Just one week after the Netherlands Grand Prix, it’s Round 15 (of 23). Monza is the second GP in Italy (Imola was back in May) and quite possibly the first dry weekend since Monaco!
Qualifying
The race stewards have introduced a new rule to try to address the bunching up and creeping along that happens towards the end of a slow lap as drivers try to create a gap
The stewards are also watching track limits at a couple of turns, and after many drivers running wide in practice it’s probably safe to say we’ll see laps deleted in Quali until they adjust
The “alternate tyre allocation” applies today, with everyone running on hard tyres in Q1, mediums in Q2, and softs in Q3
Air temperature 28°C; track 39°C; humidity 43%
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Green light; Q1 has started and the clock is ticking down from 18 minutes… but everyone remains in their garage
Of course as soon as one leaves the garage, a whole gaggle of cars do the same so the drivers will be complaining about traffic
MAG 1:22.853
VER 1:22.047 … but that’s deleted for exceeding track limits in Turn 7
ALB 1:22.123
PER 1:21.911
VER 1:21.573
OCO runs wide, kicks up some gravel but recovers
5mins left; bottom 5 are GAS, PIA, HUL, OCO, STR
OCO pits so the team can check the Alpine’s floor after his incident
Drivers prepare for their final flying lap; some are slowing and opening gaps but we’ll see if anyone falls foul of the new rule
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are BOT, STR, GAS, PIA, OCO
STR P17
BOT P12, MAG relegated to P16
PIA P8, ZHO P16
(ALB P2)
OCO P17
GAS P17
Back of the grid: ZHO, GAS, OCO, MAG, STR
Incident involving LEC and SAI will be investigated after the session – failing to follow Race Director’s instruction re: maximum lap time
Qualifying session 2
VER 1:21.035
SAI 1:20.991
5mins left; bottom 5 are HUL, HAM, LAW, SAR, BOT
All 15 cars crawling out of the pit lane; the new rule doesn’t kick in until they cross the safety car line
Yet again some car are in jeopardy of not crossing the start/finish line before the chequered flag
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are HUL, HAM, LAW, SAR, BOT
SAR P14
HAM P5, PIA P11
LEC 1:20.977
LAW P12
HUL P13
PIA P8, TSU P11
VER 1:20.937
BOT P14
Middle of the grid: TSU, LAW, HUL, BOT, SAR
Top 10 shootout is between VER, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, HAM, RUS, PIA, ALO, NOR
Qualifying session 3
They wait and wait, and then they all leave the pits together 🙂
VER ahead of PER so that tow should help PER’s time… although PER seems a long way back at the end of the main straight
VER runs a little wide, touches the gravel trap
VER 1:20.631
PER P2
NOR P3
ALO P4
LEC 1:20.564
SAI 1:20.532
PIA P6
ALB P4
RUS P4
HAM P9
Order after the first run: SAI, LEC, VER, RUS, ALB, PER, NOR, PIA, HAM, ALO
They all head back into the pits; new soft tyres and a dash of fuel
3mins left; garages start to empty for the final flying laps
LEC 1:20.361
ALO P10
VER 1:20.307
SAI 1:20.294
NOR P7
PIA P5
PER P4
ALB P5
RUS P4
HAM P8
Provisional grid: SAI*, VER, LEC*, RUS, PER, ALB, PIA, HAM, NOR, ALO, TSU, LAW, HUL, BOT, SAR, ZHO, GAS, OCO, MAG, STR
*SAI and LEC will be investigated after Quali for failing to follow Race Director’s instruction re: maximum lap time
Update: No further action
Race
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Radio from LAW reporting that his left wing mirror has come loose
Air temperature 29°C; track 43°C – a little warmer than Quali
SAI leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone starting on medium compound tyres except HAM, BOT and MAG on hards
TSU has pulled off the track; smoke from the engine
Aborted start – they need to move TSU’s AlphaTauri before it’s safe to start
All the mechanics are running down the pit lane, expecting the start to be aborted
TSU’s car is on the back of a flatbed truck, and TSU is getting a ride back to the pits
A few mechanics have climbed through the gaps in the along the pit wall – there might be penalties for that
Mechanics are allowed onto the grid, so they can cool the cars before there’s another formation lap
Mercedes’ Communications Director confirms they are not allowed to change tyres on the grid
Race control: Formation lap will start at 15:20 local time
Mechanics clear the grid
SAI leads everyone away on another formation lap
Race distance has been reduced to 51 laps
SAI slows down as he approaches the grid, trying to bunch everyone up
01/51: SAI leads into Turn 1
RUS attacking LEC but the Ferrai keeps P3
PAI takes P6 from ALB
NOR takes P8 from HAM
02: SAI, VER, LEC, RUS, PER, PIA, ALB, NOR, HAM, HUL, ALO, LAW, SAR, BOT, ZHO, OCO, GAS, MAG, STR
ALB dives past PIA to reclaim P6
03: SAI fastest lap 1:26.006
04: VER f/lap 1:25.702
DRS enabled
05/71: SAI, VER, LEC, RUS, PER, ALB, PIA, NOR, HAM, HUL, ALO, LAW, SAR, BOT, ZHO, OCO, GAS, STR, MAG
Radio from VER saying SAI is already sliding; “just be sensible”
06: SAI defends into Turn 1; expect VER to complain
Sure enough, VER on the radio saying “That was naughty” but SAI did nothing wrong
07: Did SAI put all four wheels off the track in Turn 7?
08: PER looking to attack RUS for P4
10/51: SAI, VER, LEC, RUS, PER, ALB, PIA, NOR, HAM, ALO, HUL, LAW, SAR, BOT, ZHO, OCO, GAS, STR, MAG; DNS: TSU
11: PER has another look but RUS brakes later
GAS pits; slow stop; hards go on; rejoins P19
14: RUS and PER both cut Turn 1
Radio from PER whining that “he pushed me off” despite PER obviously locking up – what an idiot
15/51: SAI, VER, LEC, RUS, PER, ALB, PIA, NOR, HAM, ALO
SAI locks up
VER gets alongside and has the inside line into the chicane; takes P1
VER pulling away, opening a gap in just a couple of corners
Radio from NOR saying he’s faster than teammate PIA
16: PER dives inside RUS to steal P4
17: VER already 1.5sec clear of SAI
LEC closing on SAI’s tail
18: Radio from SAI, “tyres are nearly finished”
20: SAI pits, followed by RUS
SAI takes on hards; rejoins P9
RUS also onto hards; rejoins P10
21: VER pits; hards; P6
LEC pits too; hards; P8, inches behind SAI
LEC has a look at the outside of his teammate but SAI stays ahead
22: PER pits from briefly being P1; hards; P7, right on LEC’s rear wing
ALO pits; hards; P12
23: NOR pits from P2; hards; rejoins P11
SAI f/lap 1:25.558
Stewards: Incident involving RUS and OCO under investigation – leaving the track and gaining an advantage
Replay shows it was when RUS left the pit lane, he was alongside OCO; RUS locked up and cut Turn 1
24: RUS given 5sec penalty
Contact between the McLaren pair in Turn 1
25/51: VER easily past HAM to reclaim P1 (HAM has yet to pit)
Incident involving NOR and PIA noted – causing a collision
26: VER, HAM, SAI, LEC, PER, RUS*, ALB, NOR, PIA, ALO, LAW, ZHO, SAR, HUL, GAS, BOT, STR, MAG, OCO (*RUS has 5sec penalty)
28: VER f/lap 1:25.501
HAM pits from P2; mediums go on; rejoins P10
Incident involving NOR and PIA noted – no further investigation
29: VER 1:25.434
HAM inside ALO for P9
30/51: VER, SAI, LEC, PER, RUS*, ALB, NOR, PIA, HAM, ALO, LAW, ZHO, SAR, HUL, GAS, BOT, STR, MAG, OCO
31: VER f/lap 1:25.398
PER has DRS behind LEC and the Ferrari doesn’t have DRS so exper PER to pass any minute
PER touches the grass, kicks up some dust
Yet again PER on the radio to whine that LEC didn’t let him through
34: VER f/lap 1:25.240
35/51: VER, SAI, PER, LEC, RUS*, ALB, NOR, PIA, HAM, ALO
37: Radio from HAM concerned that his medium tyres won’t last to the end
38: HAM is reeling in PIA
NOR looks inside ALB; ALB squeezes NOR; NOR cuts the corner and comes out ahead of ALB; NOR quickly gives P6 back to ALB
39: HAM now has DRS behind the ALB-NOR-PIA train
41: PER has a go at taking P2 but SAI defends
HAM and PIA running side by side… there’s contact
Incident involving HAM and PIA noted – causing a collision
42: PIA pits; new front wing; mediums go on; rejoins P14
Replay shows HAM’s rear right wheel hit PIA’s front left; expect a penalty for HAM
43: PER makes a mistake and then gets on the radio to claim SAI is moving under braking
44: Radio for PER telling him they’ve reported SAI
PIA f/lap 1:25.072
HAM gets 5sec penalty for causing the collision with PIA
45/51: VER, SAI, PER, LEC, RUS*, ALB, HAM*. NOR, ALO, NOT, SAR, LAW
HAM passes NOR in Turn 1, takes P7
46: PER ahead of SAI into Turn 1 – maybe now he’ll stop whining
Incident involving SAR and BOT under investigation – causing a collision
HAM looks at a gap inside ALB but the Williams hangs on to P6
47: LEC passes his teammate to take P3
LEC locks up into Turn 1; SAI reclaims P3
HAM makes the move on ALB works this time and he takes P6
48: LEC has another look at passing his teammate; SAI stays ahead
49: SAI locks up; LEC can’t benefit from it
Radio from SAI, “let’s bring this home” i.e. please tell LEC to stop attacking
LEC has DRS and pulls past SAI on the main straight
50/51: VER, PER, LEC, SAI, RUS*, HAM*, ALB, NOR, ALO, BOT, SAR, PIA, LAW, STR, ZHO, GAS, HUL, MAG
SAI reclaims P3
PIA tries to pass LAW for P12 but cuts the corner – he doesn’t give the place back so he might get a penalty
5sec penalty for SAR for causing collision with BOT
Radio for LEC, “No risk”
51: LEC locks up and cuts Turn 1 – that looked like a risk
VER takes the chequered flag
PER P2
SAI P3
LEC P4
RUS P5 but has 5-sec penalty to be applied
HAM P6 but also has 5-sec penalty
ALB P7 – he’s 6sec behind HAM so the order won’t change
Incident involving PIA and LAW under investigation
Provisional result: VER, PER, SAI, LEC, RUS, HAM, ALB, NOR, ALO, BOT; PIA, SAR, LAW, ZHO, STR, GAS, HUL, MAG
DNF: OCO
DNS: TSU
Fastest lap: PIA but he’s P11 so no point awarded
5sec penalty for PIA so he drops to P12
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[2023 calendar and driver line-up]
