2022 F1 Italian Grand Prix Preview: 100th Anniversary at Monza

The 2022 F1 World Championship will host the 16th round of the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza Circuit this weekend.

Like the British Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix has been part of the F1 calendar since its inception in 1950, and with the exception of 1980 when it was held at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola, it has been held annually at Monza, just outside Milan. In recent years, the event has been added in Italy

to cover the cancellation of the event due to a pandemic.

With the disappearance of the original track layout of the Hockenheimring in Germany, Monza is the only historic high-speed circuit still hosting F1 races today. In the old days, the long straight had no chicanes, and the slipstream effect resulted in dozens of overtakes each lap, making for incredibly close racing.

However, the history of the Italian Grand Prix is older than that of Formula One, with the first event being held in 1921. Monza was built the following year, so this year marks the 100th anniversary, and the first Italian Grand Prix was held just one week after the circuit was completed.

Today, Monza's 3.6-mile track layout consists of a series of straights and several tight chicanes, and drivers typically run at full throttle for 76% of their lap time and 83% of their lap distance. It boasts the fastest average speed of the season, with cars reaching over 200 mph in no less than four sections.

As a result, the car is set up with low downforce to maximize top speed. As a result, the cars are set up with low downforce to maximize top speed, so grip in the corners is dependent on the mechanical traction of the tires. Pirelli uses a white hard C2 compound, a yellow medium C3, and a red soft rubber compound for C4.

The weather at Monza tends to be hot at this time of year, but due to the long straights, the tires will be too cold if the weather is mild. The current forecast calls for warm and sunny skies for both Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race, with a high of 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heading into the weekend, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen leads the 2022 drivers' championship with 310 points, with Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc in second and third, respectively, with 201 points. In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull leads with 511 points. Ferrari is second with 376 points and Mercedes-Benz AMG is third with 346 points. Last year's Monza winner was McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo.