This weekend the Formula one grid makes its annual return to Monza, the hallowed festival of speed north of Milan. Since 1950 the Italian Grand Prix has hosted some of the most exhilarating races in Formula One history and it has the distinction of being the fastest track in history.
That record was set in 2004 by Juan Pablo Montoya, currently racing in Indycar, while driving for Williams. His lap record speed of 162.9 mph still stands after 14 years and is a testament to how powerful and sophisticated the F1 machines of that era were. Enjoy watching this lap, and especially enjoy the delightful banshee scream of a V10 engine, one of the last we’d hear until the v8 engine regulations came in 2006.
By means of comparison, let’s watch Lewis Hamilton’s pole lap from 2015. The engine sounds like a glorified vacuum cleaner and the lap is about 3 seconds slower than Montoya’s.
Last year, Lewis Hamilton won pole position, then continued to school the entire field and eventually won by 25 seconds over his teammate, Nico Rosberg.
“I feel this weekend is the best I’ve ever driven” Lewis Hamilton – 2015 Italian Grand prix
In the current field there’s only 3 previous winners at Monza. Given Lewis’s recent form and the luxury of fresh engines, he should be considered a strong favorite to win this weekend.
Wins from Current Drivers:
- Lewis Hamilton – 2012, 2014, 2015
- Sebastian Vettel – 2008, 2011, 2013
- Fernando Alonso – 2007, 2010