Italian Grand Prix(Monza) Track Guide

With Belgium Grand Prix done and dusted, we head to the home of Tifosi for the 2012 Italian Grand Prix. Before I start the track guide, here are some statistics:

Race Date:	09 Sep 2012
Circuit Name:	Autodromo di Monza
Number of Laps:	53
Circuit Length:	5.793 km
Race Distance:	306.720 km
Lap Record:	1:21.046 – R Barrichello (2004)

Track Guide:

Sector 1:

The Lap of the Monza circuit starts with long start finish straight which leads to the very tight Rettifilo chicane.The chicane is one of the prime overtaking spots and has witnessed large number of crashes over the years.Majority of the crashes have been at the start of the race particularly because the long start finish straight narrows as the cars reach the rettifilo chincane.

Rettifilo Chicane info:

Turn Number: 1

Speed:84km/hr

G-force:0.73

Gear 1

The Rettifilo chicane is followed up by a long fast corner which is called as Curva Grande or Curva Biaasono.This is the place where last year Sebastian Vettel put in a remarkable move on Fernnado Alonso round the outside of the curva grande or biassono.This corner is usually taken flatout with speeds in excess of 300km/hr.

Curva Biassono Info:

Turn Number :3{Note: Turn 1 and 2 are together callled as Rettifilo Chicane.}

Speed:305 Km/hr

G-force:2.07

Gear:6

Curva Biassono is followed up by a short straight which leads upto the Della Roggia Chicane.The start of Della Roggia Chicane marks the end of Sector1.

Getting a Strong Sector 1: Sector 1 is all about top speed and the acceleration out of the Rettifilo chicane.So, a car having low downforce setup and good traction out of slower corners can put in a very fast first sector.

Sector2:

Sector 2 Starts with the Della Roggia chicane.Like Rettifilo chicane this chicane is also a very good overtaking spot with cars breaking hard from over 300km/hrs.

Della Roggia Chicane info:

Turn Number:4 and 5.

Speed:120km/hr

Gear:2

G-force:0.66

The Della roggia chicane is followed up by two fast right handers which have been named as Lesmo 1 and Lesomo 2.Together the corner is called as Curva Di Lesmo.The drivers have to get their braking absouletely right for lesmo 1 and have to be careful with the throttle at the exits of lesmo 1 and 2 as a little two early on the throttle can put the driver into the wall.This is where Lewis Hamilton crashed out on the final lap of 2009 Italian Grand Prix.

Curva Dis Lesmo Info:

Lesmo 1:

Turn Number : 6

Speed:193km/hr

Gear:4

G-force:3.16

Lesmo 2:

Turn Number:7

Speed:178km/hr

Gear :3.

G-force:3.80

Curva Di Lesmo is followed up by long fast straight with a little right handed kink which is called as Curva Del Serraglio.

Curva Del Serraglio Info:

Speed:304km/hr

Gear:6

G-force:0.48

A long straight is followed up after Curva del Serraglio which leads to the very fast and twisty Ascari chicane.The start of Ascari chicane marks the end of sector 2.

Getting a Strong Sector 2: To get a fast second sector the car should have good cornering grip alongwith good overall top speed on the straights.This means that drivers usually have to compromise either cornering grip or overall top speed as cornering grip and high speed on the straight are inversely propotional.This is because when downforce levels are increased to have more cornering grip ,the wings creates more drag which slows the car in straight line.

With the advent of DRS teams can go for much more aggressive downforce levels and still be quick on the straights during qualifying.As DRS can not be used on all parts of the circuit during the race, the drivers who opt for high downforce setup will have to nail the car through the corners to be clear of the cars with high top speed on the straights.

Sector 3:

The start of the Variante Ascari chicane marks the start of sector 3.The chicane is a very fast sequence of lefts and rights.The ascari chicane is a very good place to get a good run in on the car ahead and overtake the car by Parabolica Corner.

Variante Ascari chicane Info:

Turn Number:8,9 and 10.

Speed:212

Gear:4

G-force:3.42

The Chicane is folllowed up buy a long staright which leads to the famous Curva Parabolica.The parabolica looks like an easy corner but is the most difficult corner on the Monza Circuit.The Drivers have to judge the braking point perfectly in order to accelerate faster out of the corner.

“Parabolica, is quite special. It’s a difficult one to get right. You can always go faster there than you actually do.” -1997 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve

Curva Parbolica info:

Turn Number :11

Gear:4

Speed:215km/hr

G-force:3.72

The exit of parabolica leads to the long start finish straight which completes the lap of the historic Monza Circuit.

Getting a good sector 3: The ascari chicane and Parabolica are the only places where time can be made in sector 3.Drivers have to judge the braking points perfectly for both ascari chicane and parbolica to get a good acceleration and good exit out of the corners.

Schedule For Italian Grand Prix according to Indian Standard Time:

Fri 07 September 2012
Practice 1	13:30 - 15:00
Practice 2	17:30 - 19:00

Sat 08 September 2012
Practice 3	14:30 - 15:30
Qualifying	17:30

Sun 09 September 2012
Race	17:30

Weather Forecast For Italian Grand Prix:

Other Useful Information:

Pastor Maldanado has 10 place grid penalty for Monza and Romain Grosjean has been suspended from taking part in the Italian Grand Prix due to the first lap carnage at Spa which according to the FIA stewards was Grosjean’s fault.His place will most likely be filled up by Lotus Reserve driver Jerome D Ambrosio.