2019 Italian Grand Prix: 5 predictions for the race

Following a controversy-plagued Italian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday-something hitherto unseen in Formula 1- where barring Carlos Sainz Jr. most of the frontrunners struggled to finish the session in due time, Charles Leclerc emerged on top. Although the session provided an ideal ending (for the Tifosi) to the qualifying with a Ferrari driver right on top at the Scuderia's home race event, one felt a lot more should've happened in the final stages of Q3. But it wasn't meant to be.

The gap between the top four frontrunners being less than five-hundredths of a second, you could say, the contest was slated for a close finish.

That said with Hamilton and Bottas all set to begin the contest right behind Leclerc, with the other Ferrari of Vettel following the two Mercedes, it remains to be seen what might happen in the 70-lap contest.

Let's predict 5 possible outcomes for the 2019 Italian Grand Prix:

Raikkonen will fail to score any points for the Alfa

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Bwoah!!

Make no mistake. Last year, there was only one hero after the 2018 Italian Grand Prix qualifying. It was former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen. But this time around, Raikkonen who scored the fastest-ever lap in the modern history of Formula 1, when he went at 1:19:119, will endure a forgettable race on Sunday.

As it is, Raikkonen, who spun out of control at the Parabolica, spinning away and crashing into the barriers succumbed to a poor qualifying run wherein he failed to set a time in his flying lap.

But on Sunday, Kimi, who's likely to begin from a place down from the provisional P10 where he finds himself currently will struggle for grip. As a result, the Alfa Romeo will be passed by the other fast-catching cars at a race-track where there's hardly a scope for error.

In particular, Kimi will struggle to match the pace of the two Renaults and will most likely see the Toro Rossos and the Haas' outrace him. It'll be a shame for Raikkonen is among the sport's most experienced and successful campaigners after all.

Renault will emerge the best of the rest

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Hulk will outrace Daniel

Among the teams that have impressed from the midfield, Renault, it must be said are improving, slowly but surely. The first half of the season was laced with mixed fortunes for the French racing team but it appears that ever since the second half of the ongoing season has begun, there's been a tremendous spike in the confidence of the team.

At Monza, Renault's impressive straight-line speed will see them blast past the likes of the struggling Alfa (a team that failed to put up a decent qualifying effort on Saturday), Haas, and the Toro Rosso.

Nico Hulkenberg, pressed by the urgency to deliver, his fate already revealed to him, will cut no corners in conjuring a decent race effort and will end up comfortably inside the top ten.

That Ricciardo begins just behind his more experienced Renault teammate will offer a mouth-watering prospect of some early overtaking but Hulkenberg will be able to hold the edge in what will be a close-fought battle.

If all goes well, then Renault will collect anywhere between 10-.14 points from the race.

Ferrari will find tough competition from Mercedes on straight-line speed

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Straight-line speed will be decisive

Two contrasting occurrences define the context of the competition, about to go live in the next few hours at Monza.

Prior to arriving at Ferrari's home track, Mercedes had cautioned their fans stating that at a track so suited to Ferrari's faster straight-line speed and aerodynamic design, quite like Spa, there may not be much that Mercedes would be able to do.

Next up, in the Friday practice session, we see Lewis Hamilton topping the speed charts, leaving both Ferraris behind. It appears that something has gone right for the Brackley-based outfit, hasn't it?

It could be said that the contest at Monza, a track that gave the sport the fastest-ever lap recorded in the history of the sport (last year), it will all boil down to the one crucial and decisive factor.

The team that races with better straight-line speed will hold the advantage. Although Mercedes have often blanked out Ferrari in the corner pace, during the race, the two teams will lock horns in a close wheel-to-wheel battle with Bottas matching up to Vettel's pace while Hamilton will eventually blast past Leclerc in a closely-fought contest.

Mercedes, it should be reiterated, are closer to Ferrari this time around than they were in 2018.

Hamilton to win at Monza again

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - There'll be no stopping Hammertime

No other driver has dominated at Monza quite like Lewis Hamilton. Truth be told, if Kimi Raikkonen is the 'King of Spa,' then Hamilton is truly the 'Emperor of Monza.'

In fact, nothing could possibly highlight Lewis' unmatched consistency at the famous racing venue other than highlighting that since 2014 until 2017, no other driver has been able to clinch the pole position here apart from the driver of car number 44.

While Hamilton will begin second from the grid, seconds from the start of the race, he will begin attacking Leclerc, who'll come under significant pressure to defend his track position.

Mercedes will put the undercut into play to attack Ferrari in what'll most likely be a one-stop strategy. Hamilton, clearly the man with more experience, someone with a winning edge on his side will ultimately race past Leclerc to gain the lead and shall dominate the proceedings unfailingly for the remainder of the contest.

Charles Leclerc may not be able to hold onto the lead for more than 5-10 laps. And from thereon, it'll be Hamilton all the way.

Leclerc to endure a memorable but challenging race at Monza

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Leclerc will be passed by Lewis

Currently, the hottest property in the top annals of Grand Prix racing, Charles Leclerc will be keen to win what might be the second race win of his young career. To his advantage, beginning from the very front end of the grid at a high-speed track suited to Ferrari's aerodynamic design advantage would offer some confidence.

Effectively, Sunday's big race will boil down to the confidence and exuberance of Charles Leclerc versus the experience and grit of arguably, the best man on the grid, Lewis Hamilton.

But truth be told, Leclerc will only succeed as far as grabbing another impressive podium in what will turn out to be a tough fight in the end.

The Monegasque driver will begin confidently and will file into the first corner, the Ascari chicane unscathed post which Hamilton will be staring down the tail of his SF 90. Post that, he'll face the brute force of "Hammertime," albeit driving at breakneck speed for much of the race.

He'll be the second-best driver at Monza.