Only eleven corners, it’s going to be fast. It’s going to be very, very fast. Formula 1 concludes its trio with three races on three consecutive Sundays at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
A PS temple, this time again in front of full ranks. Can the Tifosi celebrate a victory for their Scuderia? One in particular has something against it.
Will Max Verstappen continue his winning streak?
The orange party at the home race in Zandvoort with a famous Verstappen should have given the defending champion the final boost for the final phase of the World Championship decision. The 24-year-old Verstappen has probably never driven better. The car is also predestined for the super-fast course around 20 kilometers from Italy’s metropolis Milan. Anything but a victory for the clearly leading Dutchman would be a surprise.
Can Verstappen even win the World Cup early in Ferrari’s home country?
No, that’s not possible yet. Verstappen is 109 points ahead, six races are still to come after the Italian Grand Prix, the cushion is not enough. Mathematically, however, Verstappen can already secure his second title in the first race overseas. He would need 138 points more than his closest pursuer after the Singapore Grand Prix on October 2nd. They can still be scored in the remaining races (maximum 26 points each for victory and the fastest lap) and the additional points for the sprint in Brazil (maximum 8). If there was a tie after the final in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen would also be ahead thanks to the higher number of victories.
What about Ferrari at the home race in Monza after another breakdown weekend?
Ferrari doesn’t exactly have a win on the home course. At least Charles Leclerc knows how to do it. In 2019 he triumphed, at that time as a teammate of Sebastian Vettel. Before that, Fernando Alonso had won in Monza in 2010. From a total of 242 Ferrari victories in Formula 1 so far, the Scuderia has achieved 19 in Monza, where the track is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Ferrari also wants to add a yellow accent to commemorate Enzo Ferrari’s birthplace of Modena. The prospects for the race sound bleak. “On paper, Monza is not the best track for us,” Leclerc repeated after third place in the Netherlands. “I know the fans will have our backs but our task in Italy will be more difficult than in Zandvoort.”
What is it about for the German duo?
For Sebastian Vettel it will be another emotional journey into the past. A past in which he learned to win. In 2008 Vettel celebrated the first of his 53 Grand Prix successes in Monza. At that time Vettel drove for Toro Rosso, today under the name Alpha Tauri on the track. This Sunday he will drive for the last time on a circuit that is what Vettel loves: pure racing. After the messed-up weekend at Zandvoort, the 34-year-old in the Aston Martin is looking to say a fitting farewell to Europe.
Mick Schumacher’s situation is completely different. It is still unclear how the 23-year-old will continue. There is a lot of speculation, the driver market is in flux. Tactics, playing poker, putting pressure – everything is part of it. A decision as to whether Haas will continue, whether he will sign somewhere else or get nothing, is reportedly not necessarily to be expected in Monza.
