Grand Prix 2014 Italian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Ciao e benvenuto l'introduzione per il Gran Premio italiano di Monza 2014.

Silverstone, Interlagos, Monza. These illustrious names are the circuits where the sounds of the engines are drowned out by the noise of the fans. Few motorsport arenas can boast of an atmosphere to rival the ancient coliseum of Rome and Monza has always been a pilgrimage for the legion of rosso clad Tifosi.

Monza is synonymous with Ferrari yet this year the prancing horse seems to be more of a lumbering donkey. What effect will this have on the Tifosi and their embrace of the F1 circus this September?

The answer is probably no effect at all.

The reason for this is the love for motorsport shown by the Italian fans ever since the tracks creation in 1922. The sea of red running down to the Parabolica and back along the main straight indicate the devotion of Ferrari fans of all nationalities who are united under a single banner.

Few circuits have been captured on film as much as Monza, many of the sports iconic images and videos were taken at this magnificent race course and you can chart the history of the sport along the twists and turns of the tarmac. It’s also a record breaker, in 1971 the top five drivers finished within 0.61 seconds. A feat only made possible by the lack of chicanes during that era. Phenomenal speeds for the period were also set in those most dangerous of years.

Monza has always produced a mixture of triumph and tragedy, Fangio, Stewart, Lauda, Andretti & Scheckter all secured drivers championships at this circuit while Ascari, von Trip, Rindt & Peterson all lost their lives here.

Only 3 drivers have won at Monza and won the championship in the last 20 years, Senna, Schumacher & Vettel. With Rosberg on top in the championship, will winning this race mean he adds his name to the list or will the Monza jinx strike again.

As for this years race, it would have been hard to see past a Mercedes powered victory due to the long straights but after Ricciardo finished on top in Spa does engine power still have the advantage over aerodynamics?

Whatever happens in the championship we are in for an exciting weekend of racing!
 
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As I saw it Wolff was saying that had there been a safety car then Hamilton would have continued to race. Surely that removes any argument that his car was too damaged to continue.
 
Clearly the rest of the field have caught up with Mercedes then if Lewis was unable to make much headway even against the back markers with his car working perfectly. Should be a good race at Monza.
 
I think you'd have an extremely hard PR job to make the majority of people believe that the car was retired becauae it couldn't continue and not to preserve parts on it.

Fourtunatly for Lewis I believe the FIA will turn a blind eye due to the media backlash they'd get for giving him a grid penalty for it after Spa-gate.
 
Its started its started.

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Yes Ferrari aren't having a great season but the Italian GP organisors have said ticket sales are down this year. Given that the Tifosi would normally turn out in droves to watch a sack of spuds, painted scarlet with a prancing horse badge, it serves to continue to highlight all is not well in the world of F1.

In other news, how bad do Lotus(Renault) look at the moment? Normally you may see a Marussia around the mid-teens in FP1 before falling back to their normal place just ahead of the Caterhams. This time they are ahead of Lotus(Renault) in FP2. Lotus(Renault) meanwhile appear to have done little in FP1 and 2.

Finally, isn't amazing how, at this stage of the season, some drivers who are in doubt for their seats next year suddenly manage to find a burst of pace :D
 
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A few days ago I had an email from the Monza circuit buy a ticket to go see the race. Unfortunately other possibilities (a prospective holiday) made me delay until when she decided against the places where I normally stay were all booked up. Had the race been on it's usual date (the second Sunday in September) I would have booked up months ago, so it serves Bernard right, messing about with the calendar. So there you are, that's why ticket sales are down.
 
Just watching FP2 and saw one of the FI's going through the Lesmos which made me think of this bizarre accident for John Watson back in 1981.

 
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