04/09/2016
NEWS STORY
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is often referred to as the Cathedral of Speed, and other such nonsense.
That said, it will take an upset of biblical proportions, a minor miracle even, if we are to see anyone other than Lewis Hamilton take victory, and thereby another giant step towards his fourth title, here today.
Ignoring the fact that he out-paced the Ferraris by a second, he was almost half-a-second quicker than his own teammate.
While Monza has been heavily emasculated over the years, it still demands total respect and can bite back when you least expect.
For those that haven't experienced it, Monza is something very, very special. It oozes, passion and history, and within the confined of this purpose built circuit located in Europe's largest park, can be found traces of the entire history of the sport.
On the other hand, thanks to the nature of the track and the speed of the cars, the event is usually over around 75 - 80 minutes after it began... so blink and you'll miss it.
To add to the frustration, as in previous years we are only expecting most drivers to adopt a one- stop strategy, usually around lap 25.
Anyway, today's race is Mercedes - or Hamilton's to lose - and we really can't see anything getting in the way other than a technical issue or a 'misunderstanding' between the Silver Arrows pair at the first chicane.
Behind them it's another matter, with Ferrari under pressure from Red Bull, Williams, Force India and even Haas looking good.
Despite being in 'The Cathedral' the weather gods are looking likely to intervene, and while Monza isn't a car breaker as such - though it does put enormous strain on the engine and brakes - over enthusiasm usually claims more 'victims' than anything else.
With that in mind, ignoring the possibility of the Mercedes pair being silly, especially on the opening lap, there is Max Verstappen, who starts from seventh, just behind Bottas and alongside Perez.
Following last week's shenanigans, it's fair to say that the Red Bull driver will want a blemish free afternoon.
Now that McLaren has cleared up its plans for 2017 (and 2018) - yeah, as clear as mud - perhaps the pressure will have eased a little within the team. However, with the Manor of Wehrlein sandwiched in between Alonso and button one has to ask if this says more about the Woking outfit or its Banbury rivals.
Toro Rosso is expecting another tough day, Monza, like spa, showing up the weaknesses of the Faenza package, not least its 2015 Ferrari engine.
Following the buy-out by Longbow finance, Sauber continues to make little improvements, though it is doubtful the Swiss team will open its 2016 points account this afternoon.
Then there's Renault, another team that faces a long - OK, not that long - afternoon, as the characteristics of this track show up its various weaknesses.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin making their way to the grid.
The Mercedes duo will be only drivers in the top ten starting on the soft tyres, which could play into Ferrari's hands, while Pirelli has recommended that drivers do not exceed 39 laps on the mediums, 34 on the softs and 20 on the supersofts. The Italian manufacturer, therefore suggesting that the quickest strategy will be a two-stopper, with two 17-lap stints on supersofts and one 19 lap sting on softs.
A one-stop strategy is not as quick and would mean one 28-lap stint on softs and 25 laps on mediums.
Before the national them there is a minute's silence in respect of the victims of the recent earthquake that devastated Amatrice in central Italy.
Sadly, the anthem is 'sung' at Mercedes pace whilst the band appears to be Renault powered. Quite dreadful.
Behind the top ten, most are on softs, bar Alonso, Button, Kvyat and Magnussen, who are all on supersofts, while Ocon, who didn't post a time in qualifying, is on mediums.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, all get away cleanly. Hamilton clearly can't wait to get proceedings underway.
They're away, and it's a dreadful start for Hamilton. As Rosberg pulls away, so too does Vettel and then Raikkonen, as the Briton is passed by Bottas and Ricciardo before the first chicane.
Strong starts from Hulkenberg also, while Verstappen, like Hamilton suffers a poor getaway. Massa gets away well but has to avoid a slow Verstappen, thereby forcing Alonso wide.
As the main pack enters the first chicane, Massa locks-up, while a little argy-bargy sees three drivers need to take to the escape road and over the speed bumps.
On the run to the second chicane Vettel sticks with Rosberg, but in the end he simply doesn't have the pace. Further back, Verstappen, down in 12th, is desperate to pass Wehrlein and Hulkenberg who appears to have lost positions at the first chicane despite that blistering start.
Meanwhile, Gutierrez, who started tenth, is now back in twentieth.
At the end of lap one, Rosberg leads the Ferraris with Vettel all over the back of the Mercedes. Bottas is fourth, ahead of Ricciardo, Hamilton, Perez, Hulkenberg, Massa and Alonso.
Hamilton is all over Ricciardo the Briton passing the Red Bull in Curva Grande. Behind, Nasr and Palmer lock wheels and touch, sending the Sauber into a spin.
Out come the yellows as Palmer loses his front wing in a clash with Nasr at the first chicane in another case of two into one won't go. For a brief moment their wheels interlock before the Renault hits the Sauber sending it into a spin which almost catches Magnussen. Palmer heads back to the pits for a new front wing as does the Brazilian.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
Out front, Rosberg leads Vettel by 1.53s as Hamilton closes on Bottas.
Hamilton gets oh so close to Bottas on the pit straight, but under braking the Williams has line and the advantage.
Replay shows just how bad the start was for Hamilton, though no explanation why. In the Mercedes garage Toto Wolff is clearly crestfallen.
Verstappen passes Hulkenberg to take tenth, the Red Bull driver one of several to lose positions at the start.
Raikkonen reports a vibration under braking.
"Three cars are ahead are on supersoft tyres," Hamilton is told, as Nasr returns to the pits to retire.
As Hamilton locks-up as the first chicane, Raikkonen is told to manage his engine temperature.
Magnussen loses three positions in one fell move as he Ericsson, Button and Gutierrez battle for 17th.
"We still need you to cool the engine," Raikkonen is told. "But I can't slow down or I'll lose the tow," he replies. "Just half a car length," comes the response.
Verstappen makes short work of Alonso on the pit straight to take 9th.
Still unable to get by Bottas, Hamilton is now 9.2s down on his teammate.
Palmer returns to the pits as he too looks set to retire.
At which point Nasr is given a 10s time penalty for causing a collision.
Though told to manage his tyres, Hamilton makes a move on Bottas the first chicane, but the Finn is having none of it. And why should he.
Next time around there is no such problem, Hamilton, making full use of DRS and the Mercedes engine, powers past Bottas who is unable to resist. Nonetheless, he is now 12s down on Rosberg.
"My rears are pretty wasted already," says Hamilton. Well he was warned.
As Ricciardo is told to up his pace and close on Bottas, Raikkonen is told: "Ok it's not going to be long now. If you can get a bit more pace we'll get a better emerge." Emerge relating to track position after a pit stop.
At the end of lap 13, Bottas is the first driver to make a regular pit stop, Verstappen and Alonso follow suit. All three switch to the softs. Kvyat also pits. It's a slow stop for the Spaniard.
"Pick up the pace as much as you can," Hamilton is told. "Three laps."
Next time around Hulkenberg pits., rejoining in 16th behind Verstappen.
In one move, Bottas laps Button and Sainz on the inside of Curva Grande.
Raikkonen and Perez both pit at the end of lap 15, as does Button. The Ferrari driver sticks with the supersofts.
Alonso's slow stop is explained, the automatic release light didn't change thereby keeping him stationary. "******* traffic lights," he shouts.
Verstappen passes Gutierrez to take 13th as Rosberg now has the length of the back straight between him and Vettel. Indeed, Vettel pits at the end of the lap (16). As do Massa and Ricciardo. The Australian switches to softs so he could be going for a one-stopper.
Vettel emerges alongside his Ferrari teammate, who appears to yield as the German claims third. Wehrlein pits.
After 17 laps, Rosberg leads Hamilton by 14.9s.
Nasr appears to have rejoined the race again before retiring... again.
Ricciardo passes Grosjean to take 6th, the Australian setting off after Bottas who is now 1.2s up the road.
After 21 laps (of 53), it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Perez, Grosjean, Verstappen and Massa. Of those, the Mercedes duo and Grosjean have yet to stop, though they are clearly on one-stoppers while their rivals are (mostly) on two-stoppers.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
"Two more laps after this one, just let us know," Rosberg is told. "I can do it," he replies, just let me know the lap times."
"You are much quicker than Ocon, come on!" Gutierrez is told. The Mexican responds by passing the Manor to take 17th.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 24, as do Sainz and Ericsson. The German switches to the medium rubber, rejoining in second.
Next time around it is Hamilton who pits, the Briton, now on mediums also, rejoins in fourth behind the two Ferraris.
Hamilton asks what tyres the Ferrari are on, he will be pleased with the response.
Out front, Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (26.599).
"What sort of time is Fernando doing?" asks Button, currently 9.5s down on his teammate.
"Stop the car and switch off," Wehrlein is told quite urgently. "Stop the car immediately, and switch off." He duly obliges, parking the car at the first chicane.
Perez and Grosjean both pit at the end of lap 28, for the Mexican it's his second stop.
Rosberg is told that Hamilton, 9.8s behind, is "pushing hard".
Ricciardo continues to harry Bottas, his job made that little bit easier when the Williams driver pits at the end of lap 30. Magnussen makes his second stop also.
Perez passes Alonso for 10th, his next target being Bottas. Indeed, with Hulkenberg chasing 7th placed Massa the Force India/Williams battle continues.
That said, Bottas passes Hulkenberg to make it a Williams 7-8 as opposed to a Force India 9-10.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 33, the German switching to the softs and emerging behind Ricciardo in fifth.
Asked if he prefers 'Plan B', Alonso says "I don't know what you mean".
Next time around, Raikkonen pits, rejoining just ahead of Verstappen who promptly passes him.
At the end of lap 35 Verstappen and Kvyat pit, the Red Bull driver rejoining in 9th, behind Perez.
Kvyat is handed a 5s penalty for speeding in the pitlane. It never rains...
Button is told to stay out as the cars on the same 'pit window' are about to pit. " They will lose time," he is told. "Your pace is good."
At the end of lap 37, Ricciardo pits, switching to the supersofts. He rejoins in fifth behind Bottas.
Kvyat's day is over as the Russian's car is pushed into its garage.
Button pits at the end of lap 39, the Briton rejoining in 14th.
Out front, Rosberg enjoys a 10.7s lead over his Mercedes teammate. Vettel is a further 16.8s behind.
"Do you think I can push now all the way?" asks Hulkenberg. "Yes, push now all the way," is the reply.
A mistake by Hamilton at the first chicane sees the Briton lose more time, as Rosberg now enjoys a 12.1s advantage.
As Sainz pits, Hamilton is told "you are not in your safety car window", which is the polite way of telling him to pull his finger out.
A follow up tells Hamilton to "be careful of the lock-ups".
From out of nowhere, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (26.287) as Verstappen is told to avoid the marbles.
Also setting a strong pace is Button who is now all over the back of his teammate.
Sainz passes Ericsson around the outside in Ascari to take 15th, such effort for so little reward.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
As Raikkonen posts another fastest lap (26.268), Button sweeps by Alonso. The Spaniard is clearly out for some fun and sticks right behind the Briton.
"He's faster than us but he has double the deg," Bottas is told as Ricciardo closes in.
No sooner has Ricciardo posted a new fastest lap (26.252), than he makes a move on Bottas at the first chicane. Despite his best efforts the Finn can do nothing about what is a very bold move from the Australian.
Perez does a bit of cross-country at Ascari as Verstappen sails through to take 7th.
Told to maintain his pace so that he might catch Grosjean by the end, Alonso responds: "Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The Spaniard subsequently pits taking on another set of supersofts.
Another fastest lap or Raikkonen (26.016).
As Button takes a look at Grosjean, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (25.340).
Rosberg begins his final lap, 14.024s ahead of his teammate.
The German takes the flag, and though Hamilton retains the championship lead it is now down to just two points.
Behind the German it's Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen, Perez, Massa and Hulkenberg.
Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Button, Gutierrez, Alonso, Sainz, Ericsson, Magnussen and Ocon. Kvyat, Wehrlein, Palmer and Nasr all non-classified.
Rosberg runs to his crew, his delight obvious, and why not. Indeed, they lift him in the air for a spot of Teutonic crowd-surfing.
"Good job," says Hamilton in the ante-room before the podium ceremony. "This was one of the days I wished you were a bit quicker," Rosberg says to Vettel in German, who promptly takes the winners cap.
It's a big day for Rosberg, but so too for Vettel and Ferrari, the Maranello team back on the podium for the first time in 5 races.
The scenes beneath the podium are as emotional as ever as the tifosi faithful pay tribute to their team, even if it could only manage a distant third and fourth.
"This is the best podium in the world," says Vettel. "Mercedes are doing a very good job, so you have to show them respect, but we are fighting and I know that we will come back!"
Watching from the Ferrari garage is Sergio Marchionne, who knows that next year the Italian team has to come back.
Meanwhile, a clearly euphoric Rosberg wins over the crowd by addressing the fans in Italian before leading them in a rendition of the anthemic White Stripes' Seven Nation Army. That's the way to do it Nico!
So as F1 leaves Europe the title fight couldn't be better balanced, which has to be good for all of us.