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What A Race Weekend! 2018 Italian GP of F1

Monday, September 03, 2018

It was a significant race weekend on Monza for the title of the 2018 Italian GP, Formula One Championship. For Ferrari the Friday looks like as regular Free Practice day and for Mercedes too. Some rain a few laps waiting for the right moment. Otherwise, Marcus Ericsson had a huge high-speed crash during the FP2. He has a DSR problem on the opening lap 2, just before turn 1 he crashed in the side and roll over head several times.

Vettel and Räikkönen before turn 1 during the start of the 2018 Italian GP of Formula 1.
Vettel and Räikkönen before turn 1 during the start of the  2018 Italian GP of Formula 1.
The Free Practice 3 also wasn’t a big deal. Vettel’s best time 1:20.509 within 18 laps giving him P1. Hamilton drove 14 laps and late with +0.081 sec, 1:20.590 thus he became owner of P2 after the FP3. Räikkönen P3, 1:20.682 within 16 laps. Bottas had P4 with best time 1:21.112 like Vettel also drove 18 laps. And So on, Ericsson was able to drive after the FP2’s accident and he set 1:22.892 for P16.





The Q3 was the best session of the Saturday. Valtteri Bottas crossed the line with 1:19.565 on P4. Hamilton had a slow Sector 1 in comparison with both Ferrari drivers, Vettel and Räikkönen. Lewis crossed the line with 1:19.294 and a moment later he has beaten by Sebastian with 0.014 sec difference. In the end of the Q3, Kimi set a new Monza record with 1:19.119. Thus the Ferrari had one-two win and Mercedes had P3 and P4.

In Q3 Kimi Räikkönen set new record and get pole position on 2018 Italian GP of Formula 1.
In Q3 Kimi Räikkönen set new record and get pole position on 2018 Italian GP of Formula 1.
The Race. Kimi was on pole position. Sebastian second. Lewis is third. Lights off. Everybody goes, a sec later, a crash on background. Kimi blocked the tires under braking for turn 1. Enter. Sebastian was just behind him followed by Lewis (in Social Media). Turn 4, Lewis saw a gap and entered outside of Vettel’s Ferrari. Carefully driving but Sebastian touched Hamilton’s Mercedes. Vettel had spin with his Ferrari and stopped with nose on wrong direction. He had to wait the oncoming cars and made 180 degree spin. Safety Car has been deployed due to the crash on background.





Safety Car gets home before Lap 4. Lewis pushed a little bit more and on the start line overtook Kimi and entered on turn 1 getting P1. Kimi’s revenge come on the second chicane just before turn 4 and returned his first position back. The strategy race just began.

The Race Control decided that the impact between Hamilton and Vettel will proceed without further action during the lap 6.

Sebastien Vettel was set on the tail. He had to manage overtaking slower drivers. On lap 27, Sebastien achieved to get P4.

Incredible race strategy and team play with Lewis and Valtteri for P1 and P3 during the 2018 Italian GP of Formula 1.
Incredible race strategy and team play with Lewis and Valtteri for P1 and P3 during the  2018 Italian GP of F1.

Lewis waited for the perfect time to overtake Kimi who first enter the box for tire change. Räikkönen stared on Super Soft and on Lap 21 change to Soft. At the same time Lewis has to earn time enough for pit stop. Hamilton also started the race on Super Soft and on Lap 28 changed the tires with Soft. Meanwhile Lewis lost two positions and Bottas was on P1 in front of Kimi’s Ferrari. Valtteri had a key role to defend the P1 from Kimi and make him slower. Thus Hamilton will be able to close the gap. When Valtteri went to change tires then the time between Lewis and Kimi should be enough for overtaking maneuver.

Lewis manage to overtake Kimi immediately whet the Safety Cars get home. On the next chicane, Kimi get back his P1.
Lewis manage to overtake Kimi immediately whet the Safety Cars get home. On the next chicane, Kimi get back his P1. 
Valtteri Bottas enter the box on Lap 36. Räikkönen lead the race and time split between Hamilton and was about +0.776 seconds. When Valtteri get back from the box he had to fight for P3 with Max Verstappen, Red Bull.





Lap 43 and Lap 45 were significant for the whole race. Lap 43 was an important one for Valtteri Bottas who was able to attack Max Verstappen. Valtteri was on the left side of Verstappen’s Red Bull when Max hit him just before the first chicane. On opening Lap 45 Lewis was close enough to attack Kimi Räikkönen. Hamilton made nice and clear overtaking as in the books is written just before turn 1 leading the 2018 Italian Grand Prix Race of Formula 1.

Valtteri Bottas played a key role for his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. He had to keep Kimi on P2 while Lewis get time for overtaking. It comes true on Lap 45.
Valtteri Bottas played a key role for his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. He had to keep Kimi on P2 while Lewis get time for overtaking which happen on Lap 45.
The collision between Max and Valtteri was under investigation by the Race Control. After that Max Verstappen received 5 seconds penalty which set the P3 for Valtteri and he was on P5 behind the other Ferrari’s driver Sebastian Vettel.

Max Verstappen received 5 sec. penalty for hitting Valtteri Bottas fighting for P3.
Max Verstappen received 5 sec. penalty for hitting Valtteri Bottas fighting for P3. 
The 2018 Italian Grand Prix Race of Formula One Championship was a significant one. The whole weekend was marked by an accident with Max Ericsson; Lewis mark Q3 as finished first but was overtaken by the drivers of Scuderia Ferrari who made a significant one-two win for the race grid. A very nice race day with a lot of overtaking maneuvers between Mercedes and Ferrari. Incredible race strategy and team play with Lewis and Valtteri for P1 and P3. The 2018 Italian Grand Prix is history. Next, 2018 Singapore Grand Prix of Formula 1, September 14-16, 2018.