Lessons from the Monza Grand Prix
Super rookie mixes up Formula 1
09/12/2022 7:32 am
There is no big show this time, at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monza, safety comes first. This annoys the local Ferrari fans in particular, because Charles Leclerc can no longer try to attack Max Verstappen. Further back, someone unexpectedly sits in the cockpit – and can be celebrated.
Rules and safety still more important than show
Finishing a Formula 1 race behind the safety car goes against the nature of a sport that focuses on action, speed and wheel-to-wheel duels. In a place like Monza, on a course that is world-renowned as a high-speed temple, it seems almost nonsensical. “The race could have been released for the show faster,” said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. The one who suffered was his star Charles Leclerc, who no longer got the final chance to overtake Max Verstappen. Daniel Ricciardo’s car was parked at the side of the track because it was in gear, there was nothing to push. And the towing took too long due to the local conditions, the salvage crane couldn’t get there that quickly. The world association emphasized again: Safety has top priority. That it affected the end of the race was bad for the show, but somehow, for all the show, Formula 1 is a sport by rules.
Verstappen has no weakness
He had these phases in his career in which his unrestrained ambition sometimes got the better of him. In Monza a year ago, for example. Verstappen crashed into the Mercedes of then defending champion Lewis Hamilton and ended up with the Red Bull on the Silver Arrow. Hamilton was very fortunate, including that the Halo cockpit protection has been around for a number of years, despite so many initially being opposed to it. The impetuous Max Verstappen will become more and more of the past with every race this year. The Dutchman is simply unstoppable this year – and he no longer limits his size himself. His Red Bull is strong, but Verstappen is even stronger. The 24-year-old proved that once again in Monza, he simply has no weaknesses. That’s good for Verstappen, of course, but bad for Formula 1. After the exciting fight for the world championship last year, boredom prevails this time, and he could successfully defend the title in the next race. This is reminiscent of the paralyzing superiority of Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton in their prime.
A newbie in luck
On Friday, the Dutchman sat in training as a test driver in the Aston Martin, on Saturday he suddenly had to get into a Williams – because regular driver Alex Albon had to have his appendix removed. But even without preparation, de Vries easily outperformed his teammate Nicholas Latifi in qualifying. In the race, the rookie then sensationally took ninth place and thus two points. No wonder the fans voted the 27-year-old Driver of the Day. His colleagues also paid tribute to him afterwards, everyone wanted to hug him or at least pat him on the back. “Incredible,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff on Sky. “Get in the box in the 3rd free practice session, qualify ahead of your teammates and score points easily and casually. And that without training – so it’s really good.”
It wasn’t that easy, everything was actually new for de Vries: “The engineer said to him: ‘Do this and that setting.’ Then he asked: ‘How is that?'” said Williams team boss Jost Capito and enthused: “It was great, he really did everything right. He did it fantastically.” The celebrated said: “I slept badly, so much went through my head,” said de Vries at ORF. “But I felt good right after the start. I’m so happy that I took the chance.”
What else should Schumacher do?
He was only able to do 17 practice laps. Either he had to give up his car or this one mucked. He started from 17th place. And he finished 12th. In the end, contrary to his own expectations, things didn’t go so badly, actually quite well considering his penalty for the starting grid and the technical problems with his car in practice. Only with the points it didn’t work out for Schumacher again, but he needs them for a new contract for the coming season. A “fantastic job”, said team manager Günther Steiner to his 23-year-old German pilot. But he continued to tease: “He lacks consistency.” Mattia Binotto, Ferrari team boss, whose junior academy Mick Schumacher (still) belongs to, said after the race: “It’s difficult to judge your performance at the weekend. We still have a few races, then we’ll sit down and draw balance sheet and hopefully make the best decision for his future.” After all: Williams seems to be another option. In any case, team boss Jost Capito flirted publicly with the 23-year-old in Monza.
Vettel drives towards the sad farewell
In 2008, the Heppenheimer surprisingly clinched his first victory from pole position in the actually inferior Toro Rosso Ferrari in Monza – as the youngest driver in history at the time. Well, to say goodbye to the “Temple of Speed”, the 35-year-old experienced a great disappointment. After a few kilometers his Aston Martin broke down and the race was over for him. “It’s still a special place for me,” said Vettel, who ended his career after the season: “But I won’t remember today.” Vettel’s farewell tour from Formula 1 at the age of 35 becomes a side event, the four-time world champion struggles to retire.