The Ferrari cars, decorated in special burgundy red tones, will celebrate their thousandth start in the championship at the Mugello track this weekend, but in the fast world of Formula 1 it will not be the only topic of conversation in the next few days.
The Tuscan Grand Prix is the first to take place on a track that did not initially have a designated place on the championship calendar – Mugello. The track in the sunny heart of Italy is very much used for motorway races, thanks to fast and smooth turns, and the safety lanes are not paved, so every departure from the track will be naturally penalized.
This will be a thorough physical test for riders – several terrain changes, combined with turns where 4-5 G (gravity constant) congestion is expected in the riders’ necks in the hot climate of Southern Europe will make the ride ‘exciting’ for everyone.
This time, Mercedes may not be in such a strong position as in the last stages. A step into the unknown without very long preparations can in itself distort events. The tires will have to withstand similar loads as in Silverstone, where Mercedes struggled both times with tires of different compositions. Meanwhile, the braking points are very few, so it will be much more difficult to maintain the temperature required for work in the tires than on other tracks.
The track is relatively narrow, so overtaking opportunities could be very limited. Monza proved that following another car in the back is not a strength of Mercedes, so it is important for Hamilton and Bot to ensure a successful qualification and a quick start. Launching a vertical front can decide the fate of the race in the first turns. In Monza, Max was not in his element, but Monza was almost entirely straight. F1 teams try to build their vehicles so that they reach the maximum on the tracks as much as possible, so sometimes the farthest points of the scale – Monza and Monaco – suffer as a result.
This time, the celebrations of the 1000th stage of the Ferrari team will be more reminiscent of a youth party, in which the jubilee himself can no longer dance to music. The power tracks at Spa and Monza put the typhus in an unenviable situation, but Muggello is less dependent on power. Charles Clecker has repeatedly proven this season that he can squeeze the maximum out of even the average car, while Sebastian Vettel can not worry about the future and cool his head to the race now that the new deal with Aston Martin is in your pocket.
Before the season, the Racing Point team was considered one of the main contenders for the second or third fastest unit. Although technical problems and accidents have occurred relatively rarely, it was only in Monza that Lens Strols brought the unit its first pedestal this season. Although several mistakes prevented him from winning, Lens, with a pinch of success, again managed to beat Serhio Peres, who will leave the team at the end of the season. Serhio is uncertain about his future and such things can also make an impression on the track, especially if the unit is lobbying the interests of another rider.
Pierre Gazli’s sensational victory in Monza can be partially written off to be at the right time and place, however, the Frenchman fights for points much more stably throughout the season than McLaren and Renault pilots, whose bright flashes alternate with pits. At least in Monza, the McLaren team was close to a double pedestal (in both the normal and reverse scenarios), but this does not guarantee that this speed will be maintained in Mugello.
This will be a special stage for the Williams team. Saying goodbye to Frank and Claire Williams, the unit is ready for a new chapter in the life of the legendary unit. Simon Roberts, head of management, has been appointed team leader and will make his debut in Tuscany in his new role. He previously worked for the McLaren team, which has also undergone a major transformation.
Favorite to win: Louis Hamilton. Fairy tales are an integral part of childhood. As we grow older, we see and read fairy tales less and less, so we are able to appreciate it much more. Monza’s tale shocked the world of motorsport, but Lewis Hamilton, unlike Walter Botas, was not simply slower – his ride was ruined by punishment. Until then, Hamilton was on a cruise after another triumph. The ban on ‘party mode’ has not benefited the Red Bull team, while Valteri’s situation looks worse with each stage. This is Hamilton’s time to shine – whether the others like it or not.
Black Horse: Lens Strols. Since Perez’s return to Covid-19, Strols has scored more points than a Mexican in each of the three stages. Although he does not officially have a contract for next season, it is unlikely that Lawrence Strols will stop working with his son now that his contract with Peres is terminated. In Tuscany, Perez and Vettel will be the focus. If Strols is able to beat both, any questions about his affiliation will be eliminated. After all, he is in 4th place in the overall standings of the championship.
From the pages of history: Mujello will be the fourth track in Italy, where the F1 race took place. If Monza and Imola are already well known to the fans, then in 1957 the riders went to Pescara. At 25.8 km, it is the longest track ever, consisting of two 6 km long straight lines and a series of fast cunning turns. It took 10-12 minutes to complete the circle. F1’s only Pescara GP winner, Stirlings Moss, won at the time with a 3-minute margin.
COMPETITION PROGRAM
Friday, September 11th
12:00 The first training rides
16:00 Second practice rides
Saturday, September 12
13:00 Third training rides
16:00 Qualification
Sunday, September 13
16:10 Tuscan Grand Prix starts
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