Italian GP preview - Sauber-Petronas.

After scoring nine championship points in the last race, at Spa-Francorchamps, and thus achieving the team's best result this season, Sauber moves on to Monza for the final European round of the season, the Italian Grand Prix.

The team's investment in a high-tech windtunnel has already borne fruit this season, but will receive its stiffest test at the circuit which demands great attention to detail when it comes to making cars as 'slippery' as possible. As a result, Sauber will debut a new low-downforce aerodynamic package to reflect the nature of the quickest track on the calendar.

"At Monza, we run the lowest downforce package of the season, because the long straights require maximum top speed," explained technical director Willy Rampf, "We tested there for three days last week, honing our low-downforce package and assessing tyres, and, overall, I expect that we will be competitive, because the nature of the Monza circuit should suit the C23 well."

Rampf also revealed that the nature of the Monza layout - which many have described as simply a collection of straights and chicanes - would place the team's Petronas-badged engines under greater strain than almost any other circuit.

"Due to the long straight after the Parabolica, the drivers spend a long time at full throttle, which gives a very high load on the engine and equally the brakes take a lot of punishment," he confirmed, "The drivers brake from 360kph to 80 in about three seconds going into the first of the two chicanes, so brake efficiency and stability are paramount. Ideally, to accelerate efficiently away from such slow chicanes, we would run higher downforce, but this is a penalty we have to accept, together with decreased grip and therefore, potentially, stability, under braking. Tyre wear is not too bad here, however, and, before the latest regulations were introduced, it was often a single-stop race."

For lead driver Giancarlo Fisichella, Monza provides a second 'home' event of the season, and the Italian always looks forward to returning.

"The last race, at Spa, was tough for us, but also very satisfying, and we surely deserved the great result," he said, reflecting on fifth place in Belgium, "We made a really good step forward at Spa, but there is a little bit more pressure on me at Monza because it is one of my home tracks.

"However, when I have that extra weight of expectation on my shoulders, I am very concentrated - and I have won a few times at Monza in F3. My best result there in F1 came in 1997, when I was fourth for Jordan, and it is always quite a difficult track with the low downforce.

"You have very poor grip in the braking area for the chicanes, you have to use the kerbs a lot, and that can upset the car as well a being a little bit rough in the cockpit. However, the kerbs aren't as bad as they used to be. Both chicanes are difficult, while the Parabolica is a crucial corner, because a really good line there and a clean exit can help you build very good speed for the main straight."

Team-mate Felipe Massa headed Fisichella across the line at Spa to record his best finish yet in F1, and is anticipating another good showing in Italy.

"Spa showed that we are perfectly capable of scoring such a result with determination and teamwork," he said, "I think that tracks like Spa suit my style, and Monza is a nice place, too.

"It's a low downforce circuit, so it's not so easy when you are braking because there is less stability and you are braking from 360kph, but it's an interesting track, and one of the oldest in F1. It's usually a great race, with a lot of possibilities for overtaking. It's a simple circuit, but still a challenge, and I like driving there.

"I have some nice memories of Monza, as I won an Italian Formula Renault race there in 2000, and, on the same weekend, I also won a European Championship race in the same category. I also won there in European F3000 in 2001, so I hope to be able to go well again this weekend."

Sauber's strong result at Spa lifted it 18 points clear of nearest rival Jaguar in the battle for sixth place in the constructors' championship. Four races remain in 2004, and the Swiss team is determined to end the year as 'best of the rest' behind the five teams who have dominated the results so far.