Pressiteade
Anytriple header is challenging, preparing for three different circuits and racingevery weekend, but our good result in Zandvoort and the euphoric Dutchatmosphere made last weekend very enjoyable. Monza brings a different challengeas it’s very high-speed, low downforce and with heavy braking zones after thelong straights. As a team, we’ve scored points in all the races this yearexcept the first one, so we aim to extend that run through to this race.
Whatare the team’s thoughts on the latest Formula 1 Sprint Qualifying?
We’realso looking forward to the second Sprint Qualifying event of the year afterthe first trial of the format in Silverstone. We played a huge part in thesuccess of the Sprint in Silverstone with both drivers making moves throughoutthat race. After the electric crowd in Zandvoort, we’re excited to go racing infront of the passionate Italian fans, albeit in a reduced capacity. Monza isalways unique for its atmosphere and it will be special to experience that onceagain.
Howmight Qualifying play out on Friday?
Whilein Zandvoort drivers were trying to find a gap in the traffic to have a lap inclean air, in Monza it will be the opposite as there is lap time to gain fromgetting a tow from the car in front. The aim is not to be first on track andwe’ve seen some games played out over the years there and this year’s Fridaynight session will be no different.
Italianat heart
Italyis a special place for Esteban Ocon. After making it four consecutive pointsscoring finishes in Zandvoort, he heads to Monza aiming to make it five in arow as Formula 1 prepares for its second Sprint Qualifying.
Whatdo you like about the Autodromo Nazionale Monza?
Monzais a great circuit. As a team, we go there feeling quite confident and aimingto be competitive. Our low downforce package has shown to be quite strong sohopefully we can start quickly on Friday and have a solid baseline for us torefine. The main challenges of Monza are straight line speed and heavy braking.Another challenge will be the Sprint Qualifying. It’s important we qualify wellon Friday to give ourselves a chance in both the races. I enjoyed the format inSilverstone and hopefully this one will be just as good.
Howclose is Italy to you?
Ialways enjoy going to Italy. I’ve spent a lot of time there in my life since Ilived in the country during my Formula 3 career with PREMA Racing and a lot ofmy karting was there as a kid. I speak Italian, I love Italian food, so I’mprobably almost half Italian! In terms of my memories of Monza, I have somegood ones. In 2017, I started the race from third and in 2018, I qualified andfinished in sixth. Last year, as a team, we were competitive at Monza in anaction-packed race. We probably deserved a little more than the end result, butthe pace was positive, and the aim is to take that into this year.
Whatare your thoughts on last week’s race at Zandvoort?
It’s the final race ofa busy triple header. I really enjoyed Zandvoort last week. The atmosphere wasincredible all weekend and that was cool to experience. We were competitive anddelivered an important team result. I was disappointed to lose a place so lateon, but we continued our points run and the target is to keep that going. Bringon Monza!
CiaoFernando
FernandoAlonso returns to the temple of speed for his eighteenth appearance at Monzafor this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. A two-time race winner in Monza,Fernando will look to build on his sixth-place finish at last weekend’s DutchGrand Prix.
You’vewon in Monza twice before, what does it take to win a race there?
Ienjoy racing in Monza. It’s a very fast and flowing circuit and when you findthe right set-up and rhythm it can be a very enjoyable lap. To win thererequires a car that has good straight-line speed due to the high-speed natureof the circuit. It’s a very low downforce circuit and our only real comparisonso far this year is Belgium when it was dry. The race itself usually feels likeit’s over very quickly and with the amazing atmosphere you have to enjoy everyminute of it. It’s also a place where overtaking is possible, so it’ll makeSaturday and Sunday even more exciting with the Sprint Qualifying format.
Youpulled off some impressive overtaking moves during the Dutch Grand Prix, whatdid you take away from the weekend?
Overall,I was pleased with how it went. We had a solid weekend and scored double pointsfor the team. There were a few moments at the start of the race, and we werequite lucky not to have any serious damage after being hit by a number of cars.It’s the risks you take when the circuit is so tight and fast. The rest of therace was relatively standard for us and our execution was good. We were able tocatch Carlos Sainz at the end thanks to the tyre performance. It was a verysatisfying overtake as earlier in the race I didn’t think we had the pace tocatch the Ferraris. I enjoyed racing at Zandvoort with all of the Dutchfans adding to an amazing atmosphere.
We’vehad three quite traditional circuits in a row, do you prefer racing on thesetracks?
Racing in places likeSpa, Zandvoort and Monza is good for Formula 1 as these are places with lots ofhistory and passion for the sport. Monza in particular is a place where you canreally feel the history, it’s almost alive in a way. You enjoy these types ofraces for different reasons. I think it’s important that the sport always staysin places like this, but it’s also good we try new venues and races. I think wehave a good mix of new and old on the calendar currently.
Formula2 title battle resumes in Monza
AlpineAcademy drivers Guanyu Zhou, Oscar Piastri and Christian Lundgaard return for thefifth round of the 2021 FIA Formula 2 season in Monza. The trio are back inaction after more than a month since the championship’s previous round atSilverstone.
Oscarand Zhou head into the second half of the season as the current front runnersfor this year’s championship. The pair have shared four wins and ten podiumsbetween them, over the course of the previous four rounds. Christian, who isfresh from his involvement in IndyCar, will look to continue his positivemomentum after impressing across the other side of the Atlantic.
Withfour rounds to go, Oscar in his Rookie year in Formula 2 leads the Drivers’ Championshipon 108 points with Zhou only five points behind in second. Christian currentlyfinds himself twelfth on 28 points.
GuanyuZhou: “The Italian Grand Prix is a race weekendI am always excited for. Last year I had good pace in Monza and it’s a track whereyou have to maximise everything. The slipstream you get down the straightscould make qualifying quite unpredictable and as we’ve seen in previous yearsthe queuing on the final corner will be a big challenge. The race is always entertaining,and I can’t wait to go there and get back to it.”
OscarPiastri: “I can’t wait to get racing again. Thebreak has been a good reset, but I’m more than ready to drive now! Monza alwaysprovides some great racing, and with the crowds back it’s going to be anexciting atmosphere as well. It’s my team’s home race, so hopefully we can havea good weekend. If the first half of the season is anything to go by, we shouldbe in good stead.”
ChristianLundgaard: “It will be awesome to get back to racing.It’s been a while since Silverstone and I’m looking forward to getting back inthe car. The IndyCar race was great fun and I am excited to see what we can usefrom the experience. Monza went pretty well last year and I’m confident we cando something great again this year.”
Tyres:
Hard, C2 (White)
Esteban– 2
Fernando- 2
Medium, C3 (Yellow)
Esteban– 3
Fernando- 3
Soft, C4 (Red)
Esteban– 8
Fernando– 8
Esteban Ocon
Starts – 4
Points - 20
Average Points – 5
Fastest Qualifying – 1:20.234 (2020)
Fastest Lap – 1:24.179 (2018)
Best Finish – 6th (2017, 2018)
Best Grid Position – 3rd (2017)
Fernando Alonso
Starts - 17
Points – 101
Average Points – 5.94
Fastest Qualifying – 1:20.645(2004)
Fastest Lap – 1:22.146(2005)
Best Finish – 1st(2007, 2010)
Best Grid Position – 1st(2007, 2010)
Renault-powered cars in Italy
Starts - 163
Wins - 8
Podiums - 19
Pole Positions - 11
Fastest Laps - 6
Total points - 385
