With the intervention implemented in 2000, Monza recorded the ninth variation of the layout in its 101-year history. Edition of 2000 which saw – among many events, including tragic ones for the disappearance of Commissioner Paolo Gislimberti at the Roggia – thedebut of the current configuration of the first variant.
Goodbye to the double chicane introduced in 1976 to make way for a single variant and much more closed at the entrance. A slower passage than in the past, made up of gravel escape routes, episodes that have remained in the history of Monza.
An opinion was expressed on the design of the escape route of the first variant George Russell, considering it a little penalizing step for the riders.
Russell who missed the variant on two occasions, in the race, last Sunday. The one in battle with Ocon also cost a 5″ penalty.
The gamble required for the undercut
“I knew I had to make the most of the out lap and came out of the pits just behind or level with Ocon. I knew that if I stayed behind, the opportunity to undercut the riders in front would be gone. So, I attacked Turn 1, knowing there was a possibility of missing the turn and that’s what happened.
At Monza it is a pity that in turn 1 there is always one ‘get out of jail’ situation with escape route. This gives the drivers, especially when battling, the chance to miss the corner. I would like to see a change in the future“, Russell’s words.
Variant that arrives at the end of a 350 km/h straight and is today the best, if not the only, opportunity for an attack on the position. In the past, with gravel in the escape route, famous and decisive episodes for the race were not lacking, very often the result of accidents. Like the one between Senna and Schlesser in 1988 or the retirement of Mika Hakkinen in 1999. Up to the risk that Schumacher ran between the two variants, in 1996 with his first victory at Monza with Ferrari.
2023-09-05 07:37:36
#Russell #variant #Monza
