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via RacingNews365Charles Leclerc fears Ferrari 'exposure' as 'miracle' hoped for at Italian GPCharles Leclerc is set to start third at the Italian Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton right behind him in fourth. Despite a new engine upgrade, Leclerc is worried that Ferrari's lack of straight-line speed will make them vulnerable to competitors, particularly on a track known for its long straights. He noted that while the Ferrari chassis excels in cornering, the smaller turbo in their engine limits their top speed compared to rivals like Mercedes.
Leclerc anticipates a challenging race, where he and Hamilton may be 'exposed' to faster cars on the straights. He hopes that their cornering speed can help them maintain competitiveness and is optimistic about finding unexpected advantages during the race. The situation highlights the ongoing struggles Ferrari faces in maximizing their performance against stronger rivals.
Sun 6 Sep · 11:00 UTC
via F1iNorris candid on ‘most painful thing’ biting McLaren at MonzaLando Norris faced challenges during qualifying at Monza, where he managed to secure only eighth place despite the tight competition among the top 10 drivers. He highlighted a significant straight-line speed deficit as a major issue, which was exacerbated by his teammate Oscar Piastri's mistake that denied him the aerodynamic assistance he needed for a better lap time. Norris acknowledged that while his own performance was not perfect, the primary factor in his time loss was the car's lack of speed on the straights.
In addition to the speed issues, Norris also dealt with inconsistent braking behavior, which affected his confidence, especially in Monza's demanding braking zones. He pointed out that the circuit magnified known weaknesses in the McLaren MCL40, indicating that the team must focus on improvements in these areas moving forward. Norris's candid reflections underscore the challenges he faces as he prepares for the race, with the potential for a difficult Sunday ahead.
Sun 6 Sep · 10:52 UTC
via gpfans.comMax Verstappen in brutal dig as Red Bull struggle again: 'Less power than a Fiat Punto'Max Verstappen has expressed significant frustration with his Red Bull car's performance during the lead-up to the Italian Grand Prix, particularly after experiencing a power drop in practice. Despite recently signing a substantial contract extension with the team, he described his car's power as being inferior to that of a Fiat Punto, highlighting ongoing struggles with the vehicle's competitiveness under the new regulations emphasizing battery power usage.
Currently sitting sixth in the Drivers' standings, Verstappen's performance this season has been disappointing, as he trails the championship leader by a considerable margin. His qualifying position improved slightly due to a penalty for another driver, but the overall sentiment remains one of dissatisfaction with both the car and the regulatory changes affecting the sport.
Sun 6 Sep · 10:45 UTC
via f1oversteer.comLee McKenzie amazed by what she saw Oscar Piastri’s family do in McLaren’s Monza hospitalityDuring the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri narrowly missed out on provisional pole, finishing just four hundredths of a second behind. Despite receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding, Piastri's teammate Lando Norris assisted him with a slipstream during the session. Ultimately, Pierre Gasly secured his first-ever pole position, marking a significant achievement in his career after 190 races, and drawing cheers from the paddock, including Piastri's family in McLaren's hospitality area.
Gasly's pole position is notable as it is the first time a driver from outside the top four teams has achieved this since 2022. This moment is particularly special for Gasly, as it occurred at Monza, the same circuit where he claimed his first race victory. Following the qualifying, Piastri expressed his congratulations to Gasly and the Alpine team, highlighting the camaraderie within the sport despite the competitive nature of Formula 1.
Sun 6 Sep · 10:30 UTC
via Formula1.comStella on whether McLaren can still target Monza podiumAndrea Stella, the Team Principal of McLaren, expressed optimism about the team's chances for a podium finish at the Monza race, despite Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualifying sixth and eighth, respectively. Piastri's grid position was affected by a three-place penalty for impeding another driver, but both drivers showed strong pace in earlier qualifying sessions, finishing second and third in Q2. Stella highlighted the need for smart driving and strategic execution during the race to maximize their performance potential.
Stella acknowledged that several factors, including battery management and track positioning, impacted their qualifying results. He believes that the car's performance at Monza, a circuit known for its straight-line speed, provides encouragement for the race. The team aims to improve execution and strategy to capitalize on their competitive pace, making the upcoming race an intriguing challenge.
Sun 6 Sep · 10:24 UTC
via gpfans.comAngry Toto Wolff punches computer screen as Mercedes plan goes wrong at F1 Italian Grand PrixToto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, displayed his frustration at the Italian Grand Prix by punching his computer screen after George Russell missed out on pole position. Russell was narrowly beaten by Pierre Gasly, who surprised everyone by taking the top spot. Wolff expressed disappointment over the team's performance, particularly regarding a compromised lap due to Max Verstappen's actions during qualifying.
Despite starting from P2, Russell remains a strong contender for the race, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli will begin from P20 after incurring a significant grid penalty. Wolff also highlighted the financial challenges facing Mercedes, emphasizing the impact of the $215 million cost cap on their ability to develop the car further.Sun 6 Sep · 09:57 UTC
via RacingNews365Racing Bulls concede to ‘not ideal’ driver swap headacheRed Bull Racing faced challenges due to Isack Hadjar's wrist injury, which led to Liam Lawson stepping in as a replacement for two races. Yuki Tsunoda was then brought in to fill Lawson's seat at Racing Bulls, creating a disrupted driver lineup that team boss Alan Permane acknowledged was 'not ideal'. Despite the complications, Lawson managed to finish seventh at Zandvoort and provided useful feedback on the car's handling characteristics during the races.
Permane highlighted that while the situation was difficult, preparations for the second race at Monza were more organized. Lawson expressed eagerness to return to his original car once Hadjar recovers, indicating a strong commitment to the team and the ongoing season's demands.Sun 6 Sep · 09:45 UTC
via Motorsport.comHow McLaren left itself exposed at the F1 Italian Grand PrixMcLaren faced challenges during the qualifying session at the Italian Grand Prix, where they initially showed promise by securing second and third positions in Q2. However, their performance deteriorated in Q3 due to execution errors, including a lock-up by Oscar Piastri that affected both drivers' final runs.
Stella highlighted that McLaren's garage position forced them to go out first in Q3, limiting their ability to benefit from slipstreams. The team struggled with battery management and tire locking issues, which compounded their difficulties on the energy-sensitive Monza track.
Sun 6 Sep · 09:21 UTC
via Motorsport WeekMax Verstappen blames car ‘failure’ for disappointing F1 Monza GP qualifying resultMax Verstappen has identified an unexpected issue that Red Bull will investigate following a tricky qualifying at the F1 Italian GP.
Sun 6 Sep · 09:00 UTC
via f1oversteer.comFernando Alonso and Lance Stroll did exactly what Honda implored them not to do at Italian GPFernando Alonso and Lance Stroll openly criticized Honda's engine performance during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, despite warnings from Honda president Koji Watanabe to avoid such comments. Their remarks followed a disappointing showing at the Dutch Grand Prix, where the Spec 2 engine did not meet expectations, leading to concerns about the partnership between Honda and Aston Martin.
Both drivers acknowledged the need for improvements, with Alonso highlighting a significant power deficit and Stroll pointing out that while the chassis is acceptable, the power is lacking. The ongoing criticism has put the relationship between the two parties on thin ice, with discussions of Aston Martin potentially seeking alternative engine suppliers in the future.Sun 6 Sep · 09:00 UTC
via PlanetF1Marko’s blunt Newey verdict as Red Bull takes ‘wrong direction’"They didn't start so badly, but then things went in the wrong direction..."
Sun 6 Sep · 08:52 UTC
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen makes surprise revelation: 'I deliberately held back'Max Verstappen has revealed that he has intentionally held back during races this season due to ongoing issues with his Red Bull car. He explained that these problems have altered his risk assessment, leading him to adopt a more cautious approach, especially when not competing for the championship. Verstappen's performance has been impacted by handling and reliability concerns, which have persisted throughout the season.
During qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen finished sixth, continuing a trend of frustration for him and the team. He acknowledged that while he strives to maximize his performance, the frequent setbacks have forced him to reevaluate his racing strategy. Despite his frustrations, he remains optimistic about the team's efforts to improve their situation.Sun 6 Sep · 08:15 UTC
via f1technical.netF1MATHS: What do the telemetry numbers reveal about Ferrari's tough qualifying session at Monza?Ferrari faced challenges during the qualifying session at Monza despite arriving with a significant engine upgrade. Both drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, managed to qualify in the top five but struggled to replicate their earlier practice pace, ultimately finishing fourth and fifth respectively. The session highlighted Ferrari's difficulties in maximizing their car's potential, particularly in straight-line performance compared to Mercedes and Alpine, who secured pole position with Pierre Gasly.
Looking ahead to the race, Leclerc expressed optimism that Ferrari could leverage their strengths in cornering to improve their performance. The team will need to navigate the complexities of energy deployment strategies during the race, which could lead to a more competitive situation than the qualifying results suggest. Overall, while Ferrari showed promise with their engine upgrade, they still have work to do to close the gap to their rivals.
Sun 6 Sep · 06:45 UTC
via RacingNews365McLaren learns vital lessons from Red Bull with new H-WingMcLaren has officially launched its H-Wing system on the MCL40, which draws inspiration from Red Bull's design but incorporates key modifications. The new wing features a single central actuator that allows the flap to rotate nearly 180 degrees, a method that has been validated through rigorous testing during practice sessions at Monza. McLaren's development process has been heavily influenced by Red Bull's previous reliability challenges, particularly concerning flap closure issues experienced by Max Verstappen's RB22.
To mitigate these risks, McLaren has implemented thorough reliability testing and optimized the actuator's geometry to ensure effective flap operation. The team believes that the H-Wing will offer a significant aerodynamic benefit, particularly on long straights, enhancing their competitive edge in upcoming races.Sun 6 Sep · 05:20 UTC
via f1technical.netMcLaren Faces Disappointment in Monza Qualifying ResultsMcLaren experienced frustration during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri securing a third-place finish while Lando Norris could only manage ninth. Norris expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of his car, describing the experience as 'painful'.Sat 5 Sep · 23:00 UTC
via gpfans.comHonda's pride wounded by Aston Martin's poor startHonda Racing president Koji Watanabe expressed disappointment over the initial performance of their partnership with Aston Martin. Despite the struggles, Aston Martin's team members remain confident in Honda as a long-term partner.Sat 5 Sep · 20:43 UTCvia RacingNews365Verstappen calls for investigation into Red Bull carMax Verstappen expressed concerns about the compliance of his Red Bull car following a challenging weekend at Monza. He has requested an investigation into the vehicle's performance amid ongoing issues.+ 1 moreSat 5 Sep · 20:30 UTC
via gpfans.comFerrari and Hamilton miss key Italian Grand Prix chanceFerrari struggled to capitalize on their home advantage during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The team's performance raised questions about their title aspirations as they faced significant challenges throughout the race.+ 1 moreSat 5 Sep · 19:55 UTC
via Sky Sports F1Hamilton criticises Ferrari's qualifying performanceLewis Hamilton expressed disappointment with Ferrari's performance during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix. He described their execution as lacking, particularly in their efforts to secure a competitive position.
+ 1 moreSat 5 Sep · 18:31 UTC
via gpfans.comOscar Piastri receives three-place grid penaltyOscar Piastri has been issued a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. This decision by the FIA provides a potential advantage for Ferrari in the race.Sat 5 Sep · 17:55 UTCPage 39 of 100
