FIA Formula 1 World Championship 2016 – Round 14 – Formula 1 Grand Prix Heineken of Italy

Italian Grand Prix – Monza, 4 September

Posted: 04.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Maurizio Arrivabene: ”Today we did our best, especially at the start which was very good. We chose the fastest possible strategy for the race, trying to achieve the best possible result. It was a good race, but of course we would have liked to do much better, as a way to pay back our fantastic fans who never failed to give us their support and were always close to us, in particular here in our home race at Monza. The team worked well and unitedly, both here and in Maranello, and we’ve seen some positive signs. Now the focus has already shifted to the next round at Singapore.”

Kimi Raikkonen: ”I think that today we were closer to our rivals than we expected after qualifying. Obviously we were on different tactics, but we did the correct things, the right choice with tires and the fastest race we could. We had a pretty good speed but we were not fast enough for gaining a better position. Fourth position is not exactly what we were looking for, but this is not the easiest circuit for us against the Mercedes, and we did our maximum. With Sebastian we were more or less driving behind each other and when you race against your teammate there’s not much that you can do, we both know what the other guy is going to do. After the start it was a bit tricky, I got close after the first pit stop, but then he was able to pull away. In the last few weekends it seems that we are going in the right direction, now we have to keep trying and improving doing our maximum. Every race is a different story, a small mistake here and there from somebody might give us a chance, who knows..”

Sebastian Vettel: ”Of course I am very happy for all the team. It is a very special race for us, to stand on the podium here in Monza, is just great. But for sure you are always aiming for the top step, so well done to our rivals, they have been in a league on their own in the race. Yet, we tried our optimum, this is the perfect result for us, the whole weekend has been very smooth, no issues with the car. We brought an engine update, so grazie anche to the guys at Maranello, for their support. I feel things are changing: it will still take a little bit, but we are heading the right way. And on a day like this, you realize that life is to enjoy, to get so much support is just unbelievalble. I feel we have the best fans in the world, it is difficult to find the right words. This podium here, it’s not the Adriatic sea, it is the sea of tifosi.. We had a rough season, we had high expectations, we have put ourselves on high pressure, we have also done mistakes, but the most important thing is that we stay a team, that we stay together. We have a lot of races ahead, we know we have a good car, unfortunately not yet quick enough for being able to say, here ‘we have the best car’, but I am sure that one day we will be.”

Italian Grand Prix – Ferrari on the podium

Posted: 04.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Sebastian third, Kimi fourth

Monza, 4 September – Sebastian Vettel came home third in the Italian Grand Prix today, at the Monza circuit. Kimi Raikkonen delivered a gritty, well managed drive to fourth, coming home six seconds behind his team-mate. Nico Rosberg won for Mercedes.

Italian Grand Prix – Monza, 3 September

Posted: 03.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen: ”Today we did the best we could and got the most out of the car. For sure we would have been more satisfied with the first row, but this is the maximum we could achieve. We have to be happy with what we did knowing our limits, but obviously our aim is to be higher up. Tomorrow is a different day and if we can make a very strong start we can build our race. Certain teams will start with different tires, time will tell what will happen in the long run, but we felt that starting with the Supersoft compound was the best choice for us. It’s going to be a long race, tricky for the tires, and a lot of things can happen; we have to put ourselves up there and if something happens we have to try to maximize our result. We’ll try to make the good choice when it comes to pit stops and see how it pans out. Our rivals have been very strong today, but we’ll try our best tomorrow and hopefully we have the chance to challenge them.”

Sebastian Vettel: ”Overall it has been a good weekend so far, putting both cars in the second row. I’m sure we can have a good race from there tomorrow. Hopefully we can take the advantage at the start but we have to wait and see. Once the lights go out we hope we can find a good traction which the tires should give us. It’s a long way down to Turn 1 and even if we can try something the race is not one stretch, it’s 53 laps around here. To be honest, after I saw the times already in Q1 and in Q2 on a different compound, I knew it would be difficult, but you never know…I was pushing as hard as I could, probably too hard in the first run in Q3 and it wasn’t a good lap; fortunately in the end I got it back again. I think overall I’m pretty happy, not so much with the beginning of the lap but I think our race pace is better than the gap in qualifying indicates, so we’ll see. We don’t mind who’s behind us, the important thing is whoever is in front and we still have two cars. The gap is a bit bigger than we would like, but equally the last two races things are coming down a little bit more and things are heading the right way also back in the factory. Even if we don’t like it, we need to be a bit patient, I’m sure it will come.”

Italian Grand Prix – An all-Ferrari second row

Posted: 03.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Vettel third in qualifying, one place ahead of Raikkonen

Monza, 3 September – Sebastian Vettel was third quickest in 1.21.972 in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, one place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen fourth in 1.22.065. Starting from pole at Monza will be Lewis Hamilton, fastest in a time of 1.21.135 in the Mercedes.

Italian Grand Prix – Holding the positions

Posted: 03.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Ferrari third and fourth in final free practice

Monza, 3 September – In the final hour of free practice this morning, the Ferraris were yet again third and fourth fastest, just as they have been in the two Friday sessions, which saw the Italian Grand Prix weekend get underway. Sebastian Vettel was third in 1.22.946, a time set on the Supersoft tyres, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen who ran the same tyre compound to post the fourth best time of 1.23.149. Once more, the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton (1.22.008) and Nico Rosberg (1.22.401) topped the time sheet.

Italian Grand Prix – Monza, 2 September

Posted: 02.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen: ”The morning ran smoothly and the first practice session was pretty good. The second one was a bit messy with the new tires and the yellow flags, but overall it was not too bad and the car was feeling ok. Obviously there are things to improve, but we started the weekend pretty ok. The new engine is a small step, it’s part of the normal progress, we would not put in the car anything that wouldn’t improve our performance. We try to improve in all areas and I think we are going in the right direction. The atmosphere here in Monza is always very nice, there are a lot of fans and the feeling is good, then we have to do well on the circuit.”

Sebastian Vettel: ”It’s Friday after all, which means it’s not the most important part of the weekend, even if it’s important that we ran and that we had a decent speed. In general the car feels good, but we still need to improve from where we are, we need to make it feel good in every corner and bring it together; but other than that, the first impression is positive. We have a new engine, so I think it’s doing what it is supposed to do. Obviously on Friday you try a lot of different things, so we need to wait until tomorrow and Sunday to see where we are. Now we need to improve the car, focusing on ourselves. It’s really good news that Monza will stay for another three years. We need this track in the calendar, it’s fantastic. Monza means history, tradition, racing…”

Italian Grand Prix – Split programmes

Posted: 02.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Seb and Kimi third and fourth again

Monza, 2 September – Ferrari was again third and fourth come the end of the second free practice session at Monza, home to the Italian Grand Prix. Off track, just a short while ago, it was confirmed that this circuit will continue to host a round of the world championship for the next three years. Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel worked on different programmes in a session given over to qualifying and race simulation. Vettel did a long run on the Softs, setting the third quickest time of 1.23.254, while on his race simulation, Raikkonen opted for Supersofts to post the fourth fastest time of 1.23.427. Topping the timesheet was Lewis Hamilton with a lap in 1.22.801, ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg (1.22.994).

Italian Grand Prix – Ferrari third and fourth

Posted: 02.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Raikkonen and Vettel assess the Monza settings

Monza, 2 September – The Ferraris finished third and fourth fastest in the first free practice session for the Italian Grand Prix. The three days of track action in Monza have got underway in nice weather and today Pirelli supplied some additional strengthened “prototype” tyres. After an installation lap on these experimental tyres, the two SF16-Hs worked on a programme which was centred on evaluating the aerodynamic elements used specifically for this track and other work, using two sets of Soft tyres. Raikkonen did 16 laps on his way to a third fastest time of 1.24.047. Vettel did 17, to go fourth in 1.24.307. Ahead of them was the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg (1.22.959) and Lewis Hamilton (1.23.162).

Italian GP – “We feel we have a good chance”

Posted: 01.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Kimi hoping for ‘straightforward’ weekend

“Italy offers a great weekend, it always has had, also when I was not racing with Ferrari. I have good and not so good memories of the race here, as it looks like I never had a really straightforward weekend here at Monza. But it’s a great place to come, especially for the layout and history. I’m pleased to be part of Ferrari, we feel that we have a good chance, we have to choose the right things at the right time. I also heard that my former team mate Felipe Massa has announced his retirement. It’s a big shame, but it’s his choice. We had a good relationship together, he’s had his difficult moments with the accident, but he’s a very nice guy.”

Italian GP – “This race come at the right time”

Posted: 01.09.2016
Source: Ferrari

Seb: we’ve reconnected to the group in front

“The Italian Grand Prix comes at the right time! We need a little bit of boost and support from our fans in this moment. Our race in Belgium last week did not unfold the way we expected, but it was very positive in terms of pace, so it looks like we have re-connected to the group ahead. This is the circuit where I won my first Grand Prix back in 2008 and this race means a lot to me, it’s the home race for Ferrari and the support is great. I am very much looking forward to this weekend, I think we should have a good one, could fight for the podium and it would be a dream coming true winning here with the red suit.”

 Italian Grand Prix – Our home race

Posted: 30.08.2016
Source: Ferrari

Maranello, 30 August – Scuderia Ferrari will be playing on home turf for the sixty-fifth edition of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend. Just a few days after the Belgian race, Formula 1 is back on track for the 14^th round of the championship, which is also the last European race before a final leg made up entirely of flyaway events.

“It’s a nice place to go,” says Kimi Raikkonen of the Monza track “a traditional circuit with a lot of history. It’s completely different from all the other circuits. It’s a home Grand Prix for us and this makes it a bit busier for us, but also for a lot of fans. Last year I could do well in qualifying, but not so good during the start of the race… However, I think the result was OK after what had happened. I’d love to win there and hopefully this year we can do better.”

“The mix between the extreme pressure that we feel trying to do our best in the race in Italy and the massive passion and support that all our fans usually give us when we are in Monza is very special” comments Diego Ioverno, Race Team Manager of Scuderia Ferrari. It’s impressive to see in the stands how many people wear something red. For us it’s also a place where we can join our supporters, as well as our sponsors and technical partners.  So, all departments have to join in and everyone will be there helping. Technically, the circuit is unique, it’s the quickest of the Championship. There are impressive braking areas, but also reasonably quick corners. The braking areas are the ones where you can make the difference. So, power unit and brake system are normally the most stressed parts of the cars.”