The much-anticipated 2023 Formula 1 World Championship is in full swing, with drivers and teams battling it out for supremacy on the track. This weekend, all eyes are on the Italian Grand Prix, which marks the 15th round of the championship. The race takes place at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, located just outside of Milan. Known as the Temple of Speed, this circuit is famous for its high speeds, with cars pushing boundaries and reaching top speeds of over 217 mph.
The Italian Grand Prix has a rich history and has been a part of the Formula 1 calendar since its inaugural season in 1950. With the exception of 1980, when the race was held at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, the Italian Grand Prix has always been held at Monza. In recent years, Formula 1 has added a second Italian round, known as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which is held at Imola. Unfortunately, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was canceled this year due to heavy flooding at its scheduled time.
Monza is not only the home of current Formula 1 races, but it is also steeped in history. The circuit itself was built in 1922, making it over a hundred years old. It hosted its first Italian Grand Prix just one week after its completion, cementing its prominence in the world of motorsports.
The layout of Monza’s track is designed to test drivers’ skills and push their cars to the limit. Covering a distance of 3.6 miles, the circuit consists of a series of straights and tight chicanes. This unique layout presents challenges for drivers, who must navigate 11 corners during each lap, with four to the left and seven to the right. Monza has the second fewest corners compared to other tracks on the Formula 1 calendar, coming second only to the Red Bull Ring in Austria, which has 10 corners.
Speed is the name of the game at Monza, with drivers spending approximately 77% of the lap time and 80% of the lap distance at full throttle. Only the Jeddah Street Circuit in Saudi Arabia sees more time spent at full throttle, at 82%. As a result, teams set up their cars to have low downforce, enabling them to achieve maximum speeds on the long straights. This setup places a greater emphasis on the tires’ mechanical traction, as they need to provide adequate grip through the corners. Pirelli, the official tire supplier for Formula 1, has nominated the C3, C4, and C5 compounds for the race at Monza, offering drivers a slightly softer combination than in previous years.
Weather conditions play a crucial role in the performance of the cars and tires, and Monza’s climate at this time of year tends to be hot. This is advantageous because the long straights can cause the tires to cool too much in milder weather conditions. The current forecast predicts warm and sunny weather for both the qualifying session on Saturday and the race on Sunday, with temperatures expected to reach 87 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius).
Heading into the weekend, Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with an impressive 339 points. His teammate, Sergio Perez, sits in second place with 201 points, while Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin is in third place with 168 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull currently holds the top position with 540 points, followed by Mercedes-Benz AMG with 255 points and Aston Martin with 215 points. Last year’s winner at Monza was Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull.
As the battle for the championship intensifies, fans and enthusiasts eagerly await the Italian Grand Prix at Monza to witness high-speed action, breathtaking overtakes, and thrilling moments that only Formula 1 can deliver.