2017 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix

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SteemSports Presenter: @the23chronicles

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SteemSports Editor: @writingamigo

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Grand Prix Information

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Number of Laps: 53
Circuit Length: 5.793 km
Race distance: 306.72 km
First GP: 1950
Lap Record: Rubens Barrichello (2004)

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The Italian Grand Prix, held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, is regarded by many as the embodiment of the Formula One racing. Not only is it a fantastic example of a track that combines speed and skill, but it also has a heart and soul all of its own. It has seen some of the finest races of all time, but tragically also some of the sport’s worst accidents.
Work began on the circuit in 1922 and was completed in under six months. It was the third permanent race track in existence, the second in the UK. Formula One racing visited the circuit as part of the inaugural season in 1950, and it has remained a permanent fixture on the calendar ever since.

Over that time, Monza has played host to an incredible list of historic moments, famous victories and horrifying crashes. All this makes it one of the most magical places on the Formula One calendar. The Italians call it ‘La Pista Magica,' the magic track, a description many will agree with.

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Over the Years

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There is a reason why Monza is also nicknamed the ‘Temple of Speed’. Drivers spend the majority of time at the Italian track accelerating. Of the present grid, no driver has won more times in Italy than championships rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. They have both won three times, hence if either wins on Sunday, he will become current ‘King of Monza,' just one shy of Michael Schumacher’s five.

Fernando Alonso is the only other current driver to have won on Italian soil (doing so twice), but the Spaniard will unlikely be a threat this year, so if for any reason, Hamilton and Vettel fail to win, we will have a first time Monza winner.

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Ferrari has the most wins in Italy. The first came in 1951, but they had no cause to celebrate since 2010 when Fernando Alonso won. So, given the team’s current form, there will be a huge weight of expectation upon Vettel and Raikkonen this weekend.
Hamilton has been on pole here for the last three years and five times in total – a tally beaten by no one and matched only by legends. Hamilton needs just one more pole to take sole control over the record from Schumacher. But the Brit won’t have it easy as neither Vettel nor Raikkonen are strangers to taking the top grid.

Only Michael Schumacher has more podium finishes than Fernando Alonso, who has six. Vettel and Hamilton both have five, while the likes of Ricciardo and Verstappen will be hoping for a slip up to allow them to grab a maiden top-three finish.

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Standings: Ferrari will have home court advantage

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With Lewis Hamilton having cut Sebastian Vettel’s championship lead to just seven points with his narrow win at Spa, Ferrari knows they need a strong result on their home ground of Monza this weekend, and they believe they have the car to achieve their first victory in Italy since 2010. A win will see Hamilton completely close the gap over Vettel and depending on Vettel’s position, a win can see him go a top the championship standings.

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Predictions: Hamilton or Vettel?

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Vettel might have had to play second fiddle to Hamilton during a gripping and intense fight in Belgium last week, but the fact that he was able to push him all the way will provide a boost of confidence. So if all things go as planned, it should be a downright battle between this too. But if this season has shown anything, it is that Formula One still surprises us, so we might just see a new face taking the chequered flag come Sunday.

The weather outlook for Monza looks reasonable, with the sun and partial cloud, but also the chance of occasional showers.

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