Our 5 lessons from the Italian Grand Prix

1. We need to resolve the issue of limit switches!

Make no mistake. The whistles against Max Verstappen at the end of the Grand Prix were mainly addressed to the race direction. The tifosi were robbed at the end of the race finished under safety car regime. Absolutely, there is no scandal. The regulations were respected: we do not resume the race until danger on the track, in this case the car stopped Daniel Ricciardo, is always present. Could the intervention have been quicker? Of course, but the commissioners are volunteers, it must still be remembered. And above all, the McLaren of the Australian never wanted to go back to neutral, which would have allowed her to be pushed into the loophole. In short, no regulatory concerns to deplore, but at a time when Liberty advocates absolute spectacle, perhaps the regulations should be reviewed to prevent races from ending under neutralization... No one proposed an automatic red flag in the last ten laps of a Grand Prix for any incident requiring the release of a safety car. Why not... you just need consistency, and a clear decision! 

The safety car brought life to the end of the race at Monza. © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

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2. Nyck De Vries is ready for F1

Since his title of champion of F2 in 2019, his name came up time and time again – more or less seriously – as a potential candidate for many seats, which he ultimately never got. Three years later, the Dutchman finally got his chance in F1, thanks to a combination of circumstances by replacing the unfortunate Alex Albon, victim of an attack of appendicitis. The Dutchman was simply astonishing, entering Q2 for his first qualification by beating his teammate who held the position, Nicholas latifi, before finishing 9th in the race with two points up for grabs! An extraordinary baptism of fire for this circuit all-rounder, brilliant in WEC and champion of Formula E in 2021. If the Italian Grand Prix was a statement of intent, then De Vries sent quite a message. If he wants to join the grid in 2023, he has put all the chances on his side by showing that he is ready for the big leap. Williams Will she jump at the chance? 

Everyone wanted to congratulate @nyckdevries on his awesome debut in Monza! 🥰#ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/NGmULQtK3m

- Formula 1 (@ F1) September 11, 2022

3. Ferrari still suffers from a lack of pace on Sunday

It’s a scene that has been repeated almost every Saturday at press conferences since the French Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz et Charles Leclerc, galvanized by the encouraging rhythm of their Ferrari in qualifying (pole for Leclerc), expressed their confidence for Sunday, arguing that the relays carried out loaded with gasoline “look good”. And then, on Sunday, it’s disillusionment. There Red Bull eats its tires less, while the Ferrari devours them like an ogre. From Hungary, before the truce, Binotto makes no secret of it: beyond strategic errors, what poses a problem is the intrinsic rhythm of the car. It was enough to see to what extent Charles Leclerc, on almost new soft tires, was unable to gain time from Max Verstappen on Mediums older by nine laps at the end of the race. As a result, aware of its lack of pace, the Scuderia had to try an aggressive strategy to give itself a chance of winning. In vain.

This podium! 😍🇮🇹

Thank you #Fans!#esseFerrari 🟡 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/3n7LzCIYeU

- Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 11, 2022

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4. The Mercedes definitely doesn’t like fast tracks

In absolute terms, the Italian Grand Prix was almost a good surprise for Mercedes. After conceding 1"8 to Max Verstappen in qualifying in Belgium, and also a good performance in the race on Sunday in the Ardennes two weeks earlier, Mercedes expected to suffer enormously at Monza, on a track which gives pride of place to top speed and which requires little aerodynamic downforce. After being invited into the race for victory in Zandvoort the previous week, the brand with the star suffered again in Lombardy. So of course, George Russell signed a new podium, but the Briton had a long Sunday alone on the track, taking advantage of the engine penalties inflicted in particular on Carlos Sainz and Checo Perez so as not to have to look in your mirrors, and without having the pace to bother Verstappen and Leclerc. After Spa and Monza, the results are indisputable: the Mercedes really doesn't like fast tracks and long straights. Singapore should be a little more advantageous in this regard. 

The Mercedes of George Russell was quickly swallowed up by the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. © DPPI

5. Alpine not at the party in Italy 

Stoppage for the stableenstone in Monza! For the first time in eleven races, Alpine did not score a single point during a Grand Prix. The last time this happened? It was... in Italy, already, on April 24 near Imola in Emilia-Romagna. It seems that the brand born in the Alps, on the Italian border, has a problem with beautiful Italy! More seriously, Fernando Alonso was forced to abandon, due to a water pressure problem, whileEsteban Ocon finished in 11th position, close to the points after receiving five penalty places on the grid. The French team conceded six points to McLaren over the entire weekend, maintaining an advantage of eighteen points before heading to Singapore. 

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