Italian Grand Prix: Comments before the stage

      Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team

      Toto Wolff, team principal: "The races in Monza and Madrid mark an important period for us. The competition in the championship is so high that several teams have a real chance of winning, and the cost of mistakes has increased. We are leading in both championships, but no one in our team has any illusions about how challenging the next stages will be.

      The difficulties will begin in Monza, where Kimi will receive a penalty for replacing the power unit and will start from the back of the grid. This is disappointing for both him and the fans who would like to see him fighting for the lead on home soil, but there is no room for sentiment in our sport. When making decisions necessary to fight for the title, sometimes sacrifices must be made. Kimi's task is to gain as many positions as possible and earn the maximum possible points.

      In the second half of the pits, George, in good shape after Zandvoort, will aim to challenge his rivals from the very start of the weekend.

      Monza requires a lot of energy. For most of the lap, you are pushing the power unit to its limits, and you don't have many opportunities to recharge the battery. Under the current regulations, this will force us to seek a compromise. We all face a tough challenge, so the weekend is sure to be interesting."

      Scuderia Ferrari

      Frederic Vasseur: "Monza has always been a special place for Ferrari. It's great to perform in front of the tifosi, who give immense energy to the whole team.

      This year, the Italian stage will also have a special emotional context as we honor Michael Schumacher and the legacy he left in our company. His pursuit of perfection, attention to detail, and belief in teamwork remain important values for Ferrari today.

      Speaking of speed, this weekend we will install power units on the cars that have been updated as part of the ADUO program. This will allow us to take a step forward, and as we know, even the smallest improvements can make a difference this season.

      In Monza, the cars operate under increased loads, and the competition in the pack is very tight. Therefore, our main task is to make the most of each day of the weekend, starting from Friday. We want to gain extra motivation from the support of our fans and perform strongly for them."

      McLaren Formula 1 Team

      Neil Holdsworth on McLaren's goals and objectives in Monza...

      Red Bull Racing

      Max Verstappen: "In Zandvoort, I was disappointed that I couldn't finish, but I'm really happy to see the fans at the track for the last home Grand Prix and thank them for all the memories.

      Next up is Monza, and it's hard to predict how competitive we will be. We need to improve in various areas to achieve a good balance and get closer to the leaders' pace.

      I love Monza. It's an old-school fast track with incredible fans – I always enjoy coming here. Usually, we look good in Monza; let's see what happens this time."

      Liam Lawson: "I'm glad to hear that Isaac is gradually recovering and will be back behind the wheel soon, but it's also good that I will have another weekend with the team.

      In Zandvoort, I gained valuable experience working with this car, which I will try to use in Monza. It's a completely different track with different demands, but I'm looking forward to building on the success of the last weekend."

      Ayumu Iwasa: "I'm very excited to get back behind the wheel and hit the track during the first practice in Monza. Working with the team during the practice in Barcelona allowed me to gain new experience, learn new rules, and adapt to them. Now I will be able to put into practice what I learned in the simulator and check how effective my preparation has been."

      Haas F1 Team

      Ayo Komatsu, team principal: "The Italian Grand Prix is always a special event for us, as the team's engineering department is based in Maranello. We take this opportunity to invite many of our colleagues to Monza so they can see the cars they work on every day in action and enjoy the unique atmosphere of a race weekend.

      We are heading to Italy, trying to leave behind the disappointing weekend in Zandvoort. Of course, there were positive moments for the team there, but our main task remains to improve the efficiency of the VF-26 car.

      This weekend, we will present another set of technical innovations, so it will again be critically important to make the most productive use of practice time, analyze the collected information in detail, and strive to compete with other mid-field teams.

      In the second half of the season, races will come thick and fast, which is great on one hand, but on the other hand, it certainly creates additional challenges. But last year we proved that we can improve as the championship progresses – that is where all our focus is now."

      Oliver Berman: "When you don't manage to finish, you naturally want to get back behind the wheel and return to work, but this weekend I'm also excited that we will bring a number of new items to Monza – let's hope they will significantly improve the car's efficiency.

      The European stage of the season has been challenging for us, so we hope that in the remaining part of the championship we will have more reasons for optimism.

      The Monza Autodrome is called the 'Temple of Speed,' and it's one of my favorite tracks. When you attack in corners like Parabolica and Ascari, you feel that everything there literally breathes the history of motorsport. And off the track, the Italian fans create a unique atmosphere, and since I am associated with the Ferrari Racing Academy, in a way, the tifosi's love is directed at me too, and in that sense, I am lucky."

      Esteban Ocon: "The whole team has been enthusiastically preparing for the upcoming race for some time now, and there are several reasons for that. First of all, our engineering department is located in Italy, and now we have a great opportunity to meet with colleagues, who will be able to see the results of their work on the track.

      Secondly, we are bringing a lot of new items to Monza, aimed at helping us return to the fight with other mid-field teams. In Budapest and Zandvoort, I was at least comfortable behind the wheel, and we really tried to get the most out of the car. So I would like this trend to continue, to work effectively with the new items from day one, and then be able to fight for points."

      Alpine F1

      Pierre Gasly: "I always enjoy coming to the Italian Grand Prix. First of all, I live in Milan and can spend this week at home, which is a real luxury considering how much we travel. So in a way, this is a home race for me! Secondly, I love this track. It's one of the most famous tracks in Formula 1, known for its speed. This is where I achieved my first victory in Formula 1 in 2020 – and that will stay with me for life.

      Having scored points in Zandvoort, we head to Monza with a positive mindset. Our new items worked well; last weekend we couldn't fully realize their potential, but we want to do that this upcoming weekend. I'm looking forward to the race and want to earn as many points as possible to help the team in the championship."

      Franco Colapinto: "The last two weeks have been quite busy. I'm very happy that during the break before the race in Monza, the team confirmed my contract for the next season. I want to thank Flavio and Steve again for their trust! This year we have made significant progress in working with the car, and I in driving – I'm glad that my efforts have been appreciated. I will continue to give my all for the team.

      Right now, all attention is focused on Monza and our position in the championship. I made my Formula 1 debut on this track and am always happy to perform in front of Italian fans. This weekend, I will be trying our new items for the first time, which Pierre used in the last stage. The team's progress gives us optimism, and we will work hard to master them as quickly as possible.

      The race in Monza with these generation cars promises to be interesting. The long straights combined with serious braking zones will provide plenty of exciting moments. We will try to set up the car as well as possible and achieve a positive result in the last two European Grands Prix of this season."

      Paul Aron: "I'm looking forward to getting back on track in the first practice. I'm grateful to the team for the opportunity to return to the wheel so quickly. I'm very happy with my last practice in Budapest and hope to help the team get more out of the new items I've worked a lot with in the simulator.

      For me, the weekend promises to be intense – already on Friday evening, I will be working on the simulator in Enstone to help the team find settings, and on Saturday, I will be back on track. I will do everything I can to help the team have a successful weekend."

      Racing Bulls

      Tim Goss on Racing Bulls' preparations for the Italian Grand Prix...

      Audi

      Alan McNish, racing director: "In Zandvoort, we showed good pace and scored points in the fourth race in a row, which is encouraging, but there is always work to be done.

      Monza is a special place with a rich history. This weekend could be challenging for