The 2023 Components 1 World Championship battle continues this weekend with spherical 15, the Italian Grand Prix.

The race is the ultimate European spherical this season and takes place as soon as once more on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, situated simply outdoors of Milan. The circuit is nicknamed the Temple of Pace, as high speeds often eclipse 217 mph throughout an F1 weekend.

The Italian Grand Prix, just like the British Grand Prix, has been on the F1 calendar for the reason that inaugural 1950 season. It has been held at Monza yearly besides 1980, when it was held on the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari situated at Imola. In recent times, F1 has added a second Italian spherical held at Imola, often called the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. It was canceled this yr because of heavy flooding at its scheduled time.

Monza stays the one historic high-speed observe nonetheless internet hosting an F1 race. However the Italian Grand Prix is far older than F1, as its first race was held in 1921. Monza was constructed the next yr, making it greater than 100 years previous. It hosted its first Italian Grand Prix only a week after completion.

Autodromo Nazionale Monza, residence of the Components 1 Italian Grand Prix

At present, Monza’s 3.6-mile observe format consists of a sequence of straights and a few tight chicanes. The circuit incorporates simply 11 corners, 4 to the left and 7 to the correct. That’s the second fewest of the yr, behind solely the Austrian Grand Prix’s Purple Bull Ring which has 10.

Drivers usually spend 77% of the lap time and 80% of the lap distance at full throttle. Solely the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix’s Jeddah Road Circuit sees a better period of time spent at full throttle, at 82%. Because of this, automobiles are arrange for low downforce to maximise their high speeds. This in flip makes them extra depending on the mechanical traction from the tires to offer grip by the corners. Pirelli has nominated its C3 compound because the White arduous, C4 because the Yellow medium, and C5 because the Purple gentle, a barely softer mixture than final yr.

The climate at Monza this time of yr tends to be sizzling, which is nice because the lengthy straights imply the tires can cool an excessive amount of when the climate is milder. The present forecast requires heat and sunny situations throughout each Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race, with 87 levels F (31 levels C) anticipated to be the highest temperature.

Going into the weekend, Purple Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with 339 factors. Fellow Purple Bull driver Sergio Perez is second with 201 factors and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso is third with 168 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Purple Bull leads with 540 factors, versus the 255 of Mercedes-Benz AMG in second and 215 of Aston Martin in third. Final yr’s winner at Monza was Verstappen driving for Purple Bull.