Mercedes hopeful it will have faster race pace than Ferrari at Monza

  • Published on 03 Sep 2019 14:10
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes is hoping that it will be able to benefit from its strong race pace on Sundays at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Ferrari picked up its first victory of the season last Sunday at the Belgian Grand Prix, as it stayed at the head of the pack following a dominant display in qualifying from Charles Leclerc.

However, Leclerc found himself under pressure towards the end of the race as Lewis Hamilton closed in, as the Mercedes driver was more comfortable on the medium compound.

MOREHamilton: Mercedes must make 'drastic' straight-line speed gains before Monza

Monza, a high-speed circuit, is set to favour the Ferrari package who has held the advantage in a straight-line over Mercedes this season.

"From a performance perspective, our weekend in Spa gave us plenty to work on," said team boss Toto Wolff. "We were out-qualified and, while our race pace looked promising, we didn't manage to take the win.

"However, given our performance in Belgium last year, it felt like we had also made a step forward. We don't have the fastest car in a straight line this year but we made some progress with regards to the slow-speed corners and the way our car handles the tyres. So there are positives to take away from Spa as well. 

"We don't expect the Italian Grand Prix to be an easy weekend. Monza is 'the' power circuit in F1, that rewards high power and low drag.

"While we have had the fastest overall package on the grid this season, it's not ideal for a track where straight-line speed is a key performance differentiator.

"However, we've also seen that the Ferraris look mighty at high-speed tracks on Saturdays, but don't look quite as strong on Sundays - and that's when the points are won. We will not be favourites in Italy, but we will do everything we can to take the fight to the red team this weekend."

With eight rounds left to run in the 2019 world championship, Mercedes holds a 145 gap over Ferrari in the constructors' standings

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Please don't. Stay just like you are now. Stay like it forever, even through the next season where the others've brought upgrades.

    • + 0
    • Sep 3 2019 - 18:01
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    Toto trying to mind f!@k ferrari again. The fast on sat not so much on sunday is true but I wonder if MB has speed targets during practice and work their numbers knowing they have room to up the power in race trim to close the gap. Being able to improve times by 1.4 seconds is not Lewis magic but HP on a dialed in chassis. MB has done a great job during this hybrid era but its advantage has clearly been HP . While others have closed the gap Ferrari i think doesn't make the power in race trim that MB does. For nobody to unlock the secret to their advantage makes me suspect a rat. This attitude I perceive that they 'know' they can tap into more performance at will makes me even more suspicious. Remember the saying 2 types of racers cheaters and losers. The natural ebb and flow of success makes me suspicious.

    • + 0
    • Sep 3 2019 - 19:13

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar