So this is the end of the European season, the final race before the season vanishes off into the exotic realms of Asia, the Americas and the Middle East - none of which are quite so fond of the questionable cuisine of chips and mayonnaise the Belgians were all for last time around. Not only does this final visit to the continent frequent the fastest track on the calendar a legacy of the high speed traditions of the sport, but Italy does great pizza. However in the dark realm of BlogHQ there is neither pizza, mayonnaise or high speeds if this internet connection is anything to go by, but there is another prospect for a spectacular weekend in the immediate future to make up for all that.
In the interlude between Spa and this race one of the more significant pieces of the the driver market fell into place, as Red Bull came out and announced exactly what the entire world had suspected for a considerable amount of time. That Webber's vacant position within the team would be filled by that Australian with a disturbingly positive demeanour - Daniel Ricciardo, I sense that his disposition will be even more overjoyed than normal this weekend, might have to sedate him just to take the edge off a little. Meanwhile the world is still waiting on the other major decision down at Ferrari, and the team have made a special announcement announcing that they will not announce any decisions on the line-up for 2014... which makes total and utter sense...
In other news an estimation of the 2014 calendar has been released, totalling a record 21 races, stretching almost into December. The V8 Supercar race at the Telstra Sydney 500 is becoming in danger of not being the last decent race of the year at this rate. But ideally given time and other potential unforeseen circumstances - there should be an upcoming feature on the new calendar and the new and returning circuits that we are all looking forward to next year. But on the subject of tracks, time to take a look at the one that the teams are setting up in at the moment.
The Track
It could be considered that this is the simplest of layouts on the calendar, effectively consisting of four corners, three chicanes all connected by reasonably high speed straights, combining to make this the fastest of all the venues. This of course then means that this is conventionally the shortest race of the season due to the higher average speeds, without a safety car intervention that is - which can't quite be ruled out.
Turn one - the Rettafillio chicane has gone through several iterations, at one point it was two chicanes one after another, the second of which turned out not be Hakkinen's friend after he thought it had cost him the 1999 championship. Incidentally this is potentially the only recorded event of a Finn exhibiting anything other than a flat, monotone demeanour. It's present incarnation is a little tight and merely attracts mayhem and collisions, it is a corner where front wings go to die. Additionally the curbing is mountainous, you need a sherpa to make to the peak of the apex, but without them everyone would just cut the corners.
Curva Grande at turn three has been the scene of some spectacular overtaking manoeuvres, generally involving Vettel and Alonso - the 2012 duel was outstanding where the German Bloke passed the Ferrari on the grass. In this current day and age, Vettel would probably been penalised for such an achievement. At the far end of the track the two Lesmos are flowing and gently cambered allowing the slowest (non-chicane) corners to be that little bit faster also with none of that health and safety tarmac run-off on the exits either, just grass, gravel and then the wall. After the first of the two back straights - Monza likes straights - lies the Ascari chicane out of the three on the lap, this is by far the best. The site of where Raikkonen ruined a Ferrari before he fell out with Montezemelo - it has also been the scene of many an epic powerslide between the second and third parts of the corner.
The final part of the lap is the long, increasing radius corner at the Parabolica building speed back up onto the front straight - where in the past two lanes of racing traffic would run side by side as the banking loop switched over with the course we know of today. For some reason the completely insane and incredibly steep banked corners are no longer in use - might have something to do with a severe threat of severe injury and the lack of catch fencing to prevent cars from flying into the forest - so on balance the current layout is pretty brilliant as is.
The Form Guide
Being a very unique track certain cars will be better suited to the high speed, lower downforce configuration than others - for example Red Bull are conventionally better suited to higher downforce venues. Tracks like Silverstone, Suzuka and Interlagos come to mind - but not Monza, however Vettel was able to destroy the field at Spa, another high speed track. Meanwhile Mercedes are usually tipped to do well in these sort of tracks but couldn't keep close to Alonso and Vettel. As usual Mercedes will be very close to the front on Saturday but lose a little on race day, because this is now autumn here in Europe temperatures may not be high enough for Lotus to retain the form they held earlier in the year. While a low downforce track might help McLaren close the gap.
Times are often quite close at Monza, which makes the far end of the top ten very interesting, Force India will certainly at the front of the Mid-field train, looking to pick of a McLaren or Lotus or two along the way. To which Di Resta may well complain, because he does like to complain from time to time. Toro Rosso might be next because in the speed traps they tend to rank fairly highly, of course that doesn't take into account the extra drag caused by the extra large cheesy grin Ricciardo will be wearing this weekend. This leaves Sauber and Williams - likely in that order, well more likely Hulkenberg, Williams and then Gutierrez - although Esteban had a decent race in Spa so might be alright at Monza.
Caterham and Marussia had an amazing qualifying session in Spa, guessing the conditions brilliantly, but in out and out pace they are solidly at the back. Caterham are starting to leave Marussia behind, and Van Der Garde is making considerable improvements - going from battling Chilton for the great honour that is last place, to leading the division beating Pic and Bianchi. Jules initial domination of the class has faded slightly along with the pace of the car, although in relative terms for the most part is still keeping Max well beaten.
Just like in Spa there is the risk of rain during the weekend, a certain wet Monza GP in 2008 saw a certain German Bloke win in the Toro Rosso, which at the time was just as far off the pace as it is now. So as much as a rain affected race always sounds like a good idea, in Italy it does have a history of encouraging Vettel based dominance, and we have had quite a lot of that at the moment so something else might be nice, until next time this is farewell from BlogHQ.
No comments:
Post a Comment