Monza is the third oldest circuit in Formula 1 championship. It is the classic track with the rich history, which holds Italian Grand Prix invariably since the first F1 season in 1950. Only in 1980 Italian race moved to Imola, but next year came back to its home.

Track & statistics

Monza. 53 laps. 306.72 km. Average speed of 240 km/h, the maximum is 370 km/h (with DRS).

Monza is often named as the "Temple of speed". At all times Monza was the fastest track in the championship. Therefore, for Italian Grand Prix teams have to prepare a special aerodynamic package with a minimum level of drag and downforce. The engine power has a big importance here. Not surprisingly, Mercedes drivers won in Monza the last four years thanks to their powerful engines. But this season the main pride of Italy - Ferrari looks even faster than invincible "silver arrows", and who knows maybe this weekend Ferrari drivers will give incredible results to their tifosi.

Among the current F1 drivers the biggest number of victories in Monza has Lewis Hamilton. He won here four times: with Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017, and with McLaren in 2012. Sebastian Vettel has three victories in Italy: with Red Bull in 2011 and 2013; and his very first victory in Formula 1 in 2008 with Toro Rosso. Fernando Alonso also has two wins in Monza: the first with McLaren in 2007, and his famous victory in 2010 with Scuderia Ferrari.

Numbers or what can happen

The 50^th point for Lance Stroll, if he finishes the 7^th

The 40^th fastest lap for Lewis Hamilton

The 30^th podium for Daniel Ricciardo

The 5^th victory for Max Verstappen

The 60^th pole for Red Bull Racing

The 100^th podium for Kimi Raikkonen

The 10^th double (victory and fastest lap) for Kimi Raikkonen

Forecast

The forecast for the race weekend in Monza promises warm and sunny weather without precipitation. On Friday and Saturday air warms up to +27C, on Sunday to +25C, the probability of precipitation isn’t more than 20%.

One year ago in Monza

Last year Saturday qualifying was quite unusual and as a consequence starting grid too. It rained all Saturday in Monza. Hamilton as always showed the best results in wet conditions, then Red Bull drivers set the second and third times, but they got penalties for engine changing, so the start from the second place went to Lance Stroll.

Ferrari drivers performed in qualifying very poor, showing just 7^th (Kimi) and 8^th (Sebastian) results. At the race start Lewis hadn't any competitors; he easily took the lead and dashed away to his victory. Valtteri Bottas quickly caught up the teammate, what solved the question of Mercedes double podium. Sebastian Vettel overtook Kimi Raikkonen, but wasted a lot of time for fighting with Ocon and Stroll, so Mercedes drivers took a moment and increased leadership in the race.

Ferrari separated strategies between their drivers: Raikkonen went to the boxes on the 14^th lap and Vettel on the 31^st. But it didn't help them in the battle with Mercedes. Hamilton and Bottas did pit stops later and saved two first positions.

Daniel Ricciardo did a stop later all. The Aussie started on Soft and only 16^th, but managed to recapture a lot of positions even despite the contact with Grosjean. After pit stop Daniel came back to the track the 5^th, and on new SuperSoft overtook Raikkonen and finished the 4^th.