by Ollie Barstow
On a calendar that is becoming increasingly defined by its high-tech, wide yet somewhat soulless venues, a return to the magical Monza is proof that the oldies can still be amongst the best.
Unique is just one word that can describe the high-speed circuit, set in the atmospheric Milano area and flanked by arguably the most passionate fans of any grand prix around the world; indeed, there is little chance of an empty seat here.
The Italian Grand Prix is one that has been cherished over the years, but away from a layout that extracts the maximum out of man and machine and facilities that are comparatively, yet charmingly, archaic, one factor above all others draw the crowds out in their tens of thousands -
Ferrari.
It is appropriate then that as the season heads into the crucial latter stages and Ferrari's favourite child,
Michael Schumacher, is giving chase to Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard having eked out his gap to twelve points with a battling second place in Turkey, that Monza becomes the a 'make or break' race for the Prancing Horse.
But while the championship remains the main focus for the legendary
tifosi, a wry eye is also likely to be cast to a somewhat less glamorous conference room following the race, when Ferrari unveils its driver line-up for next season and, possibly, confirm whether or not Schumacher fights on and bids farewell.
For many,
that is going to be the big attraction come Sunday.
FIA F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS:
Is Sunday 10 September 'D-Day' for Michael Schumacher? Maybe, maybe not. Indeed, most pundits have speculated feverishly for months over the words that will be uttered to the press following the Italian Grand Prix.
However, while Ferrari admit they will be confirming their driver line-up for 2007, it has been rumoured that they will instead be using it as an opportunity to announce
Kimi Raikkonen as their new driver, as well as retain
Felipe Massa. However, while that would omit Schumacher, Massa's confirmation could be for seat number two or seat number three.
Indeed, Schumacher has made no hint over whether he will remain or retire, but that also means he may not even be present at that press conference, giving him yet more time to decide whether he will stay or go.
What is apparent though is that Raikkonen will
not be making a move to
Renault after the reigning championships unveiled their driver line-up of
Giancarlo Fisichella and
Heikki Kovalainen, bringing to a halt to endless rumours as to who would replace McLaren-bound
Fernando Alonso.
Ricardo Zonta makes the jump from Toyota to Renault as test driver, while a fourth spot in the team has been filled by
Nelson Piquet Jr, the Brazilian in contention for the GP2 Series title this weekend. Kovalainen's confirmation almost certainly puts Raikkonen in the frame at Ferrari, making Sunday's announcement almost a formality.
Meanwhile, the provisional calendar for the 2007 has been revealed and three circuits are so far missing. The big loss is Suzuka, having been confirmed as losing its Japanese Grand Prix status earlier in the year in favour of Fuji. A Pacific Grand Prix could yet be resurrected to save the popular Suzuka circuit.
The San Marino and European Grand Prix has also been omitted from the calendar, confirming
Bernie Ecclestone's claim earlier in the year that one Italian and German race would be scrapped. However, while Imola looks almost certain to be missing for next season, the Nurburgring could remain, albeit at the German Grand Prix in light of Hockenheim's financial difficulties.
Finalised dates and venues, that also include a welcome return of the redeveloped Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, will be revealed later in the year.
NEWS FROM THE TEAMS:
Renault - Fernando Alonso (#1), Giancarlo Fisichella (#2):
Having stemmed the relentless tide of points being chipped away at his long-held championship lead, Fernando Alonso could be very satisfied with himself after an intense battle with Schumacher over the final few laps of the Turkish Grand Prix.
With four races remaining and his championship lead back up to twelve points, Alonso has received some respite ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, even if he is well aware that he was lucky to beat Schumacher in Istanbul.
Nonetheless, Alonso was pleased with his turn of pace in Turkey, particularly after their mass dampers were outlawed just days before the race, while a first victory in Ferrari's back garden would give the Spaniard immense confidence in the final three races of the season, as well as provide another landmark trophy in his comprehensive cabinet.
"I think the team did a fantastic job in Turkey," he said. "We have had a strange summer, with the mass damper decision and some poor results, so it was good to prove to everybody that the car is competitive regardless. We really fought hard in that race, and it shows we are ready to fight with Ferrari all the way to the end of the championship.
"You try and finish ahead of your competitors in every race. It is always difficult to overtake in
F1, and we had the luck to do it in the pits. From that point, I knew it wouldn't be easy for Michael to get back past, so I defended my position in the normal way. It was an important result.
"This year I have won in
Silverstone, in Monaco, in Spain - and for sure, I want to win Monza too. It is one of the legendary circuits, so it would be special to win there, and even more so to beat Ferrari at their home race. We know how important the championship is, but this is a big race as well."
With third place in the standings now looking increasingly out of reach following Felipe Massa's strong run of points, Giancarlo Fisichella is desperate to get his championship back on track having managed only nine points in the last four races.
Nonetheless, Fisichella had one of his strongest races on home ground last season on the way to third place, becoming the first Italian to do so in 17 years, while he is also encouraged by his run to sixth in Turkey after his spin on the first corner.
"Turkey was a difficult race. I lost control of the car at the first car because I was very close to Fernando and wanted to avoid an accident. After that, we changed strategy and the race pace was very good - with the help of the safety car, I went from 17th to sixth. They were important points for the team, and I did my best. But we know it is important to be fighting for the podium at every race now.
"It's my home race, so obviously special for that reason. I have a good feeling with the track: I won there in F3, and got on the podium last year, being the first Italian to do it since Alboreto 17 years earlier. That was a great result, but a win would be even more special.
"I lost ground to Massa at the last race, so now I have to do the maximum and catch up the ten points I am missing at the moment. I have really high motivation to do it."
McLaren - Kimi Raikkonen (#3), Pedro de la Rosa (#4):
Kimi Raikkonen has pronounced himself fighting fit ahead of the Italian Grand Prix as McLaren-Mercedes still search for their first victory of the season.
Retiring in Turkey after just one lap, Raikkonen was forced to rest during the three-day test at Monza but insists he has recovered from his knock and is determined to get into the fight for victory in Italy, particularly as his race last season was ruined by an engine change, the Finn finishing the race in fourth place eventually.
Indeed, Monza is one of Raikkonen's favourite circuits and it is also the venue in which he is reportedly set to announce his future in the sport in that conference room. Does Ferrari beckon for Raikkonen come Sunday?
"Monza is a great track, it is all about speed but not just on the straights," Raikkonen said. "It has some fantastic corners such as Parabolica that are flat out and you really have to push the car. The track is also really hard on the cars, with the bumps and the long straights at full throttle.
"After my retirement from the Turkish race, my back was a bit sore, so we decided that I would rest to get properly fit for this race rather than test, but I am totally fine, there are no problems from the incident and I am looking forward to getting back in the car. It has been feeling really strong recently, so I hope we can have more of a race in Monza than in Istanbul."
Almost certainly confirmed to the end of the season and edging towards a permanent seat for 2007, Pedro de la Rosa came in for some praise for his drive to fifth from eleventh in Turkey, setting competitive lap times in the process.
Indeed, de la Rosa is rising to the occasion at McLaren and is performing admirably, while Monza is a circuit he has plenty of experience at having tested for McLaren there over the years, making him something of an outsider for a podium this weekend.
"We had a good test last week in Monza, Gary and I completed over 1500km and were able to work through a lot of the preparations for the race this weekend. This included tyre selection with Michelin, proving aero packages and set-up work. The latter is always quite tricky here, so I had a big focus on this at the test."
Ferrari - Michael Schumacher (#5), Felipe Massa (#6):
Although many will spend the weekend speculating over whether he will indeed reveal his future, Michael Schumacher insists he is concentrating on the matter in hand in Italy, always a favourite round for the German.
Describing himself as a 'German with an Italian heart', Schumacher is the star attraction for fans at Monza, particularly as this year's race could be the last chance they get to see the seven-time world champion.
Nonetheless, it is the title that Schumacher has got his mind on, particularly after slipping back slightly after a disappointing Turkish Grand Prix. Still, for Schumacher, there is little better place for him to signal his intent to Alonso.
"Monza is always an important event for Ferrari and one rich in tradition," he said, "In the past, significant things have happened and it is clear that coming here is special."
"I understand that the announcement arouses some interest", admitted Schumacher. "We have already made known that the declaration will be made after the race as we want to focus on what is an important date. I am in full agreement with this. I can only add that I will not discuss the subject until Sunday."
"Our tactic can only be attack. We have to make up ground, put the pressure on and go for it. It is not the first time that we find ourselves in this situation and our experience should help us out. I think we still have a good chance of winning the title. Nothing has yet been decided and a lot can happen in the remaining four races. I think that we have good reason to be hopeful of our chances of taking both titles."
Having been beaten by Alonso for the first time since Canada in Turkey, should Schumacher win every round to the end of the season, he will now be unable to take the title without his sparring partner finishing below second more than once.
It is just as well that he has an ideal team-mate in the shape of Felipe Massa, who claimed an emotional maiden victory in Turkey, even if the Brazilian was rather lucky in that intended winner Schumacher was unable to vault Alonso in those late stages.
Indeed, having claimed his first podium at Indianapolis, Massa has been off the rostrum just once since then and with Schumacher needing him more and more as he makes a late play for the title, he could not have hit form at a better time.
Toyota - Ralf Schumacher (#7), Jarno Trulli (#8):
Although they came away from Turkey with a disappointing two points, Toyota will have been encouraged by the pace shown by
Ralf Schumacher, who battled back from a ten-place grid penalty and a clash on the first corner to cross the finishing line in seventh place.
However, it is the third race in a row that Toyota have somewhat missed their chances thanks to a dose of bad luck and disappointing reliability, a combination that has seen Schumacher and Jarno Trulli qualify well but only bag seven points, compared to the 26 won by arch rivals
Honda.
Nonetheless, Toyota go to Monza having scored a crucial double points finish there in 2005, while Trulli is also racing in front of his home fans.
"I always enjoy coming to Monza," he said. "I'm at home so I enjoy more support than usual and the atmosphere is excellent. I like the circuit too and I have usually had good results there, including last year when I had a good run to fifth place in the
Toyota. Our package has been strong in recent races so we will try to make it through the weekend and score a good result in front of my home fans."
"Monza has a special place in the heritage of F1 and it is a very fast circuit with long straights interspersed with chicanes," Schumacher added. "Last year we had a good weekend and I made up ground during the race to finish sixth due to good strategy work from the team. In the last few races we have shown we can be quick. So we will look for more of the same this weekend and hope for an even better result."
Williams F1 - Mark Webber (#9), Nico Rosberg (#10):
While the most extravagant statistic in
Williams' season so far has been the fact that they have failed to score a point in nine races now, perhaps another revealing fact is that they have not managed a double finish from Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg in eight outings.
A reputed team with a quality line-up and mid-field pace, it is Williams' tail-ending reliability that has proved such a downfall this season, with Turkey failing to show much of an improvement when Rosberg was forced out of a strong points paying position with electrical dramas.
Although Webber managed to finish, a compromised pit strategy saw him finish well down the order, a result that is likely to see him cast a wry glance at that beckoning
Red Bull seat for 2007. Still, Monza is a circuit renowned for being something of a car-breaker, so hopes are modest for the weekend.
"Monza is a different type of circuit to the others that we race on over the season. It's a track which has high top speeds - in a straight line we'll reach speeds up to 340kph - so the aerodynamic wing level on the car has to be totally different for this race. Also, the set-up has to be good to allow us to ride the chicanes as we hit the kerbs so hard.
"Monza isn't the safest circuit in the world, so we need to work with the organisers to find some way to make the track a little bit safer. I've had a few points' finishes here, but I've never been on the podium, so hopefully I will get there one day. We can probably have a reasonable race here, it's very competitive at the front at the moment but I hope we'll be fighting to get back up there in these last few races and get some good points."
Rosberg brings his European season to a close at Monza before he heads off to Shanghai, Suzuka and Interlagos, three circuits he does not know. As a result, he will be using the Italian round as an opportunity to utilise his knowledge and get his first points on the board since the European Grand Prix back in May.
"The
Autodromo is a special track. I believe it's one of the oldest circuits on the calendar so there's plenty of history. Monza is also a very exciting circuit as it's so different to the other tracks we race on. There are lots of straights so you have to take all the downforce off the car. That, though, means that there's less grip, so it's harder to drive. Aside from the track itself, this Grand Prix is always a good one because of the Italian fans who just go crazy for Ferrari. They're great supporters of motor racing in general as well, so this race always has a very special atmosphere."
Honda Racing F1 - Rubens Barrichello (#11), Jenson Button (#12):
Having almost doubled their points score in the last three races compared to what they managed in the first eleven of the season, Honda go to Monza oozing with confidence.
Although they were unable to hit the lofty heights of their Hungarian win in Turkey, fourth for Jenson Button and a fighting eighth for Rubens Barrichello has now almost certainly cemented fourth place in the championship for the team.
While they may have expected more earlier in the season, when one thinks back to the lows of the French Grand Prix for instance, fourth will certainly suffice.
Indeed, with the pressure off, Honda are looking forward to keeping Ferrari, Renault and McLaren honest in Italy, with hopes high that their traditionally quick, if occasionally fragile, engine will help them prove quick over the weekend. Button, who scored a podium in 2004, however will need to shake off a high-speed crash in testing at the circuit a week earlier.
"I'm really looking forward to the race at Monza," he said. "The atmosphere is always great over the race weekend and the circuit has traditionally seen lots of exciting racing, so hopefully it will be another good race for the fans. I had a podium finish here in 2004 and it is a track that I always enjoy.
"We did a lot of good work with Michelin at the Monza test this week in preparation as most of the track has been resurfaced, so we needed to focus carefully on the tyre choice. We have a relatively good car around here so I think that we should be reasonably competitive in the race."
The Italian Grand Prix is also a special occasion for
Rubens Barrichello, although he will be sporting Honda and not Ferrari colours this year. A winner from 2002 and 2004, Barrichello is nonetheless expecting support from his loyal fans, despite a change of allegiance.
"Monza has always been a very special event for me and I still have a lot of Italian fans who write to me with their support, so it's a weekend that I always really enjoy. I have actually won twice at Monza in 2004 and 2002 which are some of my favourite memories in
Formula One.
"It's a unique circuit and easily the fastest in the F1 calendar in terms of speed. You have to get the braking right and obviously the traction and the power of the engine are important too. We had a good test this week in preparation for the race, focusing mainly on tyre choice and car set-up for the lower levels of downforce that you need here, so we look forward to another good race next weekend."
Red Bull Racing - David Coulthard (#14), Christian Klien (#15):
While Red Bull Racing's attentions will undoubtedly be on their race weekend at Monza, for driver Christian Klien, it could be the weekend where he finally makes a decision about his future.
Indeed, with the confirmation that he will not be racing in a Red Bull next season, Klien has instead been offered a drive under the energy drinks brand's backing in the DTM or Champ Car, although the condition of the deal is determined by whether he makes his decision on the Italian GP weekend.
While the Austrian's mind may be elsewhere, team-mate David Coulthard will be looking to do what he does best, drive beyond his car's capabilities at the sniff of a precious point or two, on a circuit he has tasted the winners champagne before, albeit some nine years ago.
BMW Sauber - Nick Heidfeld (#16), Robert Kubica (#17):
Having managed their best combined qualifying effort of the year, perhaps more to do with the soft tyres they were running more than anything else, BMW Sauber came away from Turkey desperately disappointed to have missed out on a least one points finish from fifth and eighth on the grid.
Indeed, having been on a high since their podium in Hungary, armed with a new hope of keeping Toyota at bay for fifth in the constructors' championship,
Nick Heidfeld's first lap clash and
Robert Kubica's poor tyre choice left them well out of the top ten by the chequered flag, losing them ground to Toyota in the process.
Nonetheless, BMW go to Monza on the back of a strong test there prior to the race weekend, with Robert Kubica topping the timesheets on the second day. Indeed, the Pole is returning to something of a 'home race', having honed his race craft in Italy when he was karting.
It is also the first circuit, and also the last this season, that he has visited since his promotion to a race seat armed with prior knowledge. With that in mind, Kubica is confident of a better performance.
"My third Formula One race will be on a track I know very well and like a lot," he said. "I shall work hard with the engineers as usual, but this time we will have some valuable information from this week's three-day test at Monza to add to that from the June test there.
"I lived in Italy for many years, so I suppose I could claim this as a home race. The Italians love their motor racing, and this is where I learnt my race craft from the age of 13."
Heidfeld is also looking forward to his trip to Italy, even though he has never finished in the points there in six attempts, his closest being ninth in 2003 for Sauber.
"For me, the Italian Grand Prix in Monza is an unusual one for a number of reasons," the German said. "For a start, the circuit in the royal park is one of the last real high-speed tracks Formula One still races on. To give you an idea of the speed: at 360 km/h you cover 100 metres in one second. That means if you're half a second too late, you've missed the braking point for a corner.
"Secondly, Italy is Ferrari country, and the
tifosi always guarantee a very special atmosphere. Thirdly, nowhere else do you hit the kerbs as hard as in Monza,
and fourthly, there are passing opportunities, which is great for the drivers and spectators alike."
Meanwhile, having stunned onlookers in Turkey on his debut,
Sebastian Vettel will be resuming testing duties with the team at Monza.
MF1 Racing - Tiago Monteiro (#18), Christijan Albers (#19):
MF1 Racing go to Italy with added confidence following an encouraging race performance by Christijan Albers in Turkey, the Dutchman managing to post lap times just tenths off the mid-field for the first time this season.
However, with talks ongoing as to the sale of the team for 2007, MF1 Racing are losing time to score points in its current state. Nonetheless, Monza has often been a race of attrition, so picking up a stray point is arguably more likely here than at other races. Nonetheless, both Tiago Monteiro and Christijan Albers have differing views of the circuit.
"It's great to be back in Monza," Monteiro said. "I really like this region of Italy and it's always good to come back here - the fans, the atmosphere, and the history of the place are all just incredible. It's definitely one of the more exciting venues as far as culture goes. The track itself is a different story: it's very, very fast, but also kind of boring, actually.
"We had a good few days of testing here and I'm happy with how the car has been improving, especially when I drove it on the last day. Hopefully, we'll see some great racing this weekend and enjoy a good result in the race."
"I have really been looking forward to Monza," Albers added. "It's a track that suits my driving style and it's always fun to race in a place with so much history. Monza is the home of Italian motorsport, so there is always a fantastic atmosphere here, with many passionate fans. I also remember a large number of Dutch fans attending this race last year, so I hope the team can do something to give them a memorable weekend."
Scuderia Toro Rosso - Vitantonio Liuzzi (#20), Scott Speed (#21):
Following an unusually lacklustre weekend in Turkey where, for the first time this season he was comprehensively outpaced by team-mate
Scott Speed, Vitantonio Liuzzi will be looking to restore the natural order with a strong run at his home race.
It was the circuit he claimed his last international victory back in 2004 when he took the F3000 title and, being the third of three Italians competing at Monza, as well as competing for an team that hails from the
tricolore, Liuzzi can expect a dose of that renowned fevered support.
Speed, meanwhile, will be looking to bring his European season to an end with a good performance, before the final three overseas races take in circuits he has yet to race. Monza is a circuit that initially served him well in 2005 when competing in GP2, scoring third on the grid, only to manage a best of 15th in the second race after retiring in the first.
Nonetheless, the V10 engine, although rev limited and now lacking development, has shown itself to be potent down straights over the season - something that will undoubtedly aid their cause at Monza.
Super Aguri F1 - Takuma Sato (#22), Sakon Yamamoto (#23):
Inching ever closer to the midfield, Super Aguri retain their status as Formula One's perennial back markers, but following an encouraging test at Monza, both Takuma Sato and Sakon Yamamoto are confident of a strong Italian Grand Prix.
"The Italian Grand Prix is a unique race as it is the fastest on the F1 calendar," Sato said. "After a positive test at the Monza circuit last week, I believe that we have a good package for the race. We will, as always, work on our race set-up on Friday, and following a positive briefing after the test where we ran through our preparations, I am very much looking forward to returning to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix."
Managing to out-qualify Sato for the first time in Turkey, Sakon Yamamoto goes to Monza with rare knowledge of the circuit having tested there prior to the race. With that in mind, the Japanese driver is looking forward to getting up to speed much quicker than usual.
"We have been testing in Monza in preparation for this week's race, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to learn the circuit," Yamamoto said. "We were able to complete most of our planned testing programme for the new car, so we are quite prepared for the Grand Prix. I am looking forward to the race on this very quick circuit. In Turkey until I had a spin the race was okay for me, so I hope to do a good job in Monza and finish the race."
TYRES:
The tyre war between Bridgestone and Michelin proved to be pretty evenly matched in Turkey, with Felipe Massa's victory adding another notch to the former's tally, but Fernando Alonso holding Michael Schumacher at bay. However, both companies admit that Monza provides a unique challenge at the end of the European season.
"The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is really very special,"
Bridgestone's director of motorsport, Hiroshi Yasukawa, said, "It is a home race for both Ferrari and Jarno Trulli and the supporters come out in their thousands to support the teams and watch the action. This is a very important time in the championship and our technical personnel have been working as hard as possible with our teams to make sure they have the right tyres for this weekend."
Yasukawa, and many of the Bridgestone hierarchy, will have one eye elsewhere this weekend, however, with another title being fought for on their rubber.
"We must not forget that this weekend also marks the big finale for the GP2 Series," he said, "
Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr will be battling for championship honours and I know we are going to be treated to the same fantastic racing this weekend which we have enjoyed watching all season. Best of luck to them both!"
While Bridgestone's involvement looks set to grow, Michelin bids farewell to its Formula One involvement in Europe at Monza. The company has a proud record at the circuit, scoring its first win there in 1979, with Jody Scheckter and Ferrari, and has provided winning tyres on six occasions since.
“After an intense race in Turkey, the F1 championship moves to one of the oldest circuits after Brooklands and Indianapolis," F1 director Nick Shorrock reflected, "Monza is a track combining speed and skill along very long straights and some demanding corners. The long straights at Monza require a minimum of downforce to allow the cars to achieve maximum speeds in excess of 350km/h on four or five occasions each lap. There are however some challenging bends and, in particular, the two Lesmos.
"In addition, almost half the track has been resurfaced this year, including the two Lesmos. This change impacted the test session when we needed to change our reference tyres because the track was significantly less severe on them.
“The Monza test was a very heavy programme after several weeks of no testing. During the week, as well as doing the normal tyre choices for the Monza GP, we have been pursuing our overall tyre development package with our partners. We have been looking at tyre compounds, tyre constructions and examining ways that teams can develop greater performance from the overall car/tyre package. With both world championships still wide open, the objective of such tests is to be able to tune the car package to be as effective as possible and to try to gain vital tenths or even hundredths of a second.”
