06/09/2020
NEWS STORY
At a time we remember Jochen Rindt, the sport's only posthumous world champion, who perished at Monza fifty years ago this weekend, do get our esteemed editor to tell you his Rindt anecdote. It involves a north London garage and takes place just a week or so earlier.
The year before, editor Balfe watched from Copse as Rindt battled Jackie Stewart for the lead in the British Grand Prix in a race still regarded as one of the most thrilling ever.
Of course - and not purely down to nostalgia - thrilling races were quite common back then, indeed, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza hosted a fair few.
Who can ever forget those grainy black and white images on our TV screens as the leaders exited the Parabolica three or four abreast, then attempted to slipstream one another in that mad dash for the flag.
Today the race is likely to be settled at the first chicane, while the only time the cars are four abreast these days is as they jostled for track position in the various phases of qualifying.
While it would take a minor miracle for today's race to come close to those thrillers of the 60s and 70s, it is not impossible that there could be some edge of the seat stuff.
First off, Valtteri Bottas has to beat Lewis Hamilton today. If he doesn't nail the Briton by the first chicane he has to keep trying. He is already almost 50 points down on his teammate, should the gap increase he may as well give up on the remainder of the season, as might we all.
Then there promises to be a proper ding-dong behind, with Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez embroiled in their own battle, whilst fending off the unwanted attention of Max Verstappen, who will have the likes of Ricciardo, Stroll and the AlphaTauris in hot pursuit, not to mention Alex Albon.
Verstappen could be worth the price of admission alone, for already frustrated that the ban on party modes has done nothing to curb Mercedes domination, he suddenly finds himself out-paced by a McLaren and a Racing Point.
While the Spa stewards might have had it easy, what with track limits, the qualifying shenanigans and today's anticipated mayhem they may all need to lie down in a darkened room for a few days.
Today, more than at any previous event, the absence of fans will be hard felt. No air horns, smoke, cheering, booing, flags or running down the track to stand under the podium. Here, more than at any other track, the true impact of the pandemic will be felt.
Then again, based on Ferrari's current form it is perhaps fortunate for Binotto and his men that the tifosi is left to vent its frustration at TV sets across the land, for no matter the fact that today's race will probably only last 75 minutes, it's going to be a very long afternoon for the Scuderia.
All the drivers in the first five rows of the grid will start on the red-banded soft tyres. The fastest strategy is a one-stopper, starting on softs and going on to mediums after 24 laps (or vice versa).
The second-quickest way is still a one-stopper, but this time using softs for 22 laps and then hards for 31 laps.
Close to both of these - but with the big advantage of providing a wider pit stop window - is a strategy that involves the mediums for 26 laps and the hards for 27 laps. As always, this can work just as well the other way round.
A two-stop strategy is definitely slower, but the best way to do it would be two 16-lap stints on the softs and a 21-lap run on the mediums, possibly using the mediums in the middle stint.
If you haven't been there, Monza is the most atmospheric of circuits. Forget, the tifosi, just walk back from the track and into the woods among the mighty oak trees, in no time at all you can feel it, it is all around you.
Forget Lando, Charles, Daniel and even Lewis, this is the spiritual home of Fangio, Moss, Ascari, Stewart... all the legends have raced here, and, sadly, many perished.
And as we indulge in the nostalgia and get a little misty-eyed, let us not forget that today marks the final race for Williams, certainly as we currently know it. After six decades in the sport, Sir Frank says farewell as he and his daughter, Claire, bow out and hand over to investment company, Dorilton Capital.
To use a well-worn phrase, Frank has probably forgotten more about F1 than we'll ever know, and as we soak up the history of the sport at this special venue, there is no denying that the Englishman has been a major part of it.
The pitlane opens and one by one - for a change this weekend - the drivers head out.
Stroll complains that his left mirror is wrong, while Bottas makes an early mistake and takes a trip over the kerbs at the second chicane.
As the national anthem is sung, the Italian Air Force fills the sky with the red, white and green that forms the national flag.
Ahead of the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44.8 degrees. It is a bright and sunny day. That said, race control claims a 20% chance of rain. If only.
Other than the leading ten, only Ocon and Leclerc start on the softs. Kvyat and Vettel start on hards while the rest are on mediums.
They head off on the installation lap, all getting away cleanly.
The grid forms... and moments later, they're away!
Hamilton gets away well, certainly a lot better than Bottas, while Ricciardo gets on to the grass in his efforts to make ground.
As they funnel into the first chicane, Hamilton heads Sainz, Bottas, Norris and Perez, while Ricciardo is alongside Verstappen.
Norris is alongside Bottas in the first chicane but the Finn holds station. Behind, Albon has overdone it and has to use the run-off. Into the Curva Grande, Leclerc is trying to get through on the inside of Raikkonen.
Norris nails Bottas at the first chicane, as Ricciardo gets ahead of Verstappen, while Gasly cuts the entire corner after a mistake.
Coming out of the Lesmos, Perez passes the struggling Bottas as Ricciardo lines up the Finn. The Australian subsequently passing the Mercedes as they head into Ascari.
Verstappen sees his chance on the run to Parabolica, but simply doesn't have the pace of the Mercedes
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Sainz, Norris, Perez, Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen, Stroll, Verstappen, Ocon and Gasly. Bottas suspect a puncture but he continues. Albon has dropped to 15th, while Raikkonen is 12th, ahead of Leclerc and Vettel 17th.
At the end of lap 2, Bottas is told his pressures are good and he has no damage.
A charging Verstappen bullies his way past Stroll at the first chicane to take 7th.
The incident at the 1st chicane involving Gasly and Albon has been noted.
"A bit of contact, keep an eye on things," reports Norris.
After 4 laps, Hamilton leads by 2.9s, while Sainz is a similar amount ahead of Norris. Bottas is hanging on to Ricciardo's shirttails.
As Russell is all over Vettel, the German is told he has an issue with his rear-left. As he misses the first chicane, he reports: "Brakes failed, brakes failed."
"No more pedal, brake lining exploded," he adds. A sad end for a driver who scored his first ever win here... and Toro Rosso's.
Out front, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (24.890) as he attempts to ease his boredom.
Vettel makes it back to the pits.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
Albon is given a 5s penalty for "failing to leave a car width to the edge of the track". Subsequent replay reveals this to relate to an incident at the first chicane involving Grosjean.
Perez is all over the back of Norris, as Ricciardo, Bottas and Verstappen keep a watching eye.
Kvyat reports that he is "being held up" by his teammate. The Russian is on hards, of course, while Gasly is on softs.
"How is the rear locking... looking?" enquires Grosjean. He is told that all is OK.
We know from experience that the Mercedes does not like running in traffic - not that it has to too often - and Bottas is already complaining about overheating.
With everyone from Norris (3rd) to Kvyat (11th) running together, it is likely that the timing of the pit-stops will play a major part this afternoon.
Leclerc is now 3.3s down on Raikkonen.
Lap 16 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (24.626) as he heads Sainz by 11s.
"I can't race with these engine settings," warns Bottas, "it's a ******* joke!"
Albon passes Leclerc to take 13th, as Giovinazzi closes in on the sole remaining Ferrari.
The Monegasque subsequently pits, rejoining in 17th on hards.
Gasly has two successive lap times deleted as drivers begin to stray. Bottas also has a time deleted.
As Raikkonen pits, Verstappen complains that even with DRS he is unable to match the speed of his rivals.
Out come the yellows as Magnussen pulls off track just after the exit to the Parabolica.
Gasly pits, as Raikkonen has rejoined ahead of Leclerc.
The safety car is deployed as Magnussen's car is removed. Hamilton immediately pits, but nobody else seizes the opportunity. The Briton rejoins in 2nd.
Giovinazzi pits amidst confusion over whether the pitlane was actually open.
Oh dear. Hamilton and Giovinazzi are under investigation for entering the pitlane when closed.
As the pitlane is opened, Sainz, Norris et al head into it. Hamilton continues, as do Stroll, Gasly, Giovinazzi, Raikkonen, Leclerc and Latifi.
As the 'pitters' head back out, the safety car is about to be withdrawn.
Sainz, the first of the 'pit pack', rejoins in 8th.
The race resumes, and as Hamilton pulls away, Leclerc nails both Alfa Romeos heading into the first chicane.
Ocon and Kvyat are battling hard for 13th.
A huge accident for Leclerc in the Parabolica. "Are you OK?" he is asked. "Yes, a big accident," he responds, clearly winded. "****!".
Replay shows he lost the back end as he was exiting the Parabolica.
Meanwhile, as the safety car is deployed again, Giovinazzi is handed a 10s stop and go. Now, will Hamilton get the same?
"Are we going to get a penalty," asks the world champion. At which point the race is red-flagged as the tyre barriers where Leclerc crashed has to be rebuilt.
"Was a light on," when I came in," asks Hamilton. He is told that there was. "not in the pitlane," he responds.
The safety car leads the field into the pitlane.
After 26 laps, it's: Hamilton, Stroll, Gasly, Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Sainz, Norris, Bottas, Latifi and Ricciardo.
Verstappen is eleventh, ahead of Ocon, Kvyat, Perez, Russell, Albon and Grosjean.
Hamilton is handed a 10s stop and go as he and his colleagues climb from their cars.
To add to the fun, Norris is under investigation for "driving unnecessarily slowly when entering the pitlane".
With the race set to resume at 16:20, Ferrari reveals that Leclerc has been to the medical centre and given the all-clear.
As Hamilton asks when he has to serve his penalty - he is told it will be within two laps, the stewards announced that there will be no further action over Norris.
Indeed, Hamilton went to see the stewards to argue his point, while his team told him to simply "suck it up".
There will be a standing (re-)start as opposed to a rolling start.
The drivers head out and make their way back to the grid.
Behind Hamilton (hards) Stroll and Gasly are on mediums. The Alfas on softs, and Sainz, Norris, Bottas, Latifi, Ricciardo and Verstappen on mediums.
They're away! Again.
Hamilton leads, but the Alfas are right up there, Raikkonen and Giovinazzi making a pincer movement on Gasly. Behind them it's Stroll, Sainz and Norris, who gets a nudge from Bottas in the first chicane.
In the Curva Grande, Giovinazzi is side-by-side with Stroll, while on the run to the second chicane Raikkonen is all over Gasly. Stroll goes wide at the second chicane and has to use the escape road but only loses a place in the process. Heading into Ascari he retakes the position from Sainz
At the end of the lap (28), Hamilton pits, meaning that Gasly lead Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Sainz, Stroll, Norris, Bottas, Ricciardo, Ocon and Kvyat. Verstappen is down in 14th.
Hamilton rejoins in last (17th), 29s down on the leader.
"Can't we just stop the race now?" tweets Alfa.
At the end of lap 30, Giovinazzi stops to serve his penalty, while Verstappen also pits. As the Dutchman climbs from his car, it is all over, the race and any last hopes of the title.
Ironically, the first driver Hamilton needs to pass - albeit 14s up the road - is Albon.
Unsurprisingly, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (23.464).
Russell misses the first chicane following a minor brush with Grosjean.
A new fastest lap from Hamilton (22.901).
Perez passes Latifi to take the last of the point-scoring positions.
Told that he doesn't need to race Raikkonen, Sainz is having none of it. He makes a move on the Finn and passes him. Kimi, as ever, is hard but fair.
"You are the fastest man on track by a big margin," Hamilton is told, as Stroll passes Raikkonen. The Finn advises that he cannot be fast and manage his tyres, he is told that his pace is good.
Norris is next to pass The Iceman, who slips to 5th. Next up will be fellow Finn, Bottas.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
At the beginning of lap 37, Bottas passes the Alfa at the first chicane.
Sainz is lapping slightly quicker than Gasly, both drivers on the mediums.
As he passes Raikkonen, Ricciardo goes quickest in the first sector.
Despite DRS, Hamilton is unable to make a move on Albon as they head down the main straight. Now running in dirty air, which we know the Mercedes loathes, this could be where Hamilton's charge is derailed.
Next time around, Hamilton still can't pass the Red Bull, but Albon gets it wrong and takes to the escape road. He subsequently hands the position to the world champion.
Next up is Russell, who has his hands full with Grosjean.
While Russell moves aside for Hamilton, it is unlikely that Grosjean will be quite as easy going.
Out front, Sainz is just 2.8s down on Gasly, with Stroll 2.9s behind.
Hamilton passes the Haas in Turn 1, and sets off after Latifi who is 3.4s up the road.
Raikkonen, currently 7th, is under intense pressure from Ocon. The Frenchman nails the Finn in the second chicane.
Kvyat is the next driver to pass Raikkonen, as Perez lines up the hapless Alfa driver.
"Tyres took a bit of a hit the last two laps," reports Ricciardo.
"The drink hasn't been connected and it's gone behind my shoulder," says Grosjean. "It's mega-painful."
In quick succession, Hamilton despatches Latifi and then Raikkonen to take tenth.
Next up is the Mercedes powered (and designed?) Racing Point of Perez.
Complaining about the dirty air, Sainz is 1.6s down on Gasly, with Stroll 2.8s behind.
"We are good with tyres, to push in Turns 6 and 11," Gasly is told.
Courtesy of DRS, Hamilton sweeps past Perez at the start of lap 49, with only 4 laps remaining.
The world champion immediately goes quickest in the first sector.
"Three laps to go Carlos, maximum focus, no mistakes," Sainz is told.
Hamilton passes Kvyat to claim 8th. Next up is Ocon.
"You can click overtake when you need," Gasly is told.
"I want this win, Tom," says Sainz.
Gasly weaves back and forth across the track in a bid to not give Sainz a tow.
However, the Spaniard is now within DRS ranges... as they begin the final lap.
Hamilton passes Ocon for 7th.
Gasly wins... to give AlphaTauri (Toro Rosso... Minardi) it's second win, and at Monza to boot.
Sainz is second, ahead of Stroll, Norris, Bottas, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Ocon, Kvyat and Perez.
Latifi is eleventh, ahead of Grosjean, Raikkonen, Russell, Albon and Giovinazzi.
"Oh my God, ****, oh my God, my God... yesss," cries Gasly.
Of course, we could go back and delate some of the negative intro, but honestly, who could have predicted this?
As Gasly climbs from his car, he is congratulated by his fellow drivers, and among the first is Leclerc and Grosjean.
No doubt we're in for some epic doom and gloom from Toto, Lewis, Valtteri, Christian, Max, Alex, Mattia, Charles and Seb, but the fact is this is what we needed, this is what we really needed... and how appropriate that it is Monza that somehow still manages to produce some magic.
OK, had it not been for Magnussen parking up and necessitating the safety car, Lewis wouldn't have pitted, and had Leclerc not crashed when he did the race wouldn't have been turned on its head.
But he did, they did, and that what makes this sport so magical at times, like they incorrectly say, F1 is If backwards.
Not a great race before the purists start firing off their emails, but an entertaining race, and the feel-good factor we were all looking for.
The ghosts of Monza won't be ranking this a classic, but we're pretty sure they'll be smiling.