The Formula 1 paddock has headed straight from Belgium to Italy, but who’s hot 🔥 and who’s not 👎🻠at Monza. Let Motorsport Week be your guide.
Wins ðŸ†
No circuit on the Formula 1 calendar has hosted more grands prix than Monza’s 68 (each year bar 1980) and no driver has taken more victories at the event than Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton’s fifth win in 2018 lifted him level on the all-time list alongside Michael Schumacher, as he added to his recent string of success at Monza.
Hamilton had to wait until 2012, his McLaren swansong, to taste victory at the high-speed venue, since when he has picked up the honours in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Just one other driver on the grid has triumphed at Monza.
Sebastian Vettel’s maiden win came in stunning fashion in 2008, while racing for Toro Rosso, and he added further victories for Red Bull in 2011 and 2013.
Poles 💨
Hamilton claimed Formula 1’s overall pole position record in 2017, one of six Saturday successes throughout his history at the Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton qualified on pole in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
That string of Monza pole positions was broken in 2018 by Kimi Raikkonen, who scored his final (to date) career pole for Ferrari, 12 years after his only other at the venue.
Then team-mate Vettel claimed pole position for each of his Monza wins, the only other driver on the grid to end Q3 as the quickest man.
Podiums 🎉
Hamilton has taken seven rostrums at Monza – putting him one shy of record-holder Schumacher – having been runner-up in 2007 and 2016, alongside his five wins.
Vettel has taken three podiums (2015 second, 2016 third, 2017 third) along with his three wins to leave him on six, while Kimi Raikkonen has never won at Monza but has been on the podium four times.
Robert Kubica’s maiden podium came with BMW in 2006 and two years later he added another top-three result in the rain-lashed race.
Another driver with two Monza podiums is Valtteri Bottas, who finished second in 2017 and third last year, while Sergio Perez took a tyre-inspired podium with Sauber in 2012.
Other facts ðŸ”
Ferrari has taken 18 Italian Grand Prix wins – but has not savoured success since 2010, despite locking out the front row 12 months ago. Instead, it is fierce rival Mercedes who has triumphed in recent years, having been unbeaten at Monza in the hybrid era.
No country has held more Formula 1 races than Italy. Alongside Monza’s 68, Formula 1 raced at Imola – under the San Marino banner – 27 times, and also visited the fearsome street circuit of Pescara which still remains as the longest circuit F1 has ever raced on at 16.032miles, hosting its only World Championship Grand Prix in 1957 which was won by Sir Stirling Moss for Vanwall.
Discussion about this post