+++ The Official Italian (Monza) Grand Prix Thread 2015 +++

[R1 Indy]

Well I can confirm it is currently raining by lake Garda (an hour from Monza). So I think there is a good chance the weather may be right and a wet weekend

Actually latest weather is showing wet practice and quali, and dry Sunday.
This could make things interesting with setup etc?

Edited by R1 Indy on Wednesday 2nd September 15:37

[BigBob]

Europa1 said:

Sad to read that Mr Ecclestone is apparently saying Monza won't be on next year's calendar.

We were passing Monza on holidays a couple of weeks back doing a 'Grand Tour' of Europe. Spent a weekend there camping right opposite the banking - in fact between the 150 and 50 metre braking boards but outside the circuit.

Spent a couple of days watching biker track days/practice. Walked all around the place. Wonderful, evocative place but really looking well-worn and even tatty in places ie most of it. Really needs some money spending on it - can't see much being done before this weekend as the wouldn't be enough time.

Perhaps Bernie is trying to do the same to Monza as he did to Silverstone a few years back and forcing them to up their game


BB

[andy-xr]

Will Lotus even be there?

[PompeyM3]

BigBob said:

We were passing Monza on holidays a couple of weeks back doing a 'Grand Tour' of Europe. Spent a weekend there camping right opposite the banking - in fact between the 150 and 50 metre braking boards but outside the circuit.

Spent a couple of days watching biker track days/practice. Walked all around the place. Wonderful, evocative place but really looking well-worn and even tatty in places ie most of it. Really needs some money spending on it - can't see much being done before this weekend as the wouldn't be enough time.

Perhaps Bernie is trying to do the same to Monza as he did to Silverstone a few years back and forcing them to up their game


BB

I'm flying out there this afternoon, so I'll get some photos of as much of the circuit while I'm there.

Hopefully, as you say, this is another case of Bernie getting them to up their game like has been done at Silverstone, which is really improved since I started going in the 90's.

F1 loosing Monza would be unthinkable !.

[HarryFlatters]

andy-xr said:

Will Lotus even be there?

The trucks have left Enstone on schedule, apparently

[andy-xr]

HarryFlatters said:

The trucks have left Enstone on schedule, apparently

I think they're a little lighter than they should be though

[Logie]

Mate said that they only have 3 gearbox casings as that's all they could afford and why they had a few gear box pens as they have to take it out and rebuild a lot

[Mr_Thyroid]

Vaud said:

Mr_Thyroid said:

2. Monza is perhaps the worst place to have a wet race - so narrow the drivers can't see where they're going and it's all about braking and traction so a driver can't make as much of a difference compared to a more twisty track.

Monza 2008... Vettel in the wet.

True - 4 time world champion, obviously a great driver, but I think his v10(limited) engine may have given him an edge compared to everyone else' v8 - and that 2008 Torro Rosso was a pretty good car by the final few races.

[Vaud]

Mr_Thyroid said:

True - 4 time world champion, obviously a great driver, but I think his v10(limited) engine may have given him an edge compared to everyone else' v8 - and that 2008 Torro Rosso was a pretty good car by the final few races.

Fair points, but I still hold that win in high regard given his relative lack of experience and the car he had. Many variables though, agreed.

[VolvoT5]

Generally I'm not a fan of wet race weekends so I would prefer it was dry. Wet qualifying is always a gamble at best.

[Jasandjules]

VolvoT5 said:

Generally I'm not a fan of wet race weekends so I would prefer it was dry. Wet qualifying is always a gamble at best.

Whyever not?

[Blaster72]

Lewis has a new, er, go faster blonde hairdo to help him out (not that he needs it!).



I always enjoy watching Monza, hopefully a little rain here and there will liven up the one horse race this weekend.

Sadly I won't be watching live as its not on the BBC this weekend

[Blaster72]

Details of Beeb coverage for those without Sky

[noell35]

Blaster72 said:

Lewis has a new, er, go faster blonde hairdo to help him out (not that he needs it!).



I always enjoy watching Monza, hopefully a little rain here and there will liven up the one horse race this weekend.

Sadly I won't be watching live as its not on the BBC this weekend

[PDP76]

BigBob said:

We were passing Monza on holidays a couple of weeks back doing a 'Grand Tour' of Europe. Spent a weekend there camping right opposite the banking - in fact between the 150 and 50 metre braking boards but outside the circuit.

Spent a couple of days watching biker track days/practice. Walked all around the place. Wonderful, evocative place but really looking well-worn and even tatty in places ie most of it. Really needs some money spending on it - can't see much being done before this weekend as the wouldn't be enough time.

Perhaps Bernie is trying to do the same to Monza as he did to Silverstone a few years back and forcing them to up their game


BB

The circuit itself is fantastic, but you are quite right, outside of the track is very worn out. Needs some serious work, and that was 3 years ago. Also the buying food and drink system was bloody ridiculous. Stand in a que to buy beer and food tokens, then que again for a beer, then another que for food. Wtf... I hope they have got rid of that nonsense. ( catering set up behind alta velocita)

[Redlake27]

Vaud said:

Mr_Thyroid said:

True - 4 time world champion, obviously a great driver, but I think his v10(limited) engine may have given him an edge compared to everyone else' v8 - and that 2008 Torro Rosso was a pretty good car by the final few races.

Fair points, but I still hold that win in high regard given his relative lack of experience and the car he had. Many variables though, agreed.

If I can be a little pedantic, by then Toro Rosso were using the Ferrari 2.4 V8. But it was still a great drive and one of the most popular wins in recent times. In fact thinking about it, considering Vettel was regularly booed on the podium in 2011-2013 but cheered in 2008 and 2015, I wonder now how much of it was the fans lack of warmth towards Red Bull and Marko, rather than him....

[suffolk009]

Blaster72 said:

Lewis has a new, er, go faster blonde hairdo to help him out (not that he needs it!).



I always enjoy watching Monza, hopefully a little rain here and there will liven up the one horse race this weekend.

Sadly I won't be watching live as its not on the BBC this weekend

I think he may have a two-tone hair do there. Will see when he finally takes his cap off.

[Logie]

Are McLaren taking out the new spa engines to put in the newer engine that was updated for Monza?

[Derek Smith]

suffolk009 said:

Blaster72 said:

Lewis has a new, er, go faster blonde hairdo to help him out (not that he needs it!).



I always enjoy watching Monza, hopefully a little rain here and there will liven up the one horse race this weekend.

Sadly I won't be watching live as its not on the BBC this weekend

I think he may have a two-tone hair do there. Will see when he finally takes his cap off.

He's copying me. I'm darkish with a blond stripe, at least from the back. My wife reckons I should take care crossing the road on a pedestrian crossing as I could disappear.

[red_slr]

Lots of brake dust off the Mercs and we know how sensitive they can be...

Merc engines also sound a bit different.

McLaren not looking good but engines will be changed for FP2 I think.