Formula One / Thomas Cowie / 11 September 2009 /

On the final leg of the European section of this fascinating season, can we expect any Monza magic this weekend? Tom Cowie looks back at Italian GPs gone by and runs the rule over the famous track for Sunday's race...

Jenson Button may wish to visit to the Vatican prior to this weekend's Italian GP at Monza. The Briton's inner demons, the result of the pressures of leading the Championship from day one certainly need to be exorcised if he is to ensure that history does not remember him as the man who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

One of the oldest circuits on the F1 calendar, Monza is a temple of speed, where the vast majority of the congregation are of strict Ferrari faith, pilgrimaging in their thousands each year to worship the man whose surname evokes passion like no other before or since.

There will, however, be one member of the Ferrari fraternity who will be more nervous than anyone else as he prepares for the ultimate baptism of fire. At 36, Giancarlo Fisichella had surely given up on the idea that one day he would become the next Italian driver to sport the famous scarlet overalls emblazoned with the iconic prancing horse.

The fact that this dream is now a reality, and that it will commence at Monza of all places is merely the latest in a long line of memorable moments which have been shared by F1's most successful team, and its' most partisan and passionate venue.

In 1988, the all conquering Mclarens of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won 15 out of the 16 races that season. The one they failed to win was Monza. Conversely, Ferrari had been enduring a torrid time, and were still reeling from the death of Enzo Ferrari only weeks earlier.

It was fitting therefore when fate decreed that Senna would inexplicably trip over a back marker, leaving Gerhard Berger to lead home a Ferrari 1 - 2. The sight of the scarlet cars crossing the line together through the long shadows of an Italian late summer's day sent a shiver down the spine, and sparked wild and emotional celebrations, even by Monza's standards.

There was more emotion here in 2006, when having taken his 71st and penultimate race win for Ferrari, Michael Schumacher ended months of speculation by confirming his retirement from the sport at the end of the season. Somehow it wouldn't have been right to announce it anywhere else.

Enzo Ferrari, affectionately known as 'Il Commedatore' once said that aerodynamics were for 'people who couldn't build decent engines.' How ironic that in the modern era, it is precisely this kind of aerodynamic grip in the slow corners linking the mammoth straights which is a prerequisite for success at Monza - engine power is a given - the only variable is reliability.

In this area, Brawn should have the advantage. They won at the street circuits of Monaco and Valencia, and do seem happier in the slow corners than the Red Bull, which favours the fast, sweeping corners found at Silverstone or Spa. At 14.5 and 15.5 respectively for the win however, the market suggests that Button and Barrachello will not have it all their own way.

Whilst their car may not be as well suited to Monza, Sebastien Vettel (6.2) and Mark Webber (10.0) cannot be ruled out, particularly the young German, whose' maiden win in the rain here last year was nothing short of inspired.

Ferrari have already switched their attentions to the 2010 challenger. It seems increasingly likely that Kimi Raikkonen will not be in that car, but at [6.6], he will be looking to make what could be his last Italian GP as a Ferrari driver a memorable one.

It will be Fisichella's first and last Italian GP as a Ferrari driver - at [13.5], don't count out the Monza magic once again intervening and allowing him to join the likes of Nigel Mansell and Raikkonen as drivers who won their maiden race for the Scuderia.

For Button, time is running out. He must deliver soon, and Monza could well be the best chance he will get to strike a fatal blow to his championship challengers, as Europe bids farewell to an intriguing and unpredictable season.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: