Today, the qualification for the Grand Prix of Italy is on the schedule, and it promises to be a thriller. The historic circuit is famous for its long straights and high speeds, and given the field is very close together, a small mistake is immediately severely punished.
During the second free practice yesterday, the first seventeen drivers were within one second of each other. This proves that the margin for error in Monza is virtually zero. We spoke in the paddock with former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber and asked what is required for the pole position today in the Temple of Speed.
“You need slipstream,” states the manager Oscar Piastri bluntly. The qualification promises to be a tactical chess game, with drivers seeking each other out to ride in each other’s favorable airstream. But even with perfect preparation, the fight for pole position is particularly tough, warns Webber. “The field is so incredibly close together, it’s already difficult to make it to Q2. You really need to have everything in order for a good lap and drive at the limit.”
