Mixed Reviews for Monza Speed Bumps

The newly introduced speed bumps at the first and second chicanes of the Monza circuit have received mixed reviews ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

The plastic bumps were introduced ahead of this year's race after it became apparent that a driver could actually gain time when cutting across the tight first chicane of the fast circuit. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who last year finished in second place at Monza, was happy with the changes.

"I think that it is quite useful," said Barrichello at a press conference at Monza today. "It was very difficult for us to know last year if the cars that went through gained or lost time. It is so easy to say okay, someone is going to overtake me and I go straight and lose time, then I close the door on the next corner and that's it.

"But right now on the second chicane you have the gravel trap and on the first you have the bumps so you have to be really careful. I think it is really useful. It is going to make the race a lot more interesting because if a guy tries to outbrake himself there is no escape."

Renault driver Jarno Trulli, on the other hand, claimed the bumps were just too high and revealed that some drivers are planning to ask the race organisers to remove them as it could damage the cars.

"I am not really much in favour," said the Italian. "We have made a report just to ask if it is possible to remove these speed bumps because they are pretty high and you can damage the car. But on the other hand, as Rubens said, they could also be useful in the race because you don't try to cut the chicane any more.

"But tomorrow we will talk better about it and see what our feelings are because it is not only one driver that decides it is the whole group."