Italian Grand Prix: Round Preview

      It seemed the European part of the season had only just begun, but summer has already passed, and ahead lies the Italian Grand Prix — the last European round, which in all 75 editions of its history has taken place in September.

      Early autumn in the Royal Park is usually mild. Leaves are just starting to turn, but by all outward signs it's still proper summer in northern Italy.

      Over the three summer months McLaren missed out on victory only once — away in Canada, where George Russell and Mercedes won. Rivals have fully focused on next season's cars and are no longer trying to catch the leaders.

      Last year, for the 75th anniversary of the Italian Grand Prix, the organizers carried out a major renovation. While retaining its original character, Monza has become more modern; the new grandstands hold even more spectators, but tickets have long been sold out. The tifosi love Formula 1. The Italian Grand Prix in the Royal Park will once again be a sell-out.

      Before the Italian Grand Prix people always recall the close bond between Formula 1 and Ferrari, the historical role and past victories of the legendary team. True, the genuinely historic wins recede further into the past each year.

      When Charles Leclerc won in Monza last year the fans were happy and journalists used every flattering epithet, but this year Ferrari has no wins and the team goes to Monza under fire. For the Italian press the step from love to hate is a short one.

      Before the season journalists prepare the fans for victory, then reality fails to match expectations, and the team is criticized as harshly as it was recently praised.

      Every time after the next defeat heads roll — a scapegoat is found and dismissed. It is usually the team principal. The second part of the saying that everyone dreams of driving for Ferrari is always left out: "but usually that's where the career ends."

      This year Ferrari goes to Monza after a double retirement in Zandvoort. At the start of the week Italian media did not hold back, as if they were only waiting for Ferrari's next defeat to make their headlines even flashier and more scandalous. That is one of the reasons for the constant crisis. There is no pressure like Ferrari's anywhere; it's impossible to work methodically under such conditions, and success in Formula 1 takes time. Even Newey didn't go to Maranello.

      Reliability used to be the key factor, but in recent years mechanical failures have less often been the cause of retirements, and sometimes all starters reach the finish without problems.

      That is why the retirement of one of the title contenders, Lando Norris, in Zandvoort was so unexpected and surprised many, including McLaren. The difficulty of the task for Norris has increased manyfold. Now he has to claw back a 34-point deficit to catch Piastri, and Oscar is incredibly consistent. How will the team respond now?

      Only Piastri has managed to score points in all 15 Grands Prix held this year. He continues the third-longest streak in Formula 1 history of 41 consecutive points finishes, which began in Vegas '23, in his debut season!

      In second place in this ranking is Verstappen with 43 consecutive points finishes (Emilia-Romagna '22 - Saudi Arabia '24), and first is Hamilton — 48 consecutive points finishes (Great Britain '18 - Bahrain '20). If Piastri scores points in all the remaining races, he will become the outright leader in this statistic.

      Oscar is incredibly consistent, and that consistency is the key to success!

      It's a pity there are only nine Grands Prix left in this magnificent season. It will be interesting to see how things play out in Monza…