Monza and its Autodromo Nazionale circuit is gearing up for the most eagerly anticipated weekend for fans of the Prancing Horse, at the home of Italian motor racing, universally known as\u00a0The Temple of Speed. The Italian Grand Prix is the 16th round of the Formula 1 season and of course it\u2019s the home race for the Maranello team.<\/p>\n
Celebrations.\u00a0As in recent years, the Scuderia has once again chosen Monza for special celebrations of its history and supporters. As from Wednesday in Milan they will be able to get up close with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in a series of unmissable events. On track, the centre of attention will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda\u2019s first world championship win with Scuderia Ferrari, which he clinched in Monza on 7 September 1975, in front of a record crowd that had packed out the circuit to witness the crown coming back to Maranello after an absence of 11 years.<\/p>\n
The track.\u00a0Built in 1922, The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza has remained substantially unaltered ever since, very high speed and one of the most iconic venues on the calendar, on which it has featured every year apart from 1980 when the Italian Grand Prix was held at Imola, as Monza was being renovated. Over the 5.793 kilometres, the cars travel at great speed down the long, fast straights. The quick parts are linked by equally famous corners, such as the Variante del Rettifilo at the end of the start-finish straight, Roggia which comes after the Curva Grande, which the drivers tackle flat out and the Ascari chicane after the two Lesmos before leading into the famous Parabolica, now named in memory of the great Michele Alboreto.\u00a0Aerodynamic efficiency is the key to having good top speed which is why all the cars run minimal wings. However, the track layout means that the car\u2019s handling through the chicanes must be taken into consideration, where good traction is essential to look after the tyres and to be able to defend during the race. The brakes also need to work very well as the drivers have to slow the cars from 340 to 80 km\/h in just 150 metres, for example at the first braking point after the start. There are two DRS zones, one on the main straight and one after the second Lesmo, even though this is the track where the moveable rear wing brings the least benefit given that even with the wing closed, drag is minimal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Strategy and traffic.\u00a0Based on what was seen last year when Charles Leclerc won for Ferrari, a one stop strategy seems the most likely, but not until the cars have been on track for practice will a clear picture emerge. What is clear is that qualifying well is vital when it comes to dealing with traffic. Slipstreaming brings a significant advantage and everyone will be looking to get a tow, but that can involve a driver finding himself in traffic. In the worst case, in the final seconds of each of the three sections of qualifying, there\u2019s a risk the driver does not cross the line to start a final flying lap before the chequered flag has been waved. Getting it right is far from easy and drivers and strategists will have to be on the ball.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Programme.\u00a0The weekend runs to the traditional format, with three free practice sessions \u2013 two on Friday at 13.30 and 17.00 CEST and one on Saturday at 12.30. That\u2019s followed by qualifying at 16.00 with the usual 53 lap, 306.72 km race getting underway on Sunday afternoon at 15.00.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nAs every year, we are eagerly looking forward to hitting the track at Monza, especially so just a few days after Zandvoort, which didn\u2019t deliver the results we\u2019d hoped for, even if we demonstrated that we had the race pace to do well. For the entire team, being surrounded by the passion of our tifosi is an incredible motivation to put our hearts into everything we do. We are aiming to give our very best to repay them for their constant support. However, in order to do that, we need to put emotions aside and focus on ensuring that we execute the weekend to the best of our ability, from the very first lap of free practice right through to the final lap of the race. Over the course of this season, we\u2019ve made progress in terms of competitiveness, but with such a closely matched field, we must be flawless to get the results we\u2019re aiming for. We\u2019ll give it everything we have, knowing we can count on all the love and support of our tifosi.<\/p>\n
Fred Vasseur,\u00a0Team Principal<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ferrari stats<\/p>\n
GP Contested\u00a01113<\/p>\n
Seasons in F1\u00a076<\/p>\n
Debut\u00a0Monaco 1950\u00a0(A. Ascari 2nd; R.Sommer 4th; L. Villoresi ret.)<\/p>\n
Wins 248 (22.28%)<\/p>\n
Pole positions\u00a0254 (22.82%)<\/p>\n
Fastest laps\u00a0263 (23.63%)<\/p>\n
Podiums\u00a0834 (24,98%)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ferrari stats Italian GP<\/p>\n
GP Contested\u00a075<\/p>\n
Debut\u00a01952 (A. Ascari and D. Serafini 2nd; P. Whitehead 7th; C. Biondetti ret.)<\/p>\n
Wins 20 (26.67%)<\/p>\n
Pole positions 23 (30.67%)<\/p>\n
Fastest laps\u00a019 (25.33%)<\/p>\n
Podiums\u00a072 (33.33%)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Three questions to…\u00a0<\/p>\n
Piero Ferrari<\/p>\n
Ferrari, Vicepresident<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0This year at the Italian Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari HP will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda\u2019s first title with the team. What convinced your father to pick Niki, an almost unknown young Austrian, back in 1974?<\/p>\n
It was a mix of instinct and trust. Clay Regazzoni had told my father that Niki had extraordinary talent and sensitivity, something beyond the ordinary. Then came the Monaco GP where Niki was brilliant in a car that couldn\u2019t compete with the top teams. My father watched that race from Fiorano and decided right there that this was a driver worth betting on. Looking back today, it\u2019s incredible to think that such a simple decision, based on instinct and a race seen on TV race, changed Ferrari\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0You were at Monza on September 7, 1975, when Niki secured his first world title. What do you remember most vividly about that day?<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll never forget the atmosphere. Clay Regazzoni won the race, and with Niki finishing third, we had clinched the championship title. After the podium, Niki and I embraced, and I remember wishing that moment would never end. It wasn\u2019t just a victory for Ferrari, it was the beginning of a new era, and it felt deeply personal, like celebrating with a lifelong friend.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0Niki was known as \u201cthe human computer,\u201d but your memories reveal a very different side to him. What was he like away from the track?<\/p>\n
He was brilliant, yes, but also funny, relaxed, and full of life. In the evenings we\u2019d go out for dinner in Modena, laughing, joking, even betting on Grand Prix results and whoever lost paid for everyone. Behind the precision and discipline, there was a young man who loved life and friendship. That\u2019s the Niki I\u2019ll always carry with me.<\/p>\n