The legendary Monza circuit, often hailed as the “Temple of Speed,” once again welcomes Formula 1 for the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. This eagerly anticipated event arrives at a pivotal moment in the 2022 season, particularly as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes appear to have gained significant ground on Ferrari, positioning themselves as the primary challengers to the dominant pairing of Max Verstappen and Red Bull. With Red Bull demonstrating an undeniable advantage on low-downforce tracks throughout the season, the question on every fan’s mind is whether Verstappen and Hamilton are poised to reignite their fierce on-track rivalry in the historic setting of Monza.
As the pinnacle of motorsport descends upon one of its most revered venues, the Italian Grand Prix promises high-octane action, strategic battles, and potentially dramatic shifts in the championship landscape. Here are the crucial talking points that will define the narrative of this weekend’s race.
Rivalry Revival on the Horizon?
Exactly one year ago, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza bore witness to one of the most unforgettable and controversial moments in the season-long world championship duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Battling intensely for position after Hamilton’s pit stop, the two championship contenders converged side-by-side into the challenging Rettifilo chicane. The inevitable collision saw Verstappen’s Red Bull dramatically mount Hamilton’s Mercedes, forcing both drivers into an early and frustrating retirement. This incident marked the second significant clash between the two rivals during the tumultuous 2021 season, following their high-speed entanglement at Silverstone, incidents that collectively fueled a rivalry which crescendoed into the dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi.
While the 2022 season has seen these two titans rarely engage in direct on-track battles, primarily due to Mercedes’ initial inability to match the Red Bull’s raw performance, that dynamic notably shifted at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. There, Hamilton and Mercedes showcased a resurgence, pushing Verstappen harder than they have at any point since their notorious Yas Marina showdown. Despite Verstappen ultimately overtaking Hamilton to secure another victory, Mercedes’ impressive race pace prompted Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto to concede that Mercedes now likely holds an advantage over them in terms of overall on-track performance.
However, whether this renewed competitiveness will translate to Monza remains to be seen. Monza is an ultra-low-downforce circuit, a characteristic that historically favors Red Bull’s design philosophy. Mercedes, conversely, delivered one of their least competitive performances relative to Red Bull at the last similar track, Spa-Francorchamps. Yet, the Mercedes W13 has proven to be a mysterious and often unpredictable machine, displaying unexpected competitiveness at some venues while underperforming at others where Mercedes had higher expectations. Should Mercedes successfully maintain their newfound pace and challenge Red Bull this weekend, it could very well be Lewis Hamilton who once again emerges as Max Verstappen’s closest and most formidable adversary, setting the stage for another memorable clash in Italy.
No Excuses for Ferrari at Home
Ferrari’s gradual but undeniable slide away from serious championship contention has arguably become one of the most compelling, and at times perplexing, narratives of the 2022 Formula 1 season. This decline is not merely defined by their increasing distance from Verstappen and Red Bull in the standings, but also by the often-shambolic manner in which it has unfolded. The Scuderia’s season has been plagued by a series of baffling strategy calls, coupled with seemingly fundamental operational errors. A prime example occurred just last Sunday at Zandvoort, where Carlos Sainz Jnr was inexplicably left with only three wheels on his car during his first pit stop. These incidents have contributed to a challenging and, at times, embarrassing few months for the iconic Italian team, as their once-bright title aspirations have regrettably evaporated, much like the flare smoke from the Zandvoort grandstands.
As Formula 1 arrives at Monza, Ferrari’s spiritual home race, the team knows they will be enveloped by an unparalleled wave of partisan support from the passionate Tifosi – a fervor perhaps only rivaled by the adulation Verstappen received last weekend. However, this immense support comes laden with equally high expectations. The Scuderia’s loyal fanbase will not hesitate to voice their disapproval if Ferrari delivers another lackluster performance on their home turf. The pressure on team principal Mattia Binotto and his drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, will be immense to deliver a result worthy of their heritage and the fervent crowd.
Acknowledging the paramount importance of the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari has confirmed plans to introduce new, low-downforce upgrades specifically for this weekend, with a particular focus on a redesigned rear wing. Red Bull has enjoyed a significant top-speed advantage throughout the season, enabling them to effortlessly overtake rivals in races and appear virtually unbeatable in qualifying sessions at high-speed circuits. Consequently, any upgrades designed to mitigate this deficit will be critically welcomed at Monza, a track defined by its long straights and fast sections. The Tifosi will be hoping these technical advancements, combined with flawless execution and an absence of unforced errors on Sunday, can finally propel Ferrari back to the top step of the podium in front of their adoring home crowd.
Can Ricciardo Find Some Form on Familiar Ground?
With the confirmation that he will not be racing with McLaren beyond the current season, Daniel Ricciardo endured yet another disappointing weekend at Zandvoort. His performance saw him qualify ten places behind his teammate Lando Norris and nearly be lapped by him en route to finishing second to last among the 18 cars that completed the race. As the outgoing driver continues to weigh his limited options for a 2023 seat, he is undoubtedly keen to conclude his tenure at Woking on the highest possible note. With this in mind, there is perhaps no more opportune race on the calendar than Monza – the very circuit where Ricciardo claimed his remarkable and unexpected victory just 12 months ago.
That victory, McLaren’s first in nearly a decade, was certainly aided by the dramatic retirement of both Verstappen and Hamilton. However, it was not merely the result of chaotic circumstances. It occurred during a weekend where Ricciardo consistently expressed feeling the most comfortable and at ease with his 2021 McLaren throughout the entire season. Moreover, the win came after a year of considerable struggle for the Australian to adapt to his car, and he had to expertly hold off his fast-charging teammate, Lando Norris, to cross the finish line first. This demonstrated that his pace and confidence were genuinely high that weekend, making the Monza circuit a place of proven success for him.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl has been quick to temper any suggestions that his team might replicate last year’s outright victory at this weekend’s event, acknowledging the vast difference in car performance and competitive landscape. Nevertheless, even if a repeat victory is unlikely, a strong showing from Ricciardo could be immensely beneficial. Should he be able to run closely with his teammate and help secure crucial points in their ongoing battle with Alpine for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, it would undoubtedly go a long way in helping Ricciardo conclude his challenging time with McLaren on a much-needed positive and memorable note. For the “Honey Badger,” Monza represents a unique opportunity for redemption and a reminder of his formidable talent.
The Return of Antonio Giovinazzi
For a nation whose rich history in Formula 1 is arguably surpassed by none, it remains a remarkable anomaly that there are currently no Italian drivers on the grid. In recent memory, only Antonio Giovinazzi has represented Italy as a full-time driver over the last decade, before ultimately losing his seat at Alfa Romeo at the conclusion of the previous season. This weekend, however, will see a temporary return for an Italian talent.
Giovinazzi, a racer with 62 Grand Prix starts under his belt, is set to return to a Formula 1 session this Friday. He will step into Mick Schumacher’s Haas VF-22 during the first practice session, marking his first outing in a Formula 1 car since the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and his inaugural experience behind the wheel of a new ground-effect F1 car. After a season spent navigating the challenges of ill-optimized machinery in Formula E, these practice runs at Monza and in Austin next month present a crucial opportunity for Giovinazzi. These sessions will allow him to showcase his talent and stake a compelling claim for a full-time return to Formula 1 for the 2023 season.
With Mick Schumacher’s future at Haas currently shrouded in uncertainty and Haas’s well-known close technical alliance with Ferrari, the Italian driver could very well be presented with a golden chance for a second wind in Formula 1. This scenario echoes the opportunity Haas extended to Kevin Magnussen at the beginning of the current season, a move that proved remarkably successful. Should Giovinazzi impress in these outings, he could become a strong contender for a coveted F1 seat, bringing an Italian presence back to the sport’s premier class.
The American Dream: Colton Herta in F1?
The recent confirmation of McLaren securing the services of Oscar Piastri for their 2023 lineup initially appeared to close off a potential avenue for the highly regarded American IndyCar driver, Colton Herta, to make his long-awaited debut in Formula 1. However, the narrative took an intriguing turn when Red Bull openly admitted that Herta was very much under serious consideration for a seat at their junior team, AlphaTauri, in 2023. This revelation has suddenly made the prospect of an American racer returning to the Formula 1 grid a tangible reality, more possible than it has seemed for almost two decades.
AlphaTauri, while a Red Bull-owned team, holds a special connection to Italy, being based in Faenza. This Italian heritage is a legacy of its original incarnation as Minardi, from the days before Red Bull dramatically increased its involvement in Formula 1. The team has famously claimed two victories in its history, both triumphantly secured here at Monza. The first was with Sebastian Vettel under the team’s previous guise of Toro Rosso in 2008, followed by Pierre Gasly’s shock victory in 2020 for the team he is still contracted to race with in 2023.
The prospect of Gasly seeing out his contract with AlphaTauri next year has, however, come into question following Fernando Alonso’s unexpected move to Aston Martin, which has left a coveted vacant seat at Alpine. This seat will now definitively not be filled by Piastri, making Gasly a prime candidate. Despite Esteban Ocon’s public lobbying for Mick Schumacher to be offered the seat, the notion of a second highly-rated French driver at the only French team on the grid seems a more natural and appealing fit. Such a move would also provide an excellent opportunity for Gasly to depart from the Red Bull ecosystem and forge his own identity and leadership role elsewhere in Formula 1.
All that currently stands in the way of Colton Herta’s potential move to Formula 1 is his superlicence eligibility. Despite his undeniable wealth of experience and significant success in IndyCar, he presently does not meet the stringent threshold of points required to qualify him to race in Formula 1 under current FIA regulations. Should Red Bull succeed in their efforts to lobby the FIA to offer Herta dispensation to earn a superlicence, then the announcement of Formula 1’s long-awaited newest American driver could come much sooner than many would have anticipated, sparking considerable excitement among fans and stakeholders alike. The decision by the FIA will be pivotal, not just for Herta’s career, but also for the future global expansion strategy of Formula 1.
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