With the summer break over, Formula One is quickly back into full flow. Rested after three weeks off, the teams had no time to recover with back-to-back Grands Prix once the season is back underway.
After a tragic weekend in Belgium, the teams shift south to Italy for the Italian Grand Prix at the magnificent Monza.
Charles Leclerc claimed a first career victory at Spa last weekend, dominating from start to finish in his Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel succumbed to Lewis Hamilton in the latter stages, as Hamilton extended his Drivers’ Championship lead once again.
Max Verstappen suffered a frustrating exit on the first lap, while a last-lap break down cost Lando Norris a career-best fifth-place finish.
The Ferraris will be well supported and confident as they head to their home Grand Prix. One of the most historic venues in Formula One, let’s take a look ahead at this weekend’s race, starting with a bit of history…
Italian Grand Prix: Brief History
The Italian Grand Prix was first held in 1921, counting towards the World Manufacturers’ Championship in the 1920s and part of the European Championship in the 1930s.
Along with the British Grand Prix, it has been part of the Formula One calendar in every year since the first campaign in 1950. Every race has been held at Monza apart from in the 1980 season when the Italian Grand Prix was at Imola.
Italian manufacturers Alfa Romeo won the first ever Formula One Grand Prix in 1950, with Giuseppe Farina winning the race.
Engine issues saw Alfa Romeo – which included the brilliant Juan Manuel Fangio – fall short in 1951, opening the door for an Ascari victory. A couple of years later in 1954, Fangio duelled with the new man at the front of the grid, Stirling Moss.
In 1980, Imola hosted its one and only Italian Grand Prix with Monza being majorly redeveloped. Nelson Piquet won that race at Imola, and while Monza has been the home of the Italian Grand Prix ever since, Imola was a long-time part of the Formula One calendar.
The 1988 Grand Prix saw a famous victory for Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari had died just weeks before the race, and McLaren had won all of the races up to that point. Gerhard Berger took advantage of a frustrating afternoon for Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna to earn an impressive win.
Moving into the 21st century, Michael Schumacher announced his first Formula One retirement after the 2006 Italian Grand Prix. Just a couple of seasons later, Sebastian Vettel became the youngest Grand Prix winner in Formula One history.
The 2010s have seen some uncertainty over the future of the Italian Grand Prix – another similarity with its British counterpart – but it looks set to remain part of the Formula One schedule for a good while yet.
Italian Grand Prix: Monza
Formerly named Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza was built back in 1922, becoming just the third purpose-built racing circuit in the world.
Monza has three configurations, with the 3.6 mile version the longest of the lot. That’s the circuit that the Formula One drivers will be flying round this weekend.
Curva Grande is a sweeping bend that Formula One cars will usually be able to take with the accelerator all the way to the floor.
The long straights and open corners mean that F1 cars are at full throttle for the vast majority of the lap, making it an incredibly fast lap, much like the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend.
Cars will be set up with minimal drag and understeer can be an issue. Top speeds of well over 200mph are common, making the drivers little more than a blur as they go past the roaring Italian crowds.
Monza has a capacity of well over 100,000, and there will be parties around the circuit if Ferrari can make it two wins from two this weekend.
Italian Grand Prix: Recent Winners
2018 – Lewis Hamilton
2017 – Lewis Hamilton
2016 – Nico Rosberg
2015 – Lewis Hamilton
2014 – Lewis Hamilton
Italian Grand Prix: Most Wins
5 – Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton
4 – Nelson Piquet
3 – Sebastian Vettel, Rubens Barrichello, Alain Prost, Ronnie Peterson, Stirling Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alberto Ascari, Tazio Nulvari
Italian Grand Prix: F1 Betting Tips
At the start of the 2019 Formula One season, Ferrari will have identified these two weeks as a big opportunity.
Unfortunately for Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, it isn’t part of a title push, but they will be relishing the opportunity to compete for top spot on the podium again this weekend.
Fresh off his first ever win, Leclerc is 7/5 to make it two in a row this weekend in 888sport’s Formula One betting odds.
The Ferrari was quicker than any car on the grid in the first and third sectors at Spa, and we can expect similar great pace at Monza, where the raw power should give Vettel and Leclerc an advantage even against the irrepressible Hamilton.
Hamilton gave us yet another reminder of his standing among the greatest ever drivers at Spa, chasing down Vettel and nearly catching Leclerc.
Writing off Hamilton is a risky business, but the Mercedes’ struggles on the straights against the Ferrari are hard to forget. There’s nothing to suggest those woes will disappear this weekend.
It could be a tricky weekend for the Red Bulls, and that might leave an opening for Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo if he can avoid a first lap collision this time round. Raikkonen is one to watch once again.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Francisco Seco / AP Photo*
