03/09/2017
NEWS STORY
While the weather gods may have added some spice - and around two hours - to yesterday's qualifying, they are not scheduled to play any part in today's race.
With bright sunshine and temperatures of up to 26 degrees C, we will have to rely on mechanical failures, brain failures and in-team relationship failures for excitement.
One thing we can look forward to is the fact that the order in which they finished yesterday's qualifying session is not the order they will start today, with seven (count 'em 7) drivers having been hit with grid penalties.
As a result, instead of starting second and third, for example, the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo will line up fourteenth and seventeenth.
The Ferraris are also starting out of position, Kimi Raikkonen fifth and Sebastian Vettel sixth, but this is down to the failure of the red cars to find grip yesterday as opposed to the increasingly frustrating penalty rules.
The weather today, not to mention that long, long run to the first chicane, and the prairie-like width of the main straight should at least allow the Maranello marvels to make up a couple of places.
Of course, that first chicane has already caught out a number of drivers this weekend - it always does - and over enthusiasm as a result of penalties and yesterday's weather could lead to some fun and games on the first lap, especially with a number of drivers out of position.
Following that Senna-esque lap from Hamilton yesterday, the Briton will be looking to build on it and possibly take the championship lead for the first time this season, though the partisan crowd will not share his hopes.
Until yesterday afternoon (evening), Ferrari looked realistically capable of grabbing its first win here since 2010, but the Maranello outfit is likely to be looking for damage limitation today, aware that the next race, Singapore, is more to its liking.
Talking of Singapore, Red Bull insists that it doesn't regret changing its engines and taking the penalties, and in a way one can understand this. Yesterday was a bit of a freak show courtesy of the weather gods, in today's conditions the Austrian team is sure to struggle in the power stakes.
Though they are separated by six places - seven following a late gearbox change for the Mexican - as sure as God made little apples we can expect the Pink Panthers to end up on the same piece of tarmac at some point. Whether the feuding pair take any notice of previous instructions at that point remains to be seen.
No offence intended, but despite that extraordinary lap, Lance Stroll can surely forget about a podium finish, not unless the weather gods to make a surprise return. Indeed, based on previous form we'll be surprised to see one of the Grove cars in the points at the finish.
Mind you, when we say we'd be surprised to see a Williams in the points, we would be shocked to the core to see a McLaren up there. If Fernando Alonso was embarrassed in Belgium he's going to be positively humiliated this afternoon. Indeed, a late engine change for his teammate, Stoffel Vandoorne, thereby incurring a 25-place grid penalty - just a week after the 65-place hit he took in Spa - just about ends any hopes of the Woking team honouring Bruce McLaren's birthday in style.
After Romain Grosjean denied that he has been critical of his brakes and blamed the media for stirring things up, we shall be paying particular attention to the Frenchman's transmissions, one single expletive uttered in the same sentence as the word brake will come back to haunt him.
Toro Rosso is another team that hurt in the wet yesterday, and like the works Renault team is sure to suffer today on a track where power is all, the fact that Daniil Kvyat is the only one of the four not hit with a penalty probably tells you all you need to know.
In terms of strategy Pirelli believes the fastest strategy will be a one-stopper, with a 26-lap opening stint on supersofts, and the remainder on softs. The alternative is a 23 to 25-lap stint on softs, with supersofts for the remainder.
With Grosjean receiving a late penalty after Haas changed his gearbox, the only river starting today's race in the position he qualified is Lewis Hamilton.
The pitlane opens and the drivers head out.
Ahead of the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. It is bright, sunny and glorious. The risk of rain is 0%.
With a free tyre choice, following yesterday's wet session, all are on supers bar Verstappen, Ricciardo, Palmer and Alonso who are on the softs.
"Grip's really poor," complains Hamilton on his warm-up lap.
The air horns scream, the red smoke billows... the crowd is ready.
They're away. A strong start from Hamilton who moves across the track to cover Stroll and then lines up the first chicane by moving into the path of Ocon. A poor start from Vettel, while Massa runs wide and on to the grass.
Rejoining the track, Massa subsequently clashes with Perez as Bottas and Raikkonen are side by side coming out of the first chicane. The Finns are side by side through the Curva Grande but on the approach to T2 Raikkonen gets ahead and even Vettel has a look.
Into the Parabolica Bottas appears to catch Raikkonen napping, stealing back the position, while Verstappen, who had a brilliant start, is all over Massa.
Unable to believe what just happened, Raikkonen fights back and is side by side with Bottas through Parabolica and down the main straight. As the two race at over 230mph, their wheels almost touching, it's hard to watch.
Bottas holds station and leads the Ferrari into T1,
Hamilton leads Ocon, Stroll, Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Massa, Verstappen, Perez and Magnussen. Palmer misses the first chicane and drops to last.
Grosjean misses the second chicane, the Haas driver complaining of wing damage.
Bottas makes short work of Stroll to take third in the first chicane, as Verstappen has a puncture following a clash with Massa at the first chicane.
"We have damage, what the **** was he doing," says the Red Bull driver as Vettel appears to have got past his Ferrari teammate.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
Next time around, Bottas makes a similar move on Ocon on the pit straight to take second.
Meanwhile the stewards say they are investigating Verstappen and Stroll, though it was Massa who clashed with the Red Bull.
As the Dutchman pits so too does Grosjean.
After 4 laps, Hamilton leads by 3.6s, with Ocon 2.1s down on Bottas.
The Stewards correct their previous mistake, it is Massa under investigation.
Vettel having 'passed Raikkonen takes Stroll at Ascari and is now up to fourth, 0.77s down on Ocon.
Grosjean is told that his wing endplate was damaged and he was correct to pit.
At the back of the field, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (25.820)
Lap 7 sees Raikkonen miss the first chicane, but the Finn drops to 6th behind Stroll, and now has Massa on his tail.
"Do I have damage on the rear of the car," asks Raikkonen, as Vettel, courtesy of DRS, nails Ocon heading into the first chicane.
A new fastest lap for Bottas (25.287) as he closes to within 2.78s of his teammate.
Ricciardo is up to ninth and hunting down Perez.
No further action is to be taken over the Massa / Verstappen incident.
Hamilton posts a fastest lap (25.262).
Hulkenberg is the first driver to make a 'normal' pit stop, the German pitting at the end of lap 9 and rejoining in 18th on the softs.
Ocon is under pressure from Stroll as Raikkonen keeps a watching eye.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 11, rejoining ahead of Hulkenberg.
After 12 laps, Vettel is 12s down on Hamilton as Mercedes looks set to ruin Ferrari's 70th birthday party.
As he shadows Stroll and Ocon, Raikkonen is clearly unhappy with the rear of his car.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 13, switching to the softs he rejoins in 18th.
Palmer gives Alonso a nudge in what some might say is 'pay back' for the incident at Spa last week. The Spaniard isn't happy, especially as the Briton passed him while cutting the chicane.
Another fastest lap for Hamilton who crosses the line at 25.223.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 15, switching to the softs he rejoins in 11th.
"These upshifts are killing our race," says Alonso. "Understood Fernando, we're looking at it and will see if there's anything we can do," comes the reply.
In response to Raikkonen, Ocon pits next time around. The Frenchman rejoins in 10th ahead of the Finn.
Ricciardo makes a typically great move on Perez at the second chicane as the Stewards reveal they are investigating the Palmer / Alonso incident.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 17, the Canadian rejoining in 11th behind Ocon and Palmer.
Palmer is given a 5s time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
15.9s down on Hamilton, Vettel looks set to leave Monza having lost his championship lead.
That said, the Briton makes a mistake in the second chicane and runs a little wide and kicks up the kitty litter.
Told that Palmer got a 5s penalty, Alonso claims it isn't enough. "A joke," he snaps. "There's nothing we can do," he is told.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
Congratulated on his move on Perez, Ricciardo laughs: "I like them alone and vulnerable."
Ocon passes Vandoorne at the first chicane to take 7th, with Raikkonen following through shortly after.
Massa pits at the end of lap 21, rejoining in 10th, while Raikkonen is all over Ocon.
After 22 laps, it's: Hamilton, Bottas, Vettel, Ricciardo, Perez, Ocon, Raikkonen, Stroll, Vandoorne and Massa. The leading five still to stop.
With hope of a win a distant dream for Vettel, the big fear is Ricciardo who is 15s down on the German but on a more convincing pace.
As Fernando continues to moan about Palmer's penalty, Raikkonen is not making an impression on Ocon.
Massa makes short work of Vandoorne.
For lap after lap Raikkonen closes right up to Ocon on the pit straight but is unable to pass the Force India driver under braking for the chicane.
Finally, at the start of lap 26, Raikkonen finally nails the Frenchman to take 6th.
"The rears are going away and the following is bad," warns Vandoorne who is now in tenth.
Palmer pits and serves his penalty, rejoining in 17th.
Now 22s down on the leader, Vettel warns that his rears are going off.
Verstappen makes his second stop of the afternoon, the Red Bull driver rejoining in 17th on the supersofts.
Having lost out to Raikkonen, Ocon is now under pressure from Stroll.
"We need to box the car, Palmer is told, "we have an issue, we need to retire." "Oh God," sighs the Briton who is the first retirement of the day.
Alonso pits, the Spaniard having previously argued with his team claiming that his battery is empty. He rejoins in 15th.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 31, rejoining in 4th, 10s behind Ricciardo and just ahead of Perez.
Next time around Hamilton pits, handing the lead to teammate Bottas. Perez also stops.
All of which means 'Hammertime' for Bottas who goes quickest in S1 and then finally diving into the pits. He rejoins in second, 3.1s down on his teammate.
Verstappen sweeps by Alonso, as Vandoorne announces "no power" before heading into the pits. Remember, he was running the latest spec engine which was new for today.
Replay shows a clash between Grosjean and Verstappen at the first chicane.
As Grosjean 'effs and blinds', the Stewards note the incident.
Out front, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (24.612) only for Bottas to respond with a 24.234.
After 35 laps, Ricciardo is the only driver still to pit. He is currently 12.7s down on Bottas and 8.2s ahead of Vettel.
Kvyat nails Hulkenberg in the first chicane, and while the Renault driver attempts to retake the position the Russian holds him off at the second chicane.
The stewards will not investigate the Grosjean / Verstappen incident.
Ricciardo finally stops at the end of lap 37, the Australian rejoining in 5th ahead of Ocon. A typically strong drive from the Red Bull driver who is 2.9s down on Raikkonen.
Alonso is still raging about Palmer. When told the Briton has retired, he replies "karma".
Ocon has the two Williams all over his rear.
On fresh rubber, Ricciardo posts a PB (24.095), leaving him 1.063s down on Raikkonen.
Vettel misses the first chicane, a rare mistake from the German.
Sheesh! Ricciardo appears to catch Raikkonen asleep, the Australian giving a masterclass in overtaking under braking to take fourth. Understandably, there is applause in the Red Bull garage... and smiles at Mercedes.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza, here.
The Australian is told that Vettel is 10s up the road and isn't that quick.
"He's eleven up the road, look after him," Ricciardo is told.
Verstappen passes Sainz on the run to the second chicane to take 13th.
A 23.915 sees Ricciardo go quickest as he brings the gap down to 9.2s.
"I feel like I lost a bit of power on that last lap," says Hamilton, currently 3.666s clear of his teammate and 32.4s clear of title rival Vettel.
Having passed Kvyat, Verstappen is just outside the points. Next up on the Red Bull driver's hit list is Magnussen who is 0.31s up the road. He duly nails the Dane in T1.
The Haas driver attempts to re-take the place but overshoots the second chicane in the process. "What is he doing, pushing me off the track," wails the Haas driver. "That was crazy."
After 47 laps (of 53), Ricciardo - now 6s down on Vettel - posts a new fastest lap (23.675).
"Crazy man, it can't be allowed," says Magnussen as the Stewards reveal they are to investigate the incident.
Lap 49 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton, the Briton stopping the clock at 23.542, only for Ricciardo to post a 23.361.
Meanwhile, as they continue to shadow Ocon, Perez has closed up on the rear of the two Williams.
No further action re the Verstappen / Magnussen incident.
Ericsson, currently last, is told to retire his car.
"Back off, back off, we need to retire the car," Alonso is told.
As Hamilton begins his final lap, Ricciardo is 4.48s down on Vettel, the Australian appearing to have had the best his tyres can give.
Hamilton takes the flag with teammate Bottas making it a Mercedes 1-2, the Briton taking the championship for the first time this season and absolutely ruining Ferrari's 70th birthday.
Vettel takes third, and gives a half-hearted wave to the crowd, while Ricciardo takes a hard-earned fourth ahead of Raikkonen.
Though Hamilton has won, there is still a race going on, Perez hunting down the Williams pair, who are actually involved in their own little scrap.
Despite Massa's best efforts, Stroll holds him off to take seventh behind Ocon, Massa taking eighth ahead of Perez and Verstappen.
Magnussen is eleventh, ahead of Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Grosjean and Wehrlein.
"Last 15 or 20 laps, after I went off, something was wrong," Vettel tells his crew, "so that's why I went up and down on the engine."
Hamilton runs to his team, the Briton and his teammate having done serious damage to Ferrari today.
"That looked easy," Hamilton is told in the ante room. "It's never easy," he replies.
There's great camaraderie once again between Vettel and Hamilton. The German admits he had an issue at the end, but then slaps the Briton on the back and says "You weren't pushing".
Indeed, both Mercedes turned the wick down quite early in the race.
Despite the fact their boys could only manage third and fifth, the Tifosi parties like its 1999, the track a sea of red.
Needless to say, when told he is leading the championship, the reaction from the crowd is somewhat mixed.
As Jean Alesi steps forward to interview Vettel, the crowd cheers as though the German had led home a Ferrari 1-2 and left Mercedes 3 laps behind.
The German addresses the crowd in Italian - which always goes down well - unlike Hamilton's final comment... the Briton suggesting that Mercedes power is best.
Next up Singapore... where Mercedes usually struggles.