- Spherical 16 of the 2024 Formulation 1 season will get underway this weekend
- The race takes place on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza positioned 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 likely one of the actual highlights of the calendar given its historical past and the throng of passionate Ferrari followers that present up annually.
It’s run on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza positioned simply outdoors of Milan, a circuit nicknamed the Temple of Pace for the reason that high speeds often eclipse 217 mph. All the observe has been resurfaced this 12 months and new curbs put in which can give drivers an opportunity to hold somewhat extra pace into sure corners.
The Italian Grand Prix, just like the British Grand Prix, has been on the F1 calendar for the reason that inaugural 1950 season. It has been held at Monza yearly besides 1980, when it was held on the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari positioned at Imola. In recent times, F1 has added a second Italian spherical held at Imola, referred to as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza, dwelling of the Formulation 1 Italian Grand Prix
The present structure stretches 3.6 miles and features a sequence of straights and a few tight chicanes. The circuit comprises simply 11 corners, and consequently 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 Avenue Circuit sees the next period of time spent at full throttle, at 82%.
Because of this, automobiles are arrange for low downforce to maximise their high speeds. This in flip makes them extra depending on the mechanical traction from the tires to offer grip via the corners. Pirelli has nominated its softest mixture of C3, C4, C5 compounds for the race.
The climate at Monza this time of 12 months tends to be sizzling, which is nice 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 – Picture by way of Williams
There are some new drivers to pay attention to. 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 automobile 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 automobile for Antonelli who’s broadly tipped to fill Lewis Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes subsequent season. Hamilton is headed to Ferrari.
Going into the weekend, Pink 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, Pink Bull leads with 434 factors. McLaren is second with 404 factors and Ferrari is third with 370 factors. Final 12 months’s winner at Monza was Verstappen, driving for Pink Bull.
