FOR many, Monza is the most exciting race on the calendar. The enthusiasts at the track are on a different level to anywhere else and the blood red Tefosi, as we know them live, eat, talk and walk Ferrari.
Let’s hope that Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa can deliver the goods this weekend for their Italian fans.
Ferrari should do well as the car had good pace at Spa and should have that something extra for their home race.
The Vettel factor is, however, the problem as the German is on a high and driving to the best of his tremendous ability in a very good Red Bull car designed by wonder man Adrian Newey.
The great thing about Monza is that it is a slip-streamer’s paradise so anyone who is in the groove and within the pack can spring a surprise and win the race as Peter Gethin did in his BRM back in the ’70s.
This makes Monza wonderfully exciting. Hence, if the top boys hold onto Vettel, any one of a number of them can win the race.
Besides Ferrari and Vettel, who are the other contenders? I must put Mercedes first with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg equally strong contenders.
If the Mercedes drivers can manage their tyres well they have a very good chance of seeing the chequered flag as soon as anybody else.
Mark Webber is still the wildcard who could spring a surprise before he leaves to join Porche in sports car racing. He would love to make his mark at Monza and is more than capable of doing so.
Kimi Raikkonen has super reactions and top-notch ability and will stripstream par excellence if he gets a show in.
He’s another driver who can also take the laurels, while his ever improving teammate Romain Grosjean won’t be far behind.
Incidentally, Lotus says that Kimi’s future is not all about money but the best car and engine for 2014 as he is very determined to regain the world championship.
He has stated that if he is to stay at Lotus they have to raise their level of priority with Renault so as not to be just another customer team but to get special consideration from the French giant.
It is rumoured that Kimi is being sought after by Ferrari while Red Bull have made up their minds to take Daniel Ricciardo from their junior team Torro Rosso.
Although McLaren has shown improvement recently it is doubtful that Jenson Button, with his great skill and smooth driving, can make up for the slight lack in top performance shown by the car so far.
The same goes for Sergio Perez although it won’t be from the lack of trying.
Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber and either Paul Di Resta or Adrian Sutil at Force India could also spring a surprise.
It should be a hot race with hopefully no serious problems with the tyres, especially since the Italian Pirelli don’t want any loss of face at home.
Qualifying is on at Saturday at 2pm and the race on Sunday at 2pm.
