1:47 Watch as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel come together on the opening lap of the Italian GP, resulting in the Ferrari driver spinning to the back of the grid
But can Mercedes repeat 2018’s turnaround?
Having gone eight attempts and counting without a success at home, with chief rivals Mercedes winning on F1’s last five visits, Ferrari are desperate to win the Italian GP for a record-extending 20th to give their passionate ‘Tifosi’ fans cause for mass celebration.
As Vettel, yet to win for Ferrari at Monza in four attempts, remarked: “I think we got closer and closer in the past years, but we were missing that final step.”
The lack of a ‘final step’ was no more evident than at Monza last year.
Locking out the front row, polesitter Kimi Raikkonen and Vettel were still beaten by Hamilton to the race victory. Vettel spun at the second chicane after being overtaken by Hamilton, while Raikkonen was later overtaken by the Mercedes driver.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says they will not suddenly prove a match for Ferrari’s outright power, but does suspect the longer race distance might again provide some opportunities after Hamilton came close to overhauling Leclerc at Spa.
“I don’t think we can find 15kph in the next five days!” said Wolff. “[With] no DRS. But it is what is, no complaint.
“We have just got to prepare the best possible for Monza and know that it’s not a track that will suit us and will favour Ferrari, but we’ve got to do the best possible job.
“On the Sunday we are looking much closer, even on the high-power circuits, so we I still think we have to give it all we have to hopefully win the race in Monza.”
Valtteri Bottas, who finished third last year, added: “Last year they were quick as well but we managed to make their life pretty difficult. I think that’s where we got booed on the podium and everything.
“We try to do the same again.”
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