After the events at Zandvoort, the F1 circus takes its act to Monza as fans and drivers alike prepare for the Italian Grand Prix.
Last year’s edition of the race saw a Red Bull 1-2, with the Prancing Horse just trailing behind at third and fourth place—both cars finishing some 11 seconds behind the leader.
At the start of the year, it would be a tad crazy to suggest that Red Bull—or Max Verstappen for that matter—wouldn’t be dominating the fastest track on circuit, as everyone saw how strong they were to start the year.
However, since McLaren’s resurgence in South Beach, the title race started tilting towards the Papayas bit by bit; Lando Norris’ 22.8 second victory last time out—the largest margin in the season so far—further proved that Christian Horner and co. cannot, in any way, rest on their laurels.
It should be a fun and exciting Grand Prix, and this SBOTOP writer cannot wait for race day.
McLaren think they can usurp Red Bull, Verstappen
Formula racing isn’t just about the roaring machine that goes 0-180 Mph in the time it would take for you to yawn. It is also about the attitude, confidence, panache and ego a driver and his team have.
For the Woking-based outfit, now is the time to assert dominance instead of playing nice.
“… We’ve got to keep doing what we’re doing, and it’s going to be tight. But it’s game on.”
At the same time, he also praised the outstanding job McLaren did in the Dutch Grand Prix as Norris completely and utterly mopped the floor with his rivals. On merit and raw pace, too.
“That was a good day at the office. An impressive performance by everybody. Lando was perfect, team strategy, pace of the car,” he said.
After Norris’ win—do mind that Oscar Piastri also finished above Sergio Perez—Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ championship is now down to 30 points, whilst Verstappen’s advantage over Norris is cut to 70 points.
With nine races still left, considering McLaren’s gain in the upgrades department, this championship looks like it’ll go down to the wire.
The defending champions are feeling the pressure
As dominant as they have been in the recent past, the people at Red Bull are only mortals. And just like you and I, they feel pressure—nervousness, even.
“We’re lucky that they underperformed at the start of the year, so we’ve got a 70-point buffer but that can diminish pretty quickly,” Horner said in an interview.
Red Bull’s team principal also understood that they have been fortunate so far and that.
Apart from the slow start to the season, McLaren and Norris have also wasted numerous chances of winning at certain tracks.
The win in Zandvoort was only Norris’ second win of the year, despite the fact he’s been in the fastest car for the nth race in a row. If you haven’t been following much of the season, the team, or Norris himself, already fumbled multiple opportunities back in Canada, Spain and Great Britain.
“It’s remarkable that that’s only Lando’s second win in that car,” Horner added.
History
Known as the ‘Temple of Speed,’ Monza remains the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar. It is the track where teams can set their cars with so much less downforce in favour of top speed.
In the past, those who have the best engine have dominated the race, albeit for some occasions where strategy and outside factors come into play.
Max Verstappen has previously won the past two races here, whilst Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly took their surprising victories in this track back in 2021 and 2020.
It’s also good to note that after Charles Leclerc’s fateful day in 2019—when he became Ferrari’s first Italian GP winner since Fernando Alonso in 2010—the last four polesitters in Monza were unable to hold on and win.
To add more salt to the Tifosi’s injuries, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were polesitters in 2022 and 2023.
What are the odds?
If it isn’t obvious by now, Norris is the overwhelming favourite according to the Italian Grand Prix 2024 odds.
Backing the Brit as the winner is priced at 2.05, whilst any other driver is at 1.77.
There will be plenty of Italian Grand Prix 2024 highlights sure to come our way, so if I were you, I’d stay put this weekend and tune in.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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