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Linus O'Howell

2023 Italian Grand Prix Preview: 5 Big Talking Points Heading into the Weekend

Special Livery for Ferrari’s Home Race

Formula 1 returns to one of the most iconic circuits in the world this weekend in the form of Monza. Monza, located in Italy, is arguably Ferrari’s most important race of the season and to celebrate being back home, Ferrari have released a special livery to celebrate the occasion. It’s mostly the same, but they’ve added bits of yellow to the car which makes it look pretty cool. Let’s see if it helps them find some performance that is desperately needed (if we’re being totally honest).




How will the other Italian Teams fair at their Home Race?

Ferrari aren’t the only team that celebrates their home race this weekend as it’s also a home race for both Alfa Romeo and Alpha Tauri. It’s fair to say that neither team is having a very good season at all, but Alpha Tauri in particular have gone well at Monza in the past so they’ll hope that will continue this weekend. It’s also worth mentioning that Alfa Romeo have also got a special livery for this weekend, and it’s pretty cool.




Can Liam Lawson build from a Positive first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix?

When I did my Preview for the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix this time last week, I was not expecting Liam Lawson to end up jumping into the Alpha Tauri, let alone finish ahead of his teammate in a race that threw everything at the young Kiwi. Given that result and the fact that Liam is heading into this weekend knowing he’s going to be driving, there’s rightly more expectations on his shoulders than in Zandvoort. Whilst I don’t think Alpha Tauri is going to be particularly great this weekend, I do think Liam can continue to put in strong performances and that’s all he can really do at the moment.




Can Pierre Gasly continue his good run of form in Monza?

It certainly hasn’t been the best year from an Alpine point of view and I don’t feel like Pierre Gasly’s start to life in his new team has gone particularly great either. However, Pierre’s stepped it up in the last couple of rounds, finishing P3 in the Belgian Sprint before the Summer Break before Gasly took his first “official” Podium for Alpine at last week’s Dutch Grand Prix. Those 21 points that Gasly achieved in those 2 rounds has seen him leap above his teammate Esteban Ocon into 10th in the Drivers’ Championship and I think he can go well again this weekend at a track where he’s tasted victory before (2020).




Will the Monza Curse stop Max Verstappen Making/Breaking History?

Max Verstappen has been truly unbeatable this year, particularly since Miami where he’s now on a 9-Race Winning Streak. His win at home in Zandvoort meant Max tied the record with Sebastian Vettel (and technically Alberto Ascari) for the most consecutive Formula 1 Race Victories and now he looks to make it 10-in-a-row by winning in Monza. However, there’s been a little bit of a curse in recent years as the person who took victory in the previous year’s Italian Grand Prix (at Monza) went on to retire. Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, and Daniel Ricciardo have all suffered the “Monza Curse” in recent years and last year’s Italian Grand Prix Winner was none other than the Double World Champion himself. Do I think this means Verstappen won’t win this weekend? Absolutely, Not!




My Predictions for Monza Qualifying

  1. Max Verstappen

  2. Sergio Perez

  3. Lando Norris

  4. Oscar Piastri

  5. Alex Albon (I felt like being Bold)

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