2019 Italian Grand Prix: 5 predictions for 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.