Italian GP: what time does it begin? And is Ricciardo nonetheless injured?

Every week on from the rain-fest that was the Dutch Grand Prix, F1 arrives in Italy in impolite well being with the result unpredictable and an enthralling title combat taking place to the wire.

Kidding. Purple Bull has gained each single race to date in 2023 and Max Verstappen is on a private run of 9 wins in a row relationship again to Miami in Could. A tenth in Monza would set the all-time report, which might be astoundingly spectacular… if a bit of boring for the impartial. Oh properly.

Nonetheless, should you can’t take any pleasure from what the opposite 19 vehicles are doing you then in all probability shouldn’t be watching. And behind the unstoppable Purple Bull ‘n’ Verstappen freight practice, there’s tons to play for.

Ferrari will likely be hoping (okay, praying) for an honest lead to entrance of its house followers, having but once more made a number of errors final day out in Zandvoort. It’s bringing a one-off livery to Monza to have a good time the 499P’s success at Le Mans, and presumably remind everybody what a successful Ferrari appears to be like like…

Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso are on the up after an improve made them best-of-the-rest once more within the Netherlands: have McLaren and Mercedes acquired something up their sleeves to beat them to the rostrum?

And hold a watch out for Williams, particularly Alex Albon: the Thai driver was spectacular in Zandvoort on a observe that doesn’t go well with the automobile, so the lengthy straights of Monza ought to present a giant haul of factors for the group.

Plus, Liam Lawson will get a second outing for AlphaTauri after being summoned as a last-minute alternative for the injured Daniel Ricciardo final week: the Aussie has had surgical procedure on his hand and it’s not but clear when he’ll be again within the cockpit.

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What time is the Italian GP? And what time is qualifying?

For UK followers, the Italian Grand Prix begins at 2pm sharp (ish) on Sunday 3 September, precisely (ish) 23 hours after qualifying commences at 3pm on Saturday.

When you’re down for watching the observe periods as properly – as a result of who doesn’t get a kick out of tyre degradation testing? – FP1 begins at 12:30pm on Friday 1 September, adopted by FP2 at 4pm and FP3 at 11:30am a number of hours earlier than quali.

What’s the climate going to be like?

For the primary time in what appears like endlessly, the forecast for the Italian GP appears to be like to be dry. Some cloud cowl, positive, however little or no probability of rain on the time of writing. And highs of 28 levels Celsius on race day.

The place is the Italian GP happening?

At Monza, the place else? The well-known observe has performed host to the Italian GP yearly since F1 grew to become a factor in 1950, with the only exception of 1980 when it moved to Imola due to observe enhancements.

When you’re a beginner you’ll hear many references this weekend to the Tifosi: these are the house followers, who will likely be completely (and really loudly) cheering for Ferrari. A pastime that normally ends in disappointment nowadays.

5 completely different drivers have gained the final 5 editions of the Italian GP, a stat that guarantees greater than will truly be delivered, we concern.

What number of laps is the Italian GP?

The Italian GP is 53 laps lengthy, however although the observe is greater than three-and-a-half miles in size, that is normally one of many shortest races on the calendar: Monza is generally lengthy straights and quick corners, and with a lot of the lap spent at full throttle the sphere will take the chequered flag with a tremendously excessive common pace if there aren’t any interruptions from the security automobile.

The truth is, downforce is such a non-issue right here that all the groups flip up with particular, low-profile rear wings to make drag as little as attainable.

Who’s going to win the Italian GP?

Sigh, each week with this query and each week the identical reply: until a mechanical concern, unlucky accident, or comical resort elevate malfunction intervenes, Max Verstappen goes to cruise to victory in Monza. The Purple Bull automobile is solely a category above the remainder proper now, and has confirmed itself at each time of observe it’s been raced on to date.

The extra pertinent query is: who will end second on the Italian GP? And that’s a lot trickier to reply. Any mixture of Aston Martin and Alonso, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for McLaren, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes, or Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for Ferrari has a practical shot of reaching the rostrum.

The opposite factor to notice about Monza is that vehicles normally find yourself in a ‘DRS practice’, the place everybody follows in shut formation to such an extent that the overtaking support doesn’t truly support overtaking. So if the order will get blended up and a automobile with an honest prime pace finds itself on the entrance of the sphere, there’s each probability it might keep there. It’s what occurred when Pierre Gasly gained right here with AlphaTauri again in 2020.

How can I watch the Italian GP?

British viewers can both watch the race on Sky Sports activities’ devoted F1 channel, or entry Sky’s feed by way of a Now TV subscription. There are free-to-air highlights on Channel 4 (quali and race exhibits begin at 7:50pm and 6:30pm on Saturday and Sunday respectively) however after all you gained’t be watching the motion reside.

If aural protection will do, then we’re afraid you’re going to be disenchanted: neither BBC Radio 5 Stay nor 5 Sports activities Additional is doing reside commentary on the race this weekend. Soccer and cricket are too necessary, apparently.

What’s the TopGear view on the Italian GP?

The Italian Grand Prix is among the most historic races on the calendar, and the high-speed nature of the observe normally affords one thing completely different from the opposite races. Sadly as a result of the vehicles aren’t as slipstreamy these days, that one thing is more likely to be ‘a procession’. With little in the best way of overtaking. The truth that one automobile is dominating the remainder proper now doesn’t assist with the build-up, both.

Come on Italy, show us unsuitable.