FORMULA 1 - 2010

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Sauber preview the Italian GP

Pedro de la Rosa: "The last time I raced in Monza was in 2006. This track is a classic, it has a lot of personality and is different to any other we race on. This is what I like a lot about Monza, because with all the modern circuits nowadays it is exceptional to find one that is unique. You also have to drive it differently to any other race track. Obviously the speeds are very high, you run low downforce, have very hard braking and need to cut the chicanes. This all together makes it very demanding, especially for the engines, brakes and suspension. It is definitely not going to be an easy weekend for us, as it is not somewhere that should suit our car too well. But we have proven, for example in Budapest, that we can also do well at places which theoretically should be difficult for us. I always like going to Italy and I'm looking forward to the race."

Kamui Kobayashi: "I have very good memories of Monza because it was there where I won the championship in the Formula Renault Eurocup back in 2005, and I also raced there in GP2. It is a very high speed circuit with a lot of hard braking. I quite like it, although I think it will be difficult for our car. We will have to find the best solutions and make sure we get everything right over the weekend, make no mistakes and so optimise our chances. Without doubt my goal is to score some more points before we go to Asia."

James Key, Technical Director: "Monza is one of the special tracks of the year with a wonderful atmosphere and all the support from the tifosi the teams receive there. It is unique, as it's the only very high speed circuit of the season. All the teams run the minimum drag levels, because the very long straights and few corners make it beneficial to run far less drag. We will run an aero package on our car which is designed specifically for there. It consists of different rear wing options, as well as front wing versions to match them. The important part of the set-up of the car will be to tune the downforce levels correctly to find a good compromise for some of the more tricky areas like the Lesmo corners, the Ascari chicane and the Parabolica, but at the same time also giving high braking stability, which has significant influence on the lap time. Also important is the performance over the kerbs, particularly in the first two chicanes with probably the biggest kerbs of the year. You can find a good lap time there if the car is working well. For us it's difficult to pin expectations because it's such a unique event. It's possibly not a circuit best suited to our car, so we will work hard to make sure we can do the best possible job."

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Lotus preview the Italian GP

Heikki Kovalainen: "After Spa I'm feeling really good physically and mentally. Before we got to Belgium, I had a proper rest for a week, and then got back into training for the second couple of weeks of the summer break to prepare myself for the end of the season. It paid off because I felt great all weekend in Spa and now I'm looking forward to Monza and then the remaining races. Monza is one of the real highlights of the year and it'll be good to be back in Italy. It's a very different type of circuit and it has a great atmosphere. Obviously Ferrari have huge support out in the stands, but so do the other teams as the fans just love F1. I think it'll be a pretty cool weekend - for us drivers it's a high speed track and with the low downforce configuration it makes it very interesting to race there. For the fans it's cool as well as the cars are pushed to the limit, and they look and sound pretty awesome on track."

Jarno Trulli: "Monza is a very special Grand Prix. We Italian drivers have fantastic support out there, and the fans are really fired up for the race. It's such a warm atmosphere, you can't help but enjoy it. The track is challenging, but it's not as technical as some of them. You obviously need good top speed, low downforce, good traction good braking stability. Everyone talks about the low downforce, but the brakes play a really crucial role. You need to have the confidence to brake as late as possible and as hard as possible at the chicanes, and then you need to have really good traction to get yourself out of them as quickly as possible. I think we saw in Spa that our car is pretty good at the quicker tracks, so I think we'll be able to repeat our performance in Belgium - as long as we come out ahead of our nearest rivals we'll be happy, and then we'll be back in the air for the remaining races of 2010."

Mike Gascoyne, Lotus Racing Chief Technical Officer: "Looking back to last weekend, Spa was in many ways one of our best performance of the year so far. We have had better positions at the end of a number of races, but in terms of reliability, Spa was our strongest performance to date. Now we go to Monza and that's always a special place to race – the Tifosi create an incredible atmosphere, and while it's obviously focused on Ferrari, I think seeing Jarno and Heikki in our green and yellow cars will be pretty special for some of the most passionate motorsport fans in the world.

"Monza will also be very special for me, Tony, Din, Nasa, Riad and the whole team on a personal level. Race day is the 12th September, which is exactly one year to the day since we heard that our entry into the 2010 Formula One World Championship had been accepted. It's hard to put into words just what that means to all of us, but it's already been an incredible 365 days, and we have many more exciting times to come. I've been asked a number of times if I really thought we'd be able to do what looked to many like an impossible task – creating a team from literally just words on a piece of paper to now sitting 10th in the Championship, best of the new teams and with a very bright future ahead of us.

"Onto the track itself: Monza is unique as it's now the lowest downforce circuit on the modern Formula One calendar. For the race weekend, we'll have a revised low downforce package with new front and rear wings, plus a few other smaller modifications to the cars."

Tony Fernandes, Team Principal: "I've had to watch the last few races on TV as other commitments have kept me away from the races, so it'll be good to be back on track in Italy. The last couple of weeks have been very exciting for the whole team – we've seen Nabil Jeffri, a Malaysian superstar in the making, become the youngest ever driver to test an F! car at the aero test we ran on Wednesday, and it was a very proud moment for me to see him put in a great day's work for us in what must have been a pretty stressful environment for such a young guy. He proves what I've always believed – work hard to achieve your dreams and they will come true. That's the same for everyone in Lotus Racing – exactly one year ago on September 12th our Formula One dream came true, and now we'll be competing at one of the world's great race tracks, bringing the green and yellow cars back to where they belong, and I can't wait to see the reaction of the crowds when we take to the track. Mike has already said what it means to him to see our cars racing hard just 12 months since we started work on this amazing team, and I echo his thoughts entirely. It has been an amzing journey already, but after Monza we'll be heading back to Asia, and it's going to keep getting more exciting with every step we take."

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Mercedes preview the Italian GP

Nico Rosberg: "Monza is absolutely one of the top race tracks in the world. Not only for the speed and the challenge but also for the passion and enthusiasm of the Italian fans who really love their racing. There is always a special feeling about the Monza weekend and I love racing there. We made a good recovery from a difficult start to the weekend in Spa and it was nice to come away with some points. Monza is a completely different type of track but we will hope for an equally good weekend there."

Michael Schumacher: "Spa was quite an entertaining race weekend which I like to look back on as we achieved a reasonable result considering the circumstances. The next race in Monza might well be entertaining in a very different way as I expect it to be a real challenge for our team. We have seen already several times this year that circuits with characteristics like those of Monza do not really play in our hands. Of course, we will go there prepared to try hard to achieve the maximum we can from our package and we will see to what extent we can achieve that and fight our way through. On a personal level, I am very much looking forward to returning to Monza where I have been supported so warmly over so many years."

Ross Brawn: "The double points finish in Spa was a boost for the team and it would be rewarding to repeat the achievement at the final European race of the season in Monza next weekend. Monza is simply a fantastic racing venue and one of the highlights of the calendar. The grandstands are always packed and the fans create a wonderful atmosphere over the weekend. From an engineering perspective, aerodynamic efficiency with a low downforce package is fundamental to minimise drag, along with good brakes and traction plus a powerful engine to achieve the necessary high top speeds on the long straights. We are all looking forward to the weekend."

Norbert Haug: "Monza is definitely a 'one of a kind' circuit on the calendar. The unique high-speed nature of this classic track differentiates Monza from any other circuit and of course it is very special as the home race for our highly valued competitors Ferrari who have competed in the World Championship for longer than any other team. As always, we will run with a special aerodynamic configuration in Monza to suit the requirements of this high-speed circuit and hope to achieve a respectable result next weekend in Italy."

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McLaren preview the Italian GP

Jenson Button: "Obviously, my non-finish in Spa wasn't ideal for my championship aspirations, so I head to Monza next weekend determined to put myself back in the hunt for the title.

"Our pace over the whole weekend in Belgium was extremely encouraging - we're developing the car at a very rapid rate, and we're learning more about it all the time, so I'm optimistic that we'll be able to maintain that form in Italy next weekend.

"We still have some work to do to make sure the package we bring to Italy is perfectly suited to the track, but I'm confident that our engineers have made some good steps forward with their understanding of our car, so we should be in good shape.

"I love racing at Monza – it's a totally unique experience; running minimal downforce at incredible speeds along the straights, and then coping with the lack of grip, and an extremely skittish car, through the low-speed stuff. Given the competitiveness at the front of the field, this could be an intense, thrilling grand prix."

Lewis Hamilton: "Our victory in Belgium showed that, as a team, we never give up, and that we'll always bounce back from adversity feeling stronger and more determined than before. This team has such an incredible fighting spirit – we strive to win, and I hope that Spa is only the start of a run of stronger form for us as we head into the final races of the championship.

"I've made no secret of my wish to win this race. Monza is an incredible circuit – full of history and stories from the past. It has a special feeling in the air that you don't find anywhere else in the world. It's a circuit that inspires you to race at your limit, and I'll be pushing hard all weekend.

"Finally, I'm looking forward to meeting the Italian fans this weekend. I pretty much grew up racing karts in Italy, so I've always appreciated and understood the passion and support of the fans for Formula 1, and motorsport in general.

"Even if it's not always obvious, I know that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes does have a deep pocket of support in Italy. So I hope the whole team can have another great race at one of the classic tracks in Formula 1."

Martin Whitmarsh: Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: "Even though, on paper, the Monza circuit's characteristics appear to suit our package, developing a car that performs well on one of the most unique venues on the Formula 1 calendar is no easy job.

"The low-downforce, extreme high-speed nature of Monza demands its own bespoke aero package – and getting that downforce level correct is not as straightforward as it seems. We require a complex number of mechanical and aerodynamic variables to work harmoniously if we are to provide both Jenson and Lewis with front-running machinery this weekend.

"Obviously, Lewis's victory at Spa was perfectly timed, and has substantially motivated the entire workforce ahead of these closing races. After Jenson's unfortunate failure to finish in Belgium, we are determined to reignite his championship push next weekend to get him back into the hunt for the drivers' title.

"It's no secret that there's a tremendous amount of fight in this team – and I'm proud of every single person's efforts to provide us with a winning edge. We know how to win races and world championships, and, clearly, we will once again be pushing for victory this weekend."

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Sauber stick with Kobayashi

Kamui Kobayashi will turn out for Sauber in 2011, the Swiss team have confirmed.

The Japanese driver burst on to the scene in closing stages of last season, replacing the injured Timo Glock at Toyota and immediately impressed, finishing sixth in the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

The 24-year-old's signature was secured by Sabuer for the current season, and he has repaid the team with 21 points thus far.

"We enjoy having our rookie as part of the team - both as a driver and a person," said team principal Peter Sauber.

"We never had any doubts about working with him again in 2011," explained team boss Peter Sauber.

"Kamui has definitely fulfilled our expectations in terms of his speed and fighting spirit. Plus, his work with the engineers and his technical understanding has also developed very well.

"The experience he has built up over his first full season in Formula One will certainly stand him in good stead for 2011. And our aim is to give him a fast and reliable car from the outset next season."

Kobayashi expressed his delight at securing his immediate future, adding that he was confident the team would improve next year.

"We had a very difficult start to the season, but we've worked together to pull ourselves out of that situation," said Kobayashi.

"I feel very much at home in Peter Sauber's team and am very pleased we'll be working together again in 2011

"However, for now I'm focusing one-hundred per cent on this year. There are still six grand prix weekends to go in 2010, and we'll be hoping to make up more ground," he concluded.

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Changes made to Monza kerbs

The kerbs at turn one and four at Monza have been modified ahead of this weekend's Italian GP for safety reasons.

The areas behind the apex kerbs at the first and second chicane have been laid with a ramped concrete section. This has been done to ensure that there is less chance that a car crossing the kerb will become airborne.

The balance between creating a kerb that is too easy for a driver to cut across and gain an advantage and one that does not pose a safety hazard is tricky, and a problem that many tracks are attempting to tackle.

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Alguersuari looking to bounce-back at Monza

Jaime Alguersuari is hoping to put the disappointment he suffered at Spa behind him and consolidate on an improved performance in Belgium at this weekend's Italian GP.

The Spaniard finished in tenth spot at Spa, but after the race was handed a 20-second penalty for cutting a chicane to pass Tonio Liuzzi, demoting him to 13th spot.

The youngster admits that the loss of the point that tenth spot brought came as a blow but that he was looking to learn from the incident and move on.

"By now, I've got over the disappointment of losing my point for tenth place in Spa, even if I never expected to get that sort of penalty as I did not make up any places as a result of the move I made on track, nor did I make up much time," he told Toro Rosso's official website.

"But it was a very difficult situation to evaluate given the track conditions at the time. But it happened, so you get over it and move on.

"In general, I was quite happy with my performance in Belgium, because I did my best and that will be the same philosophy this weekend in Monza," he added.

Monza is a track that has served the 20-year-old well in the past and he is hopeful that it will continue to do so come this weekend.

"Monza was always a good track for me when I raced here in the junior formulas, getting some strong results and in my second year of driving a Formula 1 car at the circuit I expect a lot more than I did last year," he explained.

"My initial target will be to make sure I qualify in the top fifteen at least. The races at Monza are always awesome, both to drive and to watch, because of the high speeds and the fact this is the one circuit where you can really slipstream other cars, which is an interesting experience, so I am keen to see how our car works on this track," the Toro Rosso man added.

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Alonso's title hopes at stake

Fernando Alonso's world title hopes hang in the balance ahead of todays World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris.

Alonso faces the prospect of being stripped of his controversial German Grand Prix victory as Ferrari stand accused of using team orders, which are banned in Formula One, to engineer the result.

Should such a punishment be meted out, Alonso would drop be 66 points adrift of current championship leader Lewis Hamilton instead of 41.

Even with 150 points still up for grabs with six races remaining, Alonso's chances of becoming a triple world champion, to add to the titles he won in 2005 and 2006, would be severely damaged.

The smart money, however, is on a fine - in addition to the 100,000 US dollars already paid after the stewards decreed they had broken the rules - and a points penalty for the team rather than the drivers.

That would ensure the team were punished rather than the drivers, who were merely acting upon orders from above.

That point was emphasised by reigning champion Jenson Button, who told said: "I don't think the drivers will get a penalty.

"If they do get another penalty it will be for the team because it was an order from the team.

"Personally I don't understand why they just don't swap the points around for those two, but you can't do that within the regulations."

Ferrari's argument will centre on the fact that no explicit order was given to Felipe Massa for him to cede the lead, and eventually the win, to Alonso.

Instead, Massa was simply told twice by engineer Rob Smedley over the pit-to-car radio that Alonso was faster than him, the message repeated as the Brazilian did not respond to the initial remark.

The inference behind the wording was clear for all to interpret, although had it not been for Smedley's subsequent messages, the furore that followed the race may have been avoided.

After Massa slowed out of the hairpin at Hockenheim on lap 49 to allow Alonso by, Smedley then said: "Good lad. Just stick with it now. Sorry."

After the race, and again via the radio, Smedley thanked Massa for being so "magnanimous", notably so as a year and a day previously the 29-year-old was almost killed in an accident in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Despite protestations of innocence from Alonso, Massa and team principal Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari were found to be in breach of article 39.1 of the FIA 2010 sporting regulations that states "team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited".

Ferrari were also charged with a breach of article 151c of the FIA international sporting code relating to "any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motor sport generally".

It is the latter article under which McLaren were fined a sporting record 50million US dollars in relation to the 'spygate' saga in 2007.

Ferrari are also likely to contend that despite the regulation, introduced after the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix when Rubens Barrichello allowed by Michael Schumacher for the win, team orders remain rife in F1.

The point is a moot one as no other team has been caught quite so obviously as Ferrari, whose coded messages were far from subtle.

Former FIA president Max Mosley, under whose leadership the rule was brought in, made his feelings clear on the matter in speaking to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag last month.

"If one wants to fulfil the needs of the audience, then one must maintain the ban," said Mosley.

"Both cars and both drivers should lose the points they achieved in the German Grand Prix."

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, however, made the point teams should run their organisation as they see fit as F1 is a team sport.

"Nobody should interfere as to how they run their team," Ecclestone told Press Association Sport the day after the race.

That, though, is an argument for a later day as Ferrari have been accused of breaking a specific rule, and it is on that point the debate will be argued.

Domenicali and the team's lawyers will be in attendance, although not the drivers who will instead be available for questioning via video link.

Ordinarily, the WMSC would be chaired by FIA president Jean Todt, but due to a conflict of interests given his former role as team principal of Ferrari, he will stand down in favour of his deputy, Graham Stoker, a London barrister.

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Webber: Many teams could challenge us

Mark Webber admits that Red Bull could face their stiffest challenge yet at the Italian GP.

Much has been made of the Milton Keynes-based team's preference for tight circuits rather than ones such as Monza that have a number of long straights, with the aerodynamics of their car not suited to tracks with such characteristics.

Webber, who is currently sitting in second spot on the Drivers' standings, confesses that a number of teams will be in contention come race day but that Red Bull could still do well.

"[Monza is] renowned for its many long straights, that means a lot of heavy braking so it can be quite hard on the car," said Webber.

"I think we can still do well at Monza.

"We might have a bit more in the way of opposition - in addition to Ferrari, McLaren and Renault, Force India could also be in the mix for the top places," he explained.

Webber's team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, echoed the Australians sentiments that the race would be tough and asserted that the Red Bulls would not go down without a fight.

"I think it won't be easy for us, due to the long straights, but I'm sure we will do our best and keep fighting until the end," he said.

Heading to Italy Red Bull top the Constructors' standings, one point ahead of McLaren.

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Buemi: Toro Rosso straight-line test 'positive'

Toro Rosso's straght-line aerodynamic test in Vairano, Italy, has gone 'positively' according to Sebastien Buemi.

The run took place on Monday with several new aero devices under-going testing, including Toro Rosso's version of the F-duct.

The Red Bull sister team are the only established outfit to have not run the rear-wing stalling device which increases top-speed.

The Swiss driver hopes his team will push the new developments onto the car as soon as possible, although their home race in Italy this weekend is likely to be too soon.

"This Monday, I went to Vairano in Italy, where we had a one-day aerodynamic test," he wrote on his personal blog,

"We were lucky to get all our work done as it threatened to rain for most of the day, but we managed to test a variety of new elements, which we hope to introduce as soon as possible and I would say that overall, the results were positive."

The team return to the scene of their first and only win to date, when Sebastian Vettel took victory in 2008. Buemi is hoping for another competitive result, although equalling Vettel's performance is very unlikely.

"Now, I’m getting ready for Monza and the Italian Grand Prix, which will be a special weekend for us as it is the home race for Scuderia Toro Rosso and the scene of the team’s best ever result, when Vettel won in 2008.

"So it would be great if we can deliver a competitive performance, especially as so many people from the factory will be coming to watch us.

"I think we can be competitive, as I expect this configuration and the track could suit us better than some other venues," he added.

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Williams preview the Italian GP

Sam Michael, Technical Director: Monza is the lowest drag level circuit on the F1 calendar, so the cars are running at very different aerodynamic efficiency levels compared to the normal high downforce tracks. This requires a special rear wing for this race only. Another important aspect of the historic Italian circuit is the kerb riding, something the FW32 will be set up to handle. For this track we have low drag front and rear wings.

Rubens Barrichello: Three wins and two podiums wins at the Autodromo Nazionale make it statistically my best rack, but never mind the numbers, it is a circuit I love and I always travel to Italy with affection and excitement. My positive record at the track and the work we have done to prepare for both the downforce and kerb requirements means that I am full of optimism. It was great to celebrate my 300th Grand Prix in Spa, but the race didn’t go to plan. We will pick up our momentum again in Monza.

Nico Hülkenberg: I have only raced once at Monza in last season’s GP2 Championship, but I immediately enjoyed the challenge of its high speed nature and one of the races ended for me in a podium. So I am approaching next weekend with a degree of respect that such a circuit demands, but equally I feel that it is time that both the car performance we are finding and my own work behind the wheel deserves to be reflected in better results more often, so my respect will be balanced with a really determined approach to the race weekend. Spa was frustrating as I worked hard to claim a good grid position and really want to ensure we convert our opportunities in Italy.

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Force India preview the Italian GP

Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal: Yet again Spa was a good track for us, ultimately yielding a double points finish for Adrian and Tonio. These points were crucial for us in the constructors' championship, moving us 18 points clear of Williams for sixth, but it also showed that we're back in business for the second part of the season. The pace and the handling were both encouraging and, with similar configuration tracks coming up in Monza, Japan and Brazil, we're hoping that this performance can be replicated.

Of course we know that the on track fights will intensify and it's not going to be easy to consolidate our position but we feel the momentum is with us now. Adrian and Tonio both raced very well and we've been given a real boost by the double points - we needed it after a couple of frustrating weekends before the summer break.

But we're not sitting back based on this performance - we've been doing a lot of work back at the factory on the blown diffuser, and conducted a successful aero test last week to develop further. We will also use a low downforce package to suit the top speeds we reach in Monza, which is a further refinement of the Spa package. We're cautiously optimistic and quietly confident - if it all comes together I would hope we could show a similar level of performance and results to Spa, but there are so many varying factors that you just can't take anything for granted at this stage in the season.

Driver Q&A

Adrian Sutil: Belgium was a great race weeked for us and something we really needed to take us into the second part of the season. It started well in practice, with the car very easy to drive and responding well to changes. It felt quite easy to go out and set quick times so right from the start I believed we were in for a shot of a good finish. Qualifying then went well, we got the weather calls almost exactly right and got back into the top ten for the first time in a few races, which we really needed to do.

It was a pretty exciting race after that and we were always towards the front of the field. Fifth was pretty much the maximum we could do and I was delighted we could hold onto it with the weather changing and then the safety cars. At the end only the championship contenders ahead of us so we can be satisfied.

Based on the speed and handling of the car in Spa I'm now really looking forward to Monza. We don't have the top speed advantage we had last year so it's going to be another close weekend, but we do know that we are amongst the quickest and that gives us a big chance to be in Q3 and then getting in the points. I got a great finish there last year - fourth, my best finish in F1 so far, and to get that again would be amazing. Of course there's a huge championship battle going on ahead of us so getting towards the front isn't going to be easy, but I'm confident, the team has got its momentum back after the double points finish in Spa and we're all going to Italy very optimistic.

Tonio Liuzzi: I was really pleased to get that final point in Belgium: I had to work harder for that one point than almost any other I can remember in my F1 career. It was a really crazy race with the rain and then the battles with the other drivers but I really enjoyed the extra challenge of fighting back through the field. It was very satisfying after a tough weekend.

We had some issues during practice, but as a team we worked together and found a solution just before qualifying. The team did such a good job to work night and day to give me the best possible car they could. Ultimately I believe we could have finished even higher as I got hit by another car early on that damaged my wing and then Vettel ran into me in the last part of the race. Overall though I enjoyed the challenge and the extra pressure mentally, especially when the difference between getting it right and wrong was so small.

Next up I've got my home race in Italy, which is the same race I made my Force India race debut last year. It holds such great memories for me. Going into the race we had just had a fantastic result in Spa so the whole team was on a high, and we knew we had a great car going into Monza. I got the call and of course I was pretty nervous but I tried to build into the weekend and gradually improve. Then in qualifying I got into P7, which was such a fantastic feeling. Unfortunately in the race I had a mechanical problem when I was running in the top six but I really felt that I had done the maximum I could do.

Now this year as always we want to perform, especially after last year. But it's also not just that or because it's my home crowd that I want to do well, I also want to get the result we deserve this season. We have narrowly missed out on really good results for a number of reasons this year, so I want to pull it all together. And if it's at Monza, it's true that it will be even more satisfying. The signs so far are good - the aero test we did showed a big improvement, the car is already strong and we've got a good programme for the race weekend in place.

Paul di Resta, test and reserve driver: I'm looking forward to Monza where I'll be out again in free practice, this time replacing Adrian. It's a special track that will require a very different approach to the other tracks I have driven. It's low downforce, high speed and then heavy braking into the chicanes so it's going to be another experience to put in the book. I've done some work in the simulator in preparation for the run and I'm hoping to get as much out of the session as possible.

Of course the track has a very special atmosphere and while I'm there I'll want to look into the history of it and see some of the old banking and track. With my little bit of Italian ancestry and some of my family still living in the country, hopefully I will feel very at home there.

So it should be an interesting weekend, both professionally and personally. We'll all work together to do as well as we can over the weekend, have the right approach from the start and develop the low downforce package. We showed well in Spa so there's no reason why it shouldn't show again in Monza.

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Red Bull preview the Italian GP

Mark Webber: “There are a lot of things that make Monza unique and special, not least of all the passionate Italian tifosi who help to give the place a great atmosphere. I love the way the track threads its way through the park too and remains one of the classic races on the F1 calendar. Of course, it’s renowned for its many long straights, that means a lot of heavy braking so it can be quite hard on the car. I think we can still do well at Monza. We might have a bit more in the way of opposition – in addition to Ferrari, McLaren and Renault, Force India could also be in the mix for the top places.”

Sebastian Vettel: “I have got two great memories from Monza, my first F1 first win and first F1 pole position, so it’s good to be going back. It’s a unique circuit with a great history and an unforgettable atmosphere due to the fans. The circuit is one of the most challenging of the season, due to the low downforce levels and high top speeds. It’s unique because it includes very long straights where we reach more than 300kph and there are the famous corners, Parabolica and Lesmo. They are faster than the first chicanes, but you have to brake heavily on the approach. The key factors are low drag and good braking stability. I think it won’t be easy for us, due to the long straights, but I’m sure we will do our best and keep fighting until the end.”

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Italian Grand Prix preview

“Our championship isn't over if we don't win at Monza,” said Fernando Alonso last week, “but it would be tough for morale if we don't...”

He's absolutely right, on both counts.

Alonso heads to his first race as a Ferrari driver on the team's home turf 41 points adrift of leader Lewis Hamilton with six rounds to go.

That's equivalent to a touch more than a win and a third place – or under the 2009 system, it would have been about a 17-point deficit.

Close enough to turn around in the time remaining, but far enough away that Alonso and Ferrari will need a fair wind behind them, and that's going to be the stumbling block...

Ferrari is always the story at Monza, whether its fans are celebrating a home win or lambasting the Scuderia over a home failure.

No other team has the same level of adoration from its national supporters and media, but no other team comes under the same pressure from those quarters; and as Ferrari's main man, Alonso will get his first real taste of that at Monza this weekend.

If he wins, it will be an enormous fillip for his team.

A victory in Bahrain or Germany offers the same points and in theory the same satisfaction, but for the Ferrari crew it cannot be quite the same as winning in front of the most fervent supporters in Formula 1.

Seeing a celebratory tidal wave of red Ferrari garments and flags sweeping across the track at the end of the race – that's the kind of emotional boost that spurs a team on to against-the-odds achievements.

Conversely, if things are going badly for Ferrari at Monza, the tifosi have no qualms about walking out mid-race.

An Italian Grand Prix win would certainly make things look brighter for Alonso and Ferrari, but it wouldn’t necessarily turn the title battle around.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali has pointed out that in 2007, his driver Kimi Raikkonen overcame a 17-point deficit within the last two races to beat then-McLaren team-mates Alonso and Hamilton to the title.

This year Alonso faces a comparable gap and has much longer to reel his rivals in – but 2010 and 2007 are very different.

Back then, Ferrari was fighting only one rival, and it was a pretty troubled one.

McLaren was being battered by the spy scandal hearings, penalties and fallout, its drivers were virtually at war, relations with Alonso had collapsed, and Hamilton was at the centre of this unprecedented furore while still a rookie.

The surprise wasn't that McLaren stumbled, but that it withstood that pressure for so long before going off the rails.

This time Ferrari faces much more serene rivals – Red Bull's splashes of intra-team angst can't be compared to the Alonso/Hamilton/McLaren turmoil of '07 – and two teams, not one, and four drivers, not two, to hunt down.

Moreover, the advantage ebbed and flowed between McLaren and Ferrari through 2007, whereas this year Hockenheim has been the only event where the Ferrari was clearly the fastest car.

Everywhere else, it's taken all Alonso's talent to keep it on the tail of McLaren, Red Bull, or both.

Speaking of Hockenheim, Ferrari could yet arrive at Monza in even worse shape than it presently appears, for its race preparations will be punctuated by an unwelcome trip to Paris for the FIA's hearing into the squad's alleged use of illegal team orders in Germany.

Should the FIA choose a 'nuclear option', that points gap might become even larger...

Predicting how Ferrari, or any other team, will fare at Monza is almost impossible, for the circuit has become unique as other old-style quick tracks disappeared or were shortened.

There is nothing contrived about Monza – not calculated overtaking zones with motorway-wide straights into complexes shaped like hieroglyphics.

It's just flat-out straight, skitter through a chicane, flat-out straight, skitter through a chicane... with some quick corners at the Lesmos and Parabolica to add to the challenge.

The fastest track on the calendar, the race flies by in little more than an hour and a quarter these days.

The teams have to develop one-off low-drag aero packages, so previous form becomes fairly irrelevant.

Last year everyone predicted that those who had honed their KERS devices would be so untouchable on the straights that they would run away with the race.

But come Sunday, the Brawns – which had not been absolute pacesetters in a long while – were consistently quick on heavy fuel and emerged at the front when the two-stopping KERS cars pitted, with Rubens Barrichello leading Jenson Button in a one-two.

For Brawn's new incarnation Mercedes to replicate that result this weekend would be the shock of the season, though.

One other change from 2009 is that Red Bull shouldn't receive such a trouncing.

Never the fleetest on the straights, it was nowhere near the front at Monza last year, but while Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel still see this weekend as something of a damage limitation exercise, Spa proved that Red Bull isn’t giving much away to the likes of McLaren on fast tracks these days.

McLaren sees Monza as a big chance to score before a run of tracks where Red Bull is expected to have the edge.

If Hamilton does not win here, main rival Webber will be very, very pleased that McLaren missed potentially its best opportunity to pull away; while if Hamilton does win, Webber will be satisfied to stay close behind him, in the knowledge that Red Bull will be in better shape elsewhere.

So this weekend won't be a pivotal one for the drivers at the absolute forefront of the title battle, but with the clock ticking rapidly towards Abu Dhabi, it's a vital race for those who are losing touch with the front – especially Alonso.

He absolutely has to give Ferrari a home win this weekend, but even if he does, it may be too late...

[MIKA27]

James Allen on a crucial week for F1

Source: ITV-F1.com

It’s a potentially decisive week ahead for the course of this year’s championship.

Today we have the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting to decide whether Ferrari should face any additional punishment for breaking the rules on team orders in the German Grand Prix.

Then on Sunday the Italian Grand Prix at Monza provides the drivers who lost ground in Spa to get back on terms or potentially lose contact with the championship leaders.

So it’s a big week for Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

At Spa we saw Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber, the two drivers who have performed best over the course of this season, again bagging the points, while their three rivals came away empty-handed.

If any of those three fail to bag some serious points this weekend then their task will start to look difficult.

McLaren showed in 2007 that they were willing to let their drivers fight to the finish for the title, even if it meant that Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was able to steal the championship from them.

I’ve no reason to believe that they will approach things any differently this time.

Red Bull have never won the title and have clearly thrown the kitchen sink at winning it this season.

That is their main objective and their development rate shows that, even if it costs them in competitiveness next season.

Certain factions within the company would probably prefer Vettel to be the one leading the challenge and so will be reluctant to back Webber.

But to lose the championship now, having had such a dominant car, would be criminal – so backing one driver would make sense, once we get to the final three races, most likely.

The gaps now are looking quite large: Alonso is 41 points off the lead, Button 35 and Vettel 31.

Of course with the new points system, Button is only a win and a podium away, but in this tightly contested season, where finishing every race is vital, that is still quite a gap and you get the feeling that unless things change dramatically in Monza, Webber and Hamilton will fight for this championship.

Talking to my friends among neutral engineers, they feel that this is Webber’s championship to lose now, given how strong his car is and the rate of development from Red Bull we have seen this season.

Hamilton has been the driver of the season, outperforming his car on many occasions.

But for him to win the title, McLaren will need to come up with some exciting developments over and above what Red Bull have in the pipeline, and I wonder whether they have enough firepower left.

The McLaren car looked quick at Spa and much is being made of these new flexi tests on front wings and floors, which may or may not slow down the Red Bull cars.

Monza won’t tell us much as the downforce effect of flexi-wings is less in evidence there anyway, plus it’s likely to be one of Red Bull’s weaker circuits.

But we’ll definitely see in Singapore whether Red Bull’s competitiveness has been harmed by the new FIA tests.

We have some races coming up where anything can happen, particularly Singapore and Brazil.

We are long overdue a wet race in Singapore, given the time of year and the climate out there, while Brazil is never straightforward.

Finally todays WMSC hearing could knock the stuffing out of Alonso and Ferrari’s world championship campaign.

Proving that they did break the rules on team orders will not be easy, as telling Massa that Alonso is faster is not the same as telling him to move over.

Apparently he was given a similar message in Australia and nothing happened.

My gut feeling is that Alonso will still be in the hunt after tomorrow; Ferrari will be fined more and possibly lose team points from the German GP.

But that’s not the most important thing about the WMSC hearing.

What we need is some clarification on when it’s okay to play team tactics, because in the closing stages of a championship switches of order have happened many times since the team orders rule has been around and no one got punished.

It’s the wrong rule for the sport and it needs to be changed and clarified.

[MIKA27]

Watch Mark Webber's lap of Monza

Mark shows us the lines around Formula 1's fastest track in the Red Bull simulator

[MIKA27]

Ferrari Off The Hook; FIA To Review Rule

Fernando Alonso and Ferrari have escaped further punishment for using team orders during the German Grand Prix.

Ferrari were ordered to appear before Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris after Hockenheim stewards found them guilty of using a coded message to tell Felipe Massa to allow team-mate Alonso through for the victory.

Alonso and Ferrari faced the prospect of being stripped of the controversial win and/or fined after being charged with breaking article 39.1 and 151.c in the rulebook which state "team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited" and "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motorsport generally" can be punished respectively.

However, the WMSC decided not to punish either party any further and also confirmed that the so-called team-orders rule will be reviewed.

A statement on the FIA website read: "After an in depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted, the Judging Body has decided to confirm the Stewards' decision of a $100,000 fine for infringing article 39.1 of the Sporting Regulations and to impose the payment of the costs incurred by the FIA.

"The Judging Body has also acknowledged that article 39.1 of the Sporting Regulations should be reviewed and has decided to refer this question to the Formula One Sporting Working Group."

[MIKA27]

'Lotus close to switching to Renault'

Lotus have reportedly agreed a deal in principle with Renault about engines for next season, but the F1 outfit still need to reach an agreement with current provider Cosworth before it can complete the switch.

The Hingham-based team signed a three-year contract with Cosworth when it re-entered F1 this year, but now it is looking to end that deal two years early.

According to Autosport, 'a deal has been agreed in principle for Lotus to secure a supply of Renault customer engines for 2011 - which would see the team receive the same specification of power-unit as other customer outfit Red Bull Racing.

'It is believed the move came out when Lotus originally sought out a new supplier of gearboxes and transmissions for next year - after frustrations with reliability in that area throughout the course of this season.'

The deal though may yet be scuppered if they fail to reach an agreement with Cosworth.

'It is not clear at the moment whether a financial settlement can be reached for Cosworth to agree to cut short its deal, or whether Lotus will be forced to delay its Renault ambitions.'

MIKA: If Lotus make the move to a Renault powerplant, this will be great news for the team IMO.

[MIKA27]

Fittipaldi back as a race steward

Former double World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi will have his second stint as a race steward at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

The Brazilian also filled the role during the Canadian Grand Prix in June and he and his fellow stewards were kept busy as they had to deal with several cases after the race.

They handed Ferrari's Felipe Massa a 20-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane while Toro Rosso's Jamie Alguersuari and Renault's Robert Kubica were reprimanded for causing a collision and making a 'dangerous entry to the pit' respectively.

The FIA is yet to reveal who will join Fittipaldi on the panel at Monza.

Drivers on the 2010 race steward panel

Bahrain - Alain Prost

Australia - Tom Kristensen

Malaysia - Johnny Herbert

China - Alexander Wurz

Spain - Derek Warwick

Monaco - Damon Hill

Turkey - Johnny Herbert

Canada - Emerson Fittipaldi

Europe - Heinz-Harald Frentzen

Great Britain - Nigel Mansell

Germany - Danny Sullivan

Hungary - Derek Warwick

Belgium - Nigel Mansell

Italy - Emerson Fittipaldi

[MIKA27]

Ferrari ready to write off 2010

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has revealed that a poor result at their home race in Italy could prompt the team to write off their 2010 challenge.

Fernando Alonso has dropped 41 points off the pace in the Drivers' Championship following his DNF in Belgium while the team are already 80 points behind Red Bull in the battle for Constructors' title.

Domenicali admits that a poor result at Monza this weekend could see them shift focus to their 2011 challenger.

"Should Monza go really badly and Red Bull's lead continues to increase, then on Monday we will begin to use all of our staff and resources for the project of next season's car," the Italian told Corriere dello Sport.

Domenicali also had nothing but praise for Alonso, saying he's very similar to Ferrari's favourite son Michael Schumacher.

"Alonso reminds me very much of Schumacher - since I've been with Ferrari, I have not seen a driver who has as strong a presence in Maranello, and follows all of our activities with the same conviction," he added.

[MIKA27]

FIA confirms 20-race season

The 2011 Formula One calendar will consist of a record 20 grands prix, the FIA has confirmed.

For the second consecutive year, the season will kick off in the Middle East with the Bahrain Grand Prix while the final race of the season shifts back to Brazil for the first time since 2008.

The inaugural Indian Grand Prix has been pencilled in for October 30th

2011 F1 calendar

13 March - Bahrain Grand Prix

27 March - Australian Grand Prix (Here you go OZ! )

10 April - Malaysian Grand Prix

17 April - Chinese Grand Prix

8 May - Turkish Grand Prix

22 May - Spanish Grand Prix

29 May - Monaco Grand Prix

12 June - Canadian Grand Prix

26 June - European Grand Prix

10 July - British Grand Prix

24 July - German Grand Prix

31 July - Hungarian Grand Prix

28 August - Belgian Grand Prix

11 September - Italian Grand Prix

25 September - Singapore

9 October - Japanese Grand Prix

16 October - Korean Grand Prix

30 October - Indian Grand Prix*

13 November - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

27 November - Brazilian Grand Prix

*Subject to circuit inspection

[MIKA27]

FIA want 'competitors' staff licences'

The FIA are seeking to introduce 'competitors' staff licences' in order to avoid a repeat of their attempts to ban those involved in the 2008 Singapore race-fixing scandal.

Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and technical director Pat Symonds were both banned from working in all FIA-sanctioned sports, including F1, after being found guilty of ordering a driver to deliberately crash in the 2008 Singapore GP.

However, the bans were subsequently overturned in a Parisian court, which ruled that the FIA did not have the power to ban team members.

Motorsport's governing body, though, believe they have now found a way to ban members by introducing 'competitors' staff licences.'

The licence is still in the proposal stage and will have to be assessed by the FIA's General Assembly before a decision is made on whether they will be implemented or not.

"A new mechanism will be introduced to control access to areas under the jurisdiction of the FIA and no pass of any kind will be issued to any person or body who is not in good standing for the purposes of the FIA International Sporting Code," said an FIA statement.

"Entrants will also become responsible for their staff, meaning any person connected directly or indirectly with the entrant in connection with their participation in an event."

Driver conduct was also on the Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council's agenda, with the council announcing new guidelines which could see drivers stripped of their super licence - the document which permits individuals to race in F1 - should they be convicted of a road traffic offence. (Lewis Hamilton?)

The announcement comes just days after Lewis Hamilton was fined just under £300 in an Australian court after being found guilty of performing boy racer stunts on a public road on the eve of the grand prix in Melbourne in March.

The FIA statement added: "Competitors at FIA events must act as ambassadors for the sport, be aware their conduct on the road must be exemplary and respect road safety rules.

"A proposal to amend the international sporting code will be submitted to the FIA General Assembly to clarify that any holder of an International Super Licence must also be in possession of a current road driving licence.

"Additionally, the Code will be amended to clarify that if an International Super Licence holder is involved in a serious road traffic offence recognised by a national police authority, the FIA, depending on the severity of the case, may issue a warning or refer the matter to the International Disciplinary Tribunal, which may temporarily or indefinitely withdraw the competitor's International Super Licence."

[MIKA27]

FIA decides against 13th team for 2011

The FIA has decided against adding a 13th team to the grid for the 2011 season, therefore leaving the grid at the current 12 teams.

Several applicants were interested in the position, including Epsilon Euskadi, Durango/Villeneuve, Stefan GP, ART GP and the Cypher Group. The latter two pulled out before the FIA made their decision citing financial difficulties.

An FIA statement on the matter reads: "Following the press release of 19 March 2010 calling for expressions of interest to participate in the 2011 and 2012 seasons of the FIA Formula One World Championship, a number of interested parties expressed their interest.

"It was considered that none of the candidates met the requirements to be granted an entry into the championship. Consequently, the allocation of the 13th team will not be granted."

It's thought none of the candidates met the financial criteria set out by the FIA following the failure of USF1 and the current difficulties being experienced by Hispania - a team which only just made it to Bahrain after a buyout.

MIKA: Why not remove Hispania Racing and bring in a new team?

[MIKA27]

McLaren modify floor to comply with FIA tests

McLaren have had to alter their car to conform with the new FIA load tests set to be introduced at the Italian GP, according to McLaren's chief engineer, Tim Goss.

The new load tests will focus on the floor of the car, rather than the front-wings in a bid to curb the use of flexi-wings.

During a phone-in with the Woking outfit, Goss confirmed that they haven't had to change their front-wings, but the bib, or forward floor, has had some minor modifications.

"Firstly on front wings, we haven't had to make any modifications to the front wings in terms of body work flexibility," Goss confirmed.

"As far as the bib is concerned, the new aspect load test is a little challenging and we've had to make some minor modifications to make sure that we're well inside the limits that the FIA has set on that.

"So we've modified our bib, taking the opportunity to turn it into a minor performance upgrade as well."

Goss believes almost all the teams will have had to modify their floors to comply with the new tests.

"I'd expect most teams would probably have had to make changes to comply with that. As far as articulated planks are concerned - there are a number of teams that run floor skids in multiple pieces - and the FIA have tried to ban articulated skid blocks and I imagine other teams would have to make modifications to comply with that."

[OZCUBAN]

FIA confirms 20-race season

The 2011 Formula One calendar will consist of a record 20 grands prix, the FIA has confirmed.

For the second consecutive year, the season will kick off in the Middle East with the Bahrain Grand Prix while the final race of the season shifts back to Brazil for the first time since 2008.

The inaugural Indian Grand Prix has been pencilled in for October 30th

2011 F1 calendar

13 March - Bahrain Grand Prix

27 March - Australian Grand Prix (Here you go OZ! )

10 April - Malaysian Grand Prix

17 April - Chinese Grand Prix

8 May - Turkish Grand Prix

22 May - Spanish Grand Prix

29 May - Monaco Grand Prix

12 June - Canadian Grand Prix

26 June - European Grand Prix

10 July - British Grand Prix

24 July - German Grand Prix

31 July - Hungarian Grand Prix

28 August - Belgian Grand Prix

11 September - Italian Grand Prix

25 September - Singapore

9 October - Japanese Grand Prix

16 October - Korean Grand Prix

30 October - Indian Grand Prix*

13 November - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

27 November - Brazilian Grand Prix

*Subject to circuit inspection

Many thanks for the heads up Mika if humanly possible i will be there

maybe a good venue for a FOH get together

Cheers OZ