Magical Monza.
Formula One makes its as always much anticipated return to Italy this weekend to the fastest and indeed one of the most loved and amazing tracks on the calendar. We come back to the historical Autodromo Nationale de Monza, where some amazing battles and action has been fought out throughout the years.
1. Flipping Fittipaldi.
Christian Fittipaldi does a spectacular back flip after making contact with Minardi team mate Pierluigi Martini.
As the cars crossed the line to finish the 1993 Italian Grand Prix, the two Minardi-Ford cars of home driver Pierluigi Martini and Brazilian Christian Fittipaldi (nephew to former F1 Champion Emerson Fittipaldi.) were running together in 7th and 8th respectively. They were just coming up to cross the line when Fittipaldi’s left front wheel made contact with Martini’s rear right wheel, sending Fittipaldi into a spectacular back flip, landing on all four wheels once again and freewheeling over the line to secure his 8th place finish.
2. Vettel’s First Win.
Sebastian Vettel on the podium alongside McLaren’s Heikki Kovalinen and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica.
Incredibly awful weather plagued the weekend of the 2008 Grand Prix at Monza, but it would play a massive part in the breakthrough of one of F1’s biggest modern stars. The whole circuit was shocked when then 21-year-old Sebastian Vettel took pole position for Scuderia Toro Rosso at their home circuit, with title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa only ending up 15th and 11th respectively. Cue more intensive rain for Sunday’s race and despite a brief sideways moment, Vettel would cruise the race to take his first and Toro Rosso’s only win to date.
3. Ferrari Remember Their Fallen Master.
Gehard Berger leads home Michele Alboreto to take and emotional 1–2 finish for Ferrari.
It was an incredibly sad and sombre environment for all Ferrari and Tiofosi fans at the 1988 Italian Grand Prix, as it was the first Grand Prix to take place after the death of the great Ferrari founder and leader, Enzo Ferrari. The Tiofosi hoped solemnly for a Ferrari win on home soil to honour Enzo, but due to the domination by McLaren-Honda drivers Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost that year, this seemed unlikely. However, with Prost developing an engine misfire early on and Senna having an accident trying to lap Williams’ Jean-Louis Schlesser, breaking his front suspension, this would allow Ferrari drivers Gehard Berger and Michele Alboreto give the much sought after win when they finished in 1st and 2nd, the only time that year a Grand Prix was not won by McLaren.
4. Too Close to Call.
Side by Side for Peter Gethin and Ronnie Peterson.
As the race neared it’s end during the running of the 1971 Grand Prix it was British driver Mike Hailwood who found himself leading on his debut in F1. But as he came up to the line there was a pack of cars ready to pounce as he came to finish. The chequered flag saw Haliwood, Ronnie Peterson, Peter Gethin, Francois Cevert and Howden Ganley all make an attempt for top spot, Gethin and Peterson finishing side by side and the three remaining less than two tenths of a second behind. It was one of the closest ever finishes recorded in F1 and Gethin was eventually declared the winner, with Peterson second and Cevert third.
5. Vettel Goes Off Roading.
Alonso Forces Vettel to the Grass on the exit of Curva Grande.
The 2011 edition of the famous race saw a safety car right away due to a first corner multi car accident triggered by an out of control Nico Rosberg. Fernando Alonso led Sebastian Vettel as the racing resumed after and Vettel went for the lead in the famous Curva Grande corner. Alonso defended extremely hard and pushed Vettel wide, forcing two wheels of Vettel’s Red Bull onto the grass at close to 200 miles per hour. Vettel daringly kept his foot in and passed Alonso while on the grass and would go on to lead and win the race. Alonso tried a similar move on Vettel the following year on the same corner but would also find himself pushed onto the grass, however too much so to pass Vettel.
Read more posts by Coilin Higgins in Home Of F1 on DriveTribe the new website by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
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