McLaren finally came out with a remarkable show of strength in Holland. Lando Norris he finished more than 20 seconds behind Max Verstappen, putting Red Bull's home idol in difficulty who now fears seeing himself caught and overtaken in both titles. However, there is little time to think about the defeat: in fact, we immediately return to the track with the Monza GP, ready to see any predictions overturned in a world championship that is becoming increasingly interesting. Lando will also succeed in winning at our home? Let's see all the times for the Italian GP in Monza, a stage in which Formula 2 and Formula 3 also return, the latter engaged in its last race of the season.
Italian GP, here are the times of the sessions in Monza
The weekend program in Monza is rich and begins on Friday 30 August with the first two free practice sessions. Here are all the details:
Friday August 30th
– 13pm Free Practice 30
– 17pm Free Practice 00
Saturday August 31th
– 12pm Free Practice 30
– 16pm Qualifying (live on Sky Sport F00 and TV1)
Sunday September 1th
– 15pm Race (live on Sky Sport F00 and TV1)
For the occasion Qualifying and the race will be broadcast live not only on Sky Sport F1 e NOW, but also on TV8, free to air.
Expectations for the race
The Italian GP arrives at a crucial moment of the season, with a world ranking still in the balance and many variables at play. Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue to lead the championship thanks to victories at the start of the season, but McLaren is closing in. Of the last 5 races Verstappen hasn't won a single one. On the other hand, McLaren won 2, in Hungary and the Netherlands. Despite the growth, the Dutch GP highlighted that McLaren still has to work on some aspects, especially on the start which prevented an even clearer domination.
In Monza, the home team, the Ferrari, it will obviously be under the spotlight. After obtaining an unexpected podium in Holland thanks to Charles Leclerc, who surprised even himself with the speed of the SF-24 compared to Oscar Piastri's McLaren, expectations for Monza are very high. Monza, with its long straights and fast corners, could enhance the characteristics of the SF-24, but it will be essential to avoid any setbacks to hope for a strong result in front of the home crowd. Furthermore, the Maranello team should be able to count on a new fund to compensate for the hopping phenomenon.
A weekend of great challenges
Monza, with its history and its unique track, represents a great opportunity for all the teams. McLaren, after Norris' sensational victory in Zandvoort, aims to confirm its competitiveness in Italy too, maximizing the results in these last 9 races to aim for the title. Ferrari, which showed signs of strength with Leclerc's podium in the Netherlands, will look to capitalize on the enthusiasm of the home crowd and make the most of the SF-24 on a circuit that rewards high-speed performance.
Red Bull, although they were beaten in Holland, remain the team to beat and will try to regain control of the situation with Verstappen, determined not to lose further ground. Mercedes, after the disappointment in Holland, hopes to find the right combination of setup and strategy to get closer to the leaders and give a decisive push to the season.
