Italian Grand Prix: Podium Example

Formula 1 will not come to Monza in the spring or summer. Grand Prix in long clearings in the huge royal park arranged by Napoleon takes place exclusively in September, when the heat subsides, the morning cools and the leaves turn yellow and fall on the asphalt, recalling that all that exists is mortal, and summer is left behind.

The Italian Grand Prix concludes this year’s only run of three races in a row and the European leg of the season, which turned out to be very interesting but was completely dictated by Red Bull – out of ten European stages, Ferrari won only two , have lost real chances for the title and the Constructors’ Cup.

The coming weekend is especially important for the Scuderia – a defeat on the home track could lead to personnel changes at the end of the season. Many openly declare that Mattia Binotto must return to the position of technical director, and a professional in this field, an experienced manager, not a talented engineer, must motivate the staff and the drivers.

In Red Bull Racing, the talented engineer Newey has strong support – the owner of a large company, two teams and the Austrian podium Dieter Mateschitz, team leader Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko, who are ready to support the interests of the team at any time. opportunity to defend. Binotto, as a rule, only goes to the cameras and politely apologizes after another failure.

In Monza, the demands on the car are about the same as in Spa, where Red Bull Racing won the winning double and Ferrari lost almost half a minute at the finish. Low drag and high straight line speed are Red Bull’s assets, which they certainly use. And it is unlikely that the Scuderia has prepared some kind of surprise for the home stage – in the circumstances of a limited budget, all the money is in the account.

Commenting on May’s defeat in Miami, the Ferrari team head said: “Red Bull spends money on updates, but at some point, due to budget constraints, they will stop adding, and we still have money. After five races we are still in the lead in both championships and I look to the future with optimism.”

Since then, ten Grand Prix have passed. The Scuderia won just two.

Ferrari suspects rivals are breaking financial rules, and the FIA ​​isn’t strictly monitoring the situation with charges, but no charges are being filed, especially since if former FIA president Jean Todt has always been on the Scuderia’s side, it is enough to recall the fuel sensor scandal, which managed to keep quiet, then the current president, Mohammed bin Sulayem, treats Ferrari calmly.

And there is little doubt that if Red Bull has to bend the FIA ​​to allow Colton Herta to get a super license, for which he will not have enough points under current rules, Sulayem will help them with this.

Ferrari needs a new Montezemolo to win the title.

The phrase that the situation in Formula 1 is rapidly changing seems like an established cliché, but let’s not forget.

The head of McLaren Racing, Zach Brown, persuaded Daniel Ricciardo to join his team for several years. Initially, the arguments of the American businessman did not convince the Australian racer – McLaren was in a deep crisis, but was able to get out and in the spring of 2020, when the Formula 1 season was frozen due to a pandemic, there was a sensation – at 14 It was announced in May that Ricciardo will move to McLaren upon completion, replacing Carlos Sainz there and becoming a partner of Lando Norris. Interestingly, Sainz brought the team more points that year – and she took third in the Constructors’ Championship.

Then Zach was incredibly happy to agree – Riccardo’s charm and speed matched McLaren’s new image. In 2021 Norris defeated Riccardo by a narrow margin, but it was Daniel who delivered the team victory at Monza.

And it happened exactly one year ago. On September 12, 2021, Ricciardo and Norris claimed the winning double, with Zach Brown taking the podium for the team’s winning trophy. How much has changed since then.

A year has passed, Riccardo no longer has a contract for next season and it is completely unclear whether his career in Formula 1 will continue at all. He was kicked out of McLaren, replaced by another Australian, a fast and promising debutant Oscar Piastri.

During the weekend in Zandvoort, one of the experts said that if Daniel was interesting to many at the beginning of the summer, now no one wants to invite him – the risk is too great.

Vettel has already announced his resignation. The continuation of the careers of Riccardo, Schumacher and Latifi is under discussion. At the end of the season, we will find out not only his sports results, but also the lineups for 2023.

And if everything has already been decided in the battle for the title, then it is worth going from race to race – they are proving to be interesting this year.