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For the third weekend in a row, Formula One is back in action. This time the field takes on the Monza circuit for the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

Amidst one of the closest championship battles in in memory, Formula One’s field of 20 cars is taking on the legendary Temple of Speed this weekend. The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is host to the 2021 Grand Prix and will test the teams’ abilities to field a car that prioritizes straight line speed.

The tight battle for the lead in the drivers' standings has now carried past the midway point of the season. Lewis Hamilton held a small advantage going into the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort a week ago, but that advantage has now flipped back to Max Verstappen after his exciting home win.

In the constructor’s championship, Mercedes has gained a 12-point lead after a double podium finish at Zandvoort. Like the drivers’ standings, this is another hotly contested battle that could easily be reversed if Red Bull has a strong result at Monza.

Much of the excitement away from the track has centred around the confirmation of George Russell joining the Mercedes team next season alongside Lewis Hamilton. Russell has impressed many in the F1 world with his performance in the lower-tier Williams car. He will be replacing Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes, who was confirmed to be moving to Alfa Romeo next season.

And speaking of Alfa Romeo, Kimi Räikkönen’s final season in Formula One has been cut short due to a positive Covid-19 test and associated protocol, and he’ll be replaced this weekend by Robert Kubica, who also stood in for the 2007 drivers’ champion last weekend as well.

Lando Norris’ amazing season has somewhat slowed over the past two weeks. The “technically a race” at Spa two weeks ago saw him finish outside of the points, and then a 10th place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix have dropped him from 3rd to 4th in the championship. His 114 points this season account for two-thirds of the McLaren team points, so the unfortunate results recently have allowed Ferrari to open a gap of 11.5 points in the constructors’ championship after having been tied recently. Excitement from the crowd will be high at Monza for the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to maintain or expand this gap to McLaren.

So, the fight between Verstappen and Hamilton continues for another week, as does the battle between their respective teams. This looks to be another exciting week in the middle of an outstanding year of F1 action. Give us your thoughts below in the comments on who you think will emerge victorious at Monza.
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Premium
And single car qualifying as in 'one car one flying lap' remains the only true viable option!
Sprint Race 'Qualifying'........:roflmao:
 
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I wish they stopped calling it a sprint race, and just called it an extended Grand Prix weekend. With a 24 hour hour intermission 25% of the way through a slightly longer race. Have parc ferma apply over the intermission, unless it rains, and let's have two days of racing with more uncertainty surrounding car setup. Qualifying would still be qualifying, just held on Friday, and the race would just be split up, which could generate some excitement at traditionally boring race tracks. I'm looking at you: Sochi, Monaco, & Barcelona. Outside of those track's (and arguably a couple others) I'd leave everything alone, the normal F1 weekend schedule works at most tracks, I don't think they need to mess with a mostly good thing.

In regard to awarding 3, 2, & 1 points, I'd scrap that, because we are dealing with just one extended race. The one wrinkle however would be for the fastest point, because fuel levels would be reaching empty twice now during the course of a race. Or I would even be open to having a separate fastest lap points for each part of the race (one for saturday and one for sunday), and perhaps on saturday anyone in the grid could earn the point, you wouldn't need to finish in the top 10. Just imagine teams deciding to sacrifice their position because they have a better shot at a point for fastest lap then a top 10 finish. The backmarker action could actually get really interesting.
 
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I quite enjoy the sprint format last time at Silverstone. Let see here at Monza. Mercedes looks mighty strong :coffee:

On the downside, Monza is usually quite boring to watch.....
 
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Monza one of the classic original tracks. Those are few and far between these days.
Great place.
Yeah.

I always say F1 has the best of everything (cars, drivers etc.), but not tracks. Many other series have better calendars with great places, IMSA, GT World Challenge in Europe and America, etc.
 
Monza one of the classic original tracks. Those are few and far between these days.
Great place.
Hmmm love the Monza track before they cut the Lesmo corners.... like it was in grandprix legends
 
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Yea, I certainly did not see things playing out that way. Lewis had a bit of a shocker lap 1. I am guessing Merc may be regretting the engine swap on Bottas at this point in time.
 
a RedBull on pole at Monza. When was the last time? (never?). Indeed totally not expected. Its going to be a interesting race also with Lando and Daniel on 2&3
 
Premium
Good to see the “Hamilton is a goat discussion”slowy comes to an end. Even my mother could do a better start.
 
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Good to see the “Hamilton is a goat discussion”slowy comes to an end. Even my mother could do a better start.
He's not perfect, none of them are...and he has all the records and a career of amazing driving to prove he's one of the greatest; your mother need not apply here.

As Juan Pablo Montoya would say "you'd have to be either blind or stupid to not see..." :roflmao:
 
This "sprint" race was pointless besides reshuffling the grid a bit. After one lap it was all over. The only reason this is being pushed is to try to get more "TV" time.
Pointless, other than possibly ending the battle for the driver's championship. Monza is a must win for mercedes, now a 2nd or 3rd by Verstappen will probably still increase his points lead. The cars are running such low downforce, DRS does not appear to be much of a factor.
 

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