Pre Race

TEMPLE OF SPEED

Are you ready for another Formula 1 race? Of course, you are. Just one week after the Dutch Grand Prix, the cars are back on track for the Italian Grand Prix, held at the historic Monza – also known as the Temple of Speed – this weekend. And while the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team waves the American flag, the team’s heart beats for Italy, as the Formula 1 cars’ engines are produced by Ferrari in Maranello, just a few hours’ drive from Monza.

“Monza is a historic race and track with a unique atmosphere. The vibe there with the Tifosi, the ultra-passionate fans, is something special, so I’m looking forward to that and the unique type of racing Monza offers with the long straights,” says Kevin Magnussen.

“Hopefully, we’ll be competitive there; our car has been quick on straights. It’s unique because there are some high-speed corners and it’s low downforce, so the car is dancing around a little more, and it’s always a different feeling driving the car around Monza. Mechanically, it’s quite important to get the car dialed in. There are some new changes to the track, especially the curbs, which are going to be significant because if they change, you may be able to use them differently, and that will change the feel of the track.”

DID YOU KNOW THAT … Constructed in just 110 days, Autodromo Nazionale Monza was the world’s third purpose-built racetrack when it was finished in 1922. The original circuit featured a daunting series of banked curves, as well as much of the ‘outfield’ section that’s still in use today. Formula 1’s fastest-ever lap was set at Monza when Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya reached an average speed of 260.6 km/h during practice for the 2004 Grand Prix – which should give you some idea of the nature of the track the locals call ‘La Pista Magica’!

Quali Day

RACE DAY IN MONZA

Our favorite Formula 1 driver, Kevin Magnussen, will start the Italian Grand Prix from P13 after Saturday’s qualifying, where the Danish race ace was knocked out in Q2. What happened? Here’s a quick recap from K-Mag:

“In Q1, the Williams went off in front of me, and there was so much dust I didn’t know if he was off the track or on – I couldn’t see anything – so that lap was ruined. It’s very important to get a slipstream here, it can give you three-tenths, and I went out behind the two Alpines, but they did a prep lap, so I ended up without a tow, completely on my own. That margin is what I’m missing for Q3, but P13 isn’t too far away from the top 10, and we can do something from there.”

Race Recap

“Happy with the race, disappointed with the penalty”

Mixed feelings for Kevin Magnussen as he both earned a point and a race ban in the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Despite a 10-second penalty due to a collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, the Dane still managed to finish 10th and score a point. Unfortunately, Magnussen also collected two penalty points for the collision with the Frenchman, meaning he will now serve a one-race suspension in Azerbaijan, having accumulated the maximum of 12 penalty points in a 12-month period.

“I’m happy with our race, but I’m disappointed with the penalty. I made slight contact with Pierre Gasly at Turn 4, and we both missed the corner, but there was no damage to either car; it had no consequence, plus we were racing. But again, I’m happy with today’s point, the balance and performance in the car, our strategy – we can take that with us from Monza,” said K-Mag.