Well, as is being widely reported, this year's Italian Grand Prix surely represents the final chance for Button and Vettel to demonstrate that their respective teams should not throw their full weight behind their teammate's title aspirations. Also, Alsono will desperately need a result to remain a credible challenger heading into the final five race stretch.

Will this be the third Monza meeting in a row where there is the spectre of wet weather running (all weekend in 2008 and the GP2 feature race in 2009) or will it be dry?

Will Renault / Force India get in amongst the title contending teams to take some valuable points from those in contention for the WDC?

How will Ferrari cope at their home track in front of the Tifosi, after what has been a difficult season (and what could be a devastating convening of the WMSC in Paris next week)?

On that matter, if Ferrari are DSQd from the German GP, and the team lose driver and constructor points, the WDC table will be revised as follows

1 Lewis Hamilton 200 182 + 18
2 Mark Webber 191 179 + 12
3 Sebastien Vettel 176 151 + 25
4 Jenson Button 162 147 + 15
5 Fernando Alonso 116 141 - 25

So, if this doomsday scenario (for Ferrari) came to pass, then it massively aids Vettel (who as we know is Bernie's golden child of the moment), as he would only be fifteen points behind Webber (versus twenty-three), and Button would probably have to accept he was now rear gunner for Lewis (38 points behind) albeit in the knowledge that a DNF/DNS for Lewis anywhere would be his way back into the title fight (provided he scores a podium finish in that race).

So, with the race 12 days away, I thought we could begin our discussion as to what the weekend will bring and what it means to the various contenders...

If ferrari lose their points the others dont gain themk. They are just lost points. So no one gains, Ferrari just lose. and it won't happen because bernie won't let it happen on the wednesday of Monza.

I hear what you are saying (if the punishment is limited to a docking of points), but if Ferrari were formally disqualified from the German GP, wouldn't the rest of the field need to be moved up by two places?

Plus, I would be surprised if Ferrari would take such a punishment lying down, and F1 doesn't need a protracted legal fight over this issue following 07's "Spygate", and 09's "Crashgate" and the FOTA/FIA war...

Yes but they won't disqualify them, they will just take their points away. Theyre more likely to be told to paint their cars pink for Monza than be disqualified so others gain their lost points.

Corrected for bad maths!

1 Lewis Hamilton 188 182 + 6
2 Mark Webber 183 179 + 4
3 Sebastien Vettel 161 151 + 10
4 Jenson Button 152 147 + 5
5 Fernando Alonso 116 141 - 25

I genuinely think Sutil can challenge for the win here. That Force India was mighty in a straight line at Spa.

I would put my money on Alonso. If McLaren struggle over the kerbs at the first and second chicane then Ferrari should be in a good position to win.

I feel that Mclaren will be the best car in Monza, so Hamilton should win this race with Button in the second place. Monza will be Red Bull's weakest track of the year, so they will struggle to be on the podium. The Ferrari will be fast but a bit slower than the Mclaren but maybe an inspired Alonso who will debut as a Ferrari driver in front of the Italian crowd will mark the difference.

Watch out for Renault with Kubica and Force India with Sutil!

My prediction:

1. Hamilton
2. Button
3. Alonso
4. Massa
5. Vettel
6. Kubica
7. Sutil
8. Rosberg
9. Kobayashi
10. Barrichello

Webber: DNF (I hope I'm wrong, but I feel that he won't finish the race)

Thanks for steering the thread away from the WMSC business (did not want that to become the focus).

I agree McLaren will be very strong here, (as Monza and Montreal are very similar - long fast straights and slow corners which aren't heavily aero dependent).

Hopefully, it will be Jenson and not Lewis getting the win, and for the good of the championship, I think it would be great if the podium was

1 Button
2 Alonso
3 Vettel

With Webber and Hamilton tripping over one another at the Rettifilo on Lap 1 causing them to retire from the race (after qualifying on the front row)!

Leaving aside what may happen in Paris, this would mean the following for the WDC table

1 Hamilton 182
2 Webber 179
3 Button 172 147 + 25
4 Vettel 166 151 + 15
5 Alonso 159 141 + 18

this is a huge race for jenson he is very good round monza i think he will just edge hamilton with sutil on the last place on the podium

my prediction
1.button
2.hamilton
3.sutil
4.alonso
5.kubica
6.vettel
7.webber
8.petrov
9.liuzzi
10.rubens
massa dnf

1. Hamilton
2. Button
3. Vettel
4. Webber
5. Sutil
6. Alonso
7. Massa
8. Kubica

I hope that Sutil can fight the top teams, but it is more likely that McLaren and Red Bull will have the upper hand in qualy (and probably race pace as well). We could see a good fight between the Ferraris, Sutil and Kubica though.

A Ferrari win. Hamilton is going to do something stupid.

Silverstone 1000km and Phillip Island 500 on the same weekend, there's no freaking way I'm switching over to this snorefest. Sutil might get some good results, thou.

my hoped prediction..

Hamilton
Button
Alonso
Sutil
Massa
Luizzi
Webber

DNF: Vettel

my hoped prediction..

Webber
Button
Alonso
Sutil
Massa
Luizzi
Webber

DNF: Hamilton

Webber in two cars?

Serves me right for copying ya huh? But oh how I laughed!

haha so did i

He had 6 wives - why can't he give Webber an extra car?

So far, it is going to be dry, but that could change over the next two weeks. http://www.accuweather.com/en-us/it/lombar.../forecast2.aspx

well, when you put it like that, webber in two would be good no vettel= no stupid crashes

and i meant for that to be a suprised face but it doesnt look very suprised on this forum

I wouldn't put a peny on Ferrari suffering anything more severe than a reprimand, or something like that.

For Monza, I believe Red Bull are massively underestimating themselves just to sure whatever they get from the race seems satisfactory. But I still remember them being terrific wherever there were chincanes this season and Monza has three of them plus three corners in which downforce is relatively important. In all probability, it'll be like Montreal, with the top three teams all very close to one another. But it will be straightforward with the tyres.

indeed! I sure hope he wins, but with the Macca engine and f-duct it's gonna be hard

This is the only race of the year where I expect Red Bull to genuinely struggle. So far they have had the fastest or second fastest car at every circuit, I don't think that will be the case here. For McLaren it is imperative that Hamilton wins (despite what has been said, they will put all their efforts behind Lewis now) and I think he will. Ferrari should be faster than Red Bull and I think the Force India will be right up there to.

My prediction

1. Hamilton
2. Alonso
3. Button.
4. Webber
5. Massa
6. Sutil
7. Vettel.
8. Kubica

I am slightly concerned about the MP4-25 over the kerbs at the chicanes but I was too at Montreal and they were pretty good there.

Didn't McLaren claimed that F-Duct is pointless on Monza and they will don't use it? Similar statements are comming from Renault

I think McLaren are going to be okay over the kerbs,every car is designed to handle them and on the other hand they dont jump the kerbs as much as they were before because of the changes to the track. Force India will surprise.

Don't know to be honest,

Okay I get it that you are (in a backhanded way) saying that the two events you listed have a higher priority in your motorsport tv diary, but "snorefest"?

Not a word I would ever use to describe Monza where slipstreaming is still just about possible and there are at least three legit passing points

1 Rettifilo chicane
2 Variante della Roggia
3 Curva Parabolica

Yes, an initial statement said it wouldn't be used as the benefits were marginal due to the very low level of wing needed at Monza. Then they said they may use it after all. So I think they will, but it may not bring that much of a benefit. Most people seem to think that the general characteristics of the circuit (ie a low downforce circuit) very much play to the strengths of the McLaren chassis. We'll find out soon if that is true or not I guess.

Mclaren>Sutil>Ferrari>Mercedes>Kubica>RedBull

1. Mclaren had a winning car here in 4 of the last 5 races
2. Sutil had a great race with the FI in Spa, last year FI was good at Monza.
3. Ferrari they were always close with the top speed
4. Mercedes, last year the Brawn was nowhere in Spa but then had a 1-2 in Monza.
5. Kubica is doing great with Renault but Monza will be hard for them
6. RedBull, the car produces a ton of downforce but it also produces alot of drag, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them doesn't make it inti Q3

Because endurance races have so much action going on.... Oh wait!


I have a feeling that McLaren will screw something up which will let Alonso back in the WDC. I'm hoping that RBR are very slow here (behind Renault, for example) but I doubt it.

If the race stays dry I expect it to be dullsville with McLaren in front and Sutil or Kubica pulling a surprise result being the main point of interest.

I'll go all out and predict a Sutil pole.

Hamilton
Sutil
Webber
Button
Vettel
Massa
Kubica

Alonso will drop it again

I think this is a bit of an exaggeration. The bulls weren't supposed to be too good in Spa, yet Webber took pole, and Vettel claimed 4th position, so I wouldn't discount them in qualifying. In the race, however, I can certainly seem them struggling a bit.

Monza will mean poor fuel economy and the Renault engine apparently has the best fuel economy, so the Bulls and the Renault should be able to start the race lighter than their competitors.

I seriously doubt they will especially with Whitmarsh in charge. It will be full on racing until the bitter end, and even if Button couldn't win the WDC, I would be surprised if he didn't race Hamilton even then.

Nobody can touch Mclaren because of Mercedes. Force India will also be strong. Red Bull will probably suffer unfortunately.

Last year, Renault engine had the best fuel economy, but Red Bull was awful at Monza...

9 and 10 in quali..

Vettel finished 8..

How will alonso go knowing his is already onto engine 7?

McLarens by miles away, Renaults/ForceIndia/Bulls. Ferrari after Belgium I don't know where they will be. Alonso is very good at Monza but let's not forget how the car performed in Belgium.
My money are on McLaren.

Not too bad in Massa's hands.

Except there are no KERS equipped cars this year and that should make things more equal in qualifying.
I don't expect Red Bull to be 9-10 this time and they have been fantastic over kerbs and bumps this year.

I'm pretty sure Monza will be between Ferrari and McLaren, and I think it will be a tight battle. The Ferrari shouldn't be much slower on the straights, if at all, but there is a question mark over McLaren's ability to ride the kerbs. I think they'll only lose out noteworthy at the second chicane.

I think Red Bull are biting their nails, 'cause they will likely not be a convincing threat for Ferrari and McLaren. Instead they will have to race Renault and Force India. Best case scenario in a normal run race, is I think, beating one Ferrari and one McLaren. Worst case scenario could be as bad as eight place!

But Brawn GP had no KERS

I´m expecting a walk in the park for the Macs. With Jenson keeping the Ferraris at bay while Lewis will be cruising.

Not very pleasant for the championship, but Lewis fans will love it.

Yes, but would the McLarens and Kimi have ben so much stronger than Red Bull without it? The McLaren was still a dog and the Ferrari wasn't much better at all.

yeah...he'll be starting from the lesmos!

Monza will be McLaren's territory. Ferrari will be the 2nd fastest team,Kubica,Sutil and Bulls will fight to take 5th place. I think Monza will be a great chance for McLarens to further open the gap with red bull.

My logic says:

1-Hamilton
2-Button
3-Alonso
4-Massa
5-Vettel
6-Kubica
7-Sutil
8-Webber
9-Rosberg
10-Schumacher

My logic says that Vettel is either on the podium or in the barriers So I would say:

1. Hamilton
2. Sutil
3. Button
4. Alonso
5. Kubica
6. Massa
7. Webber
8. Petrov
9. Liuzzi
10. Kobayashi

What about Barrichello in the mix? Williams are improving and it's one of his strongest tracks, if not the strongest.

Red Bulls will be strong at Monza like they were at all tracks this season, though I believe McLaren will be team to beat there. Renault and Force India will be fighting around 4-6 place, so:
1. Hamilton
2. Vettel
3. Webber
4. Button
5. Kubica ( although I hope a little bit higher )
6. Alonso
7. Sutli
......