at Monza doesn’t bring more points than doing it in Baku. So mathematically speaking, it’s just another win, but emotionally it’s certainly something very important because we had enormous support from the fans from the beginning of the week. Starting from Monday at the factory in Maranello, where we already had a lot of people in front of the entrance, and the best way to repay them was to win. It’s not easy, and you don’t always have everything under control, but for the team, it was definitely the best way to reward them. I’m very happy with this victory, for the team, for Charles, and for all the people who came to the circuit. I think we did a good job this weekend".
The French engineer explains the working method and the considerations that led them to the one-stop strategy but with a very long second stint, which ultimately led to success for Charles Leclerc:
"This morning we understood that the strategy of one stop was probably the best option, but we needed to do a kind of slow introduction, not pushing too hard in the first laps, and we were really under control in the first two laps. And that’s also what made us win, but it wasn’t easy. When you don’t have that much data on the asphalt and therefore don’t do long stints with the hard tires before the race. I think only Tsunoda did a long stint with the hard compound on Friday morning. It wasn’t significant because it was too early in the weekend. Then we had to decide to save two sets of hard tires for the race. This means we arrived on Sunday afternoon without data or clues on tire wear, potential, and degradation. It’s up to the drivers to play an important role in the first stint to give their feedback to the pit wall. We managed the gap by setting lap time targets to see how long it was possible to go without changing tires. Our drivers did well in managing wear, keeping the expected pace consistently. Maybe Carlos, knowing that we could make a stop, unconsciously pushed a little less. But it’s quite normal that at the end of the race, it’s said that a driver pushed more or less or other things. But it’s up to their sensitivity to understand if they are overloading the tires or not. As the race progressed, we noticed that we were keeping the expected pace, so we decided to continue without stopping at the pits. Then you can never be sure because at some point you could have a performance drop of the tires, but it didn’t happen. And everything worked very well for us".
Certainly, this victory for Charles Leclerc is very different from the significant one he achieved in Monaco at the beginning of the season.
"I think it’s much harder to win in this situation compared to winning in Monaco, for example, when you start from pole position and lead the race from the first lap. Today Charles had to fight, manage the tires, and it was tough. He had to push. I think it’s more significant to win in this situation when you’re not sure you’re the fastest, and in the end, it’s a much better reward for a driver to win this way compared to starting from pole position and setting the fastest lap. In the final laps, to keep control of the situation, we constantly calculated how much we could concede to Piastri each lap and set a target for Charles. It was only in the last lap that we realized we were safe because by then we had about a four-second lead and at that point, you start to fear reliability issues. It’s not always easy to maintain, but the most important thing is not to think too much about the podium because that would be a mistake".
Regarding the impact of the aerodynamic upgrade package that Scuderia Ferrari brought to Monza, Frédéric Vasseur believes it was mainly beneficial for qualifying:
"Honestly, it’s quite difficult to understand the impact of the upgrade package on a track like Monza because we are in such a different configuration compared to the rest of the season, so it’s hard to make assessments. But in the end, when you see the qualifying results and have six or seven cars covered by less than a tenth, every single element makes a difference, and even a gain of a thousandth must be pursued. At the end of yesterday’s day, we had four cars within two hundredths of a second, so from this point of view, you could say that the upgrade was crucial; however, the race pace today was more related to tire management. It’s in qualifying where you have six to eight cars within 0.1 or 0.2 seconds that every single update can make a difference".
Finally, the French engineer reflects on the final stretch of the season, noting that with the points earned at Monza, Scuderia Ferrari is now just 39 points behind Red Bull Racing in the Constructors' Championship.
"From tomorrow we will focus on Baku. It would be a huge mistake to try to draw conclusions or change our plans. It’s a long road until Abu Dhabi. We have about 450 points on the table, and the fight is very tight. Honestly, it’s the first time in F1 that we’re in a situation where eight drivers can win the race if they don’t get involved in incidents. Everything changes from one session to another. For me, the most impressive moment was probably Spa, where we had McLaren in FP1, Red Bull in FP2, we started from pole, and Mercedes won the race. I felt like it’s almost like that everywhere. Except for Lando, who dominated last week at Zandvoort. We can expect that until the end of the season it will be like this, a huge battle. It’s true that with eight cars at this level of competitiveness, one team can do a double and another end up seventh and eighth, not to mention possible retirements. This can make a huge difference in terms of points, but for now, let’s focus on our return to victory".
Carlos Sainz Jr.’s last Italian Grand Prix as a Scuderia Ferrari driver didn’t end on the podium. The Spanish driver, who still had a great race and played a crucial role in slowing down Oscar Piastri when the McLaren driver was chasing Charles Leclerc, followed the same strategy as his teammate but with less successful results, even though he started his second stint several laps after the Monegasque driver. Paradoxically, however, Carlos Sainz Jr. pointed out that this difference in the length of the first stint was the move that played against him.
"We stayed out perhaps five or six laps too long at the beginning because it cost me six or seven seconds in the race to stay out. I thought the others who stopped on lap 15 would stop again and that I would be the only one with a single stop. Then I realized that a stop was possible for them too, especially for Charles who had pitted so early".
Despite his disappointment, the Spanish driver sportsmanly praises the team and Charles Leclerc:
"Congratulations to the team because I think we got the strategy right today and throughout the weekend despite facing a very challenging Monza. We came out with a win and a fourth place. We had a real race against the McLarens. I believe that getting the slipstream here makes a difference, and I think I lost it around lap 15. After that, I could feel the difference and how slow you become without the slipstream. But fighting on par with the McLarens was nice to see. At the same time, it’s just Monza, and a very particular Monza. We’ll have to wait to see more normal tracks to understand if this upgrade has really made a difference to our season and if we will fight for victories from now on".
The sixth place achieved by Max Verstappen at the end of the Italian Grand Prix marks his worst result of the season - on par with the Monaco Grand Prix - in a race where he managed to finish. The only retirement of the 2024 season for the Dutch driver occurred at the third Grand Prix of the year, in Australia. However, while Red Bull Racing seemed unbeatable at that time, the current reality is quite different. The crisis for Red Bull Racing did not start with the Italian Grand Prix, but at Monza, for the first time, even Max Verstappen, with his immense talent, could not mitigate the issues of the RB20. The three-time World Champion is not known for diplomatic speeches. Thus, some of his post-race comments, more direct and sharp than ever in highlighting the problems with his car, are a testament to the sportingly dramatic moment in which the Milton Keynes team finds itself.
"We have turned a dominant car into a monster in just a few months. The car is really bad right now, and we have a lot of work to do before Baku to fundamentally change the entire car. Title fight in the Constructors' Championship? At the moment, thinking about winning in both Championships is not realistic".
Red Bull Racing now has just eight points over McLaren Racing in the Constructors' Championship, while the Dutch driver still holds a 62-point lead over Lando Norris. Thanks to Charles Leclerc’s victory, which greatly assisted his old karting rival:
"Limited damage? In a way, yes, but that’s not how I like to look at the championship. We need to try to be the architects of our own fortune, but today, this is what we have".
Verstappen's concern extends to the upcoming races, which will be on two tracks with layouts diametrically opposed to Monza: Baku and Singapore.
"I don’t care; given how we’re doing right now, we’re struggling everywhere. So we need many changes. For most of the race, I couldn’t fully utilize the engine’s power. We had a small issue, and I think we could have done a better job from a strategic standpoint to be at least a bit more competitive. It wouldn’t have changed the position, but I believe we didn’t run our optimal race".
Finally, Max Verstappen explains the curious team radio where he urged the team to stay awake, using rather pointed language:
"It had to do with the percentage of my battery because, obviously, there are certain levels and usage modes. Basically, I see the battery filling up, and at some point, you can switch to a faster mode. So I asked, and they replied: Oh yes, you can do that. And I said: Come on, it’s such an obvious thing… You need to be on top of it. I know I wasn’t racing anyone, but that shouldn’t be important. It’s still a Formula 1 race where you need to optimize everything".
With Verstappen’s sixth place and Sergio Perez’s eighth, Red Bull Racing's points haul is among the leanest in recent seasons. Results unthinkable for a team like Milton Keynes, which, although no longer as dominant as in recent past, had often limited the damage compared to McLaren Racing drivers until now. And while it’s true that at the Italian Grand Prix, Max only lost 8 points to Lando Norris, the general impression is that it is only thanks to the circumstances that the losses have been contained. This assessment is also shared by Helmut Marko, who, after the race, thanks the team led by Andrea Stella for allowing their drivers to race freely.
"Disappointing result? No, no. In fact, we somewhat expected things to go this way. I want to congratulate Ferrari for the victory and thank McLaren for their sportsmanship. I appreciate it a lot; it certainly made our situation a bit better. Qualitatively and mentally, Max is still the best driver on the grid. Our car was one of the slowest on the straights (a fact also confirmed by speed trap data, both in qualifying and the race), but it wouldn’t have been possible for us to drive with less downforce on the rear wing. We need to find a balance and evaluate when we’re going in the wrong direction. We need to go back to when the car was still competitive. In the race, we couldn’t keep up with the leaders in terms of strategy or pace. We simply lacked speed, and when Max pushed harder, he suffered more graining issues. He couldn’t use his incredible driving skills to the limit because the car didn’t allow it. It reacts too unpredictably. At times, there was oversteer, at other times understeer, and then the brakes were unstable on corner entry. At one point with the updates, we lost the car’s balance and couldn’t go as fast as before. Here it was just about trying to manage the losses".
However, controversy regarding the second half of the Formula 1 season does not take long to arise. McLaren Racing’s performance supremacy - though not always accompanied by results - along with Mercedes’ exploits have caught the attention of Scuderia Ferrari and Red Bull Racing. The issue remains the same: despite passing the FIA’s static checks, the wings flex at high speeds, giving extra speed to the teams that manage to exploit certain innovative materials. This is a way to circumvent the rules prohibiting active aerodynamics (at least until 2026), gaining competitive advantages on track. That’s why, from time to time, curious colored dots appear on the front and rear wings of Formula 1 cars, useful for checking the level of flexion of the aerodynamic profiles even with regular on-board cameras. Despite the ongoing study phase, the FIA does not seem inclined to intervene during the season, unlike what was done in 2021. At that time, amid the top battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the stewards had indeed intensified the checks, though with little concrete results as everyone still passed the technical inspections. This issue concerns Christian Horner: even the RB20 wings flex at high speed, but the impression is that the Milton Keynes team is not fully exploiting the benefits of the phenomenon. Not surprisingly, after the Italian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing Team Principal addresses the issue by discussing how the FIA has a significant problem to resolve:
"The rules are very clear, so I believe the Federation has a problem. Obviously, there are checks that pass without issues, but then you also have to look at the text of the regulation (which says that wings should not flex). If you remember, even in 2021 around Baku, there was a change of direction regarding the rules on front wings. And even though we had passed the tests, there was a lot of talk about material elasticity. It’s an FIA problem, and we’ll let them solve it. We trust that they will be able to do it; otherwise, we’ll also have to work on improving in that direction".
A highly discussed topic in the Formula 1 paddock, regarding which Frédéric Vasseur is also questioned. However, the Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal tries to deflect the question:
"I don’t want to talk about it with you. However, it’s a conversation I’ll have with Nikolas Tombazis and the FIA. We need to respect their decisions, but we will still discuss it with the FIA".
Regarding Mercedes, the team principal of the Anglo-German team, Toto Wolff, is well aware that hierarchies within Formula 1 can change more rapidly than it appears from the outside. This is exemplified by Mercedes, which managed to change the course of its World Championship with victories in Austria, Great Britain, and Belgium, solving problems that the Brackley team itself had called trivial. Problems that, as confirmed by the Italian Grand Prix, are now Red Bull Racing’s and risk causing Max Verstappen to lose the World Championship. But Toto Wolff is confident that his old rivals will find a solution.
"It’s really strange; this is not the Red Bull dominant at the beginning of the year: I think Max managed to hold it together for a while with his skill, but this is probably one of their worst races in many years. But who am I to say? We spent two years with nothing working for us. The same was true for Ferrari a few races ago, so I don’t think you can write off Red Bull. They have a formidable team, and I’m sure there will be better races for them, even though McLaren is clearly the favorite for the Constructors' Championship now. If you could pick a winner for the Italian Grand Prix, it would be Ferrari. It’s great for Formula 1 and the show for them to win here. It’s always a special moment when a Red car triumphs at the Autodromo. They had some really bad weekends, and then they revived and did well in the race: today, with a smart strategy, they won at Monza. Similarly, all these fluctuations we see between the four top teams are great news for fans. Our race was better than Zandvoort’s, but still not good. We did a two-stop strategy because we suffered from graining on the front left tire, which made a single stop unlikely. Our pace today made it difficult to achieve much more than what we got. In the last two races, we haven’t reached the level we had before the summer break. When you don’t have the pace, strategic decisions become difficult, as we saw today. We have some time to analyze the reasons before Baku and aim to come back stronger".
From next year, Lewis Hamilton will be wearing red and will experience firsthand what it means to race for Scuderia Ferrari at Monza. Perhaps the English driver will feel the same sensations that Charles Leclerc experienced today, with that masterpiece of heart and clear madness that allowed him to outwit a faster car and win in front of his fans. Thus, Lewis Hamilton also congratulates his future teammate for his performance.
"Seeing Ferrari win today is fantastic; it must be exciting for Charles. What a circuit to win at! Already in the Drivers' Parade, I saw Ferrari fans looking at me with different eyes for the first time, creating a connection with me. They were dressed in red, but it was already different. It’s an interesting transition, and I think it will be really amazing next year. I believe McLaren had the pace, but they pushed too hard. They did too many fast laps at the start and wore out the tires. I think they had planned for two stops, so they pushed too much; if they had backed off and gone longer, they could have definitely done a single stop. I had information about the lap times they were setting; there was no way to make the tires last at that pace. Charles did a fantastic job, so congratulations to him".
Talking about Mercedes, the English driver, shedding the role of external analyst, candidly admits that a top-five finish was the maximum achievable result at Monza:
"Today we didn’t have the pace to fight for more. McLaren and Ferrari were strong. I managed to keep up with Sainz but without being able to extend the stint like he did. If we had started ahead of Carlos, maybe we could have kept him at bay. Ultimately, though, today we needed a better car balance to achieve much more. It’s a shame to leave a weekend where we seemed so strong without achieving more. We made a great impression during practice and qualifying, but today we couldn’t match that. The field is very tight, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the next races. We will continue to work hard and hope for a stronger race in Baku in two weeks".
Naturally, George Russell is also disappointed, as his race was ruined by an issue at the first corner:
"Today was a frustrating day. We didn’t have the pace to fight for the podium, but my race was interrupted at the Prima Variante. I made a good start but got stuck in the dirty air behind Piastri. I had to lock up to avoid him and damaged the front wing. This compromised my initial stint, and we lost time in the pit stop to change the wing".
Thus concludes the Italian Grand Prix, with McLaren Racing now just a few points away from Red Bull Racing, while in the Drivers' Championship, there seems to be little doubt about who will claim the title for the 2024 season. By not favoring Lando Norris and allowing its drivers to battle freely, the English team is inadvertently helping the Dutch driver, who is now firmly on course to reclaim the World Championship for the fourth time. However, the Italian Grand Prix will also be remembered for the surprising victory of Charles Leclerc and Scuderia Ferrari. Although, after the initial excitement, this triumph doesn't seem as monumental as the one in 2019 in terms of star power and hype. Leclerc’s first victory back in 2019 sparked a generation of fans who followed Formula 1 for at least four years, whereas this new triumph doesn't seem to have had the same impact.