Todt: No-one can afford a mistake now
Ferrari's sporting director Jean Todt has said there is no margin for error as the Formula 1 World Championship moves towards its endgame at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Just three rounds of the championship remain, with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher defending a one-point lead from Juan Pablo Montoya of Williams, while McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen is a further point adrift in third.
"This race will be crucial," said Todt. "Any slip-up on the part of the contenders - Schumacher, Montoya or Raikkonen in the drivers' championship, or Ferrari, BMW-Williams or McLaren-Mercedes in the constructors', will make the next two races rather difficult."
Ferrari has pulled out all the stops for Monza. It will use a new aerodynamic and engine package aimed at delivering the most from the high-speed requirements of the Italian track. Tyre partner Bridgestone will also bring new rubber, featuring revised compounds and construction.
"We brought a new aerodynamic package to Monza and it delivered good results," said technical director Ross Brawn after last week's testing there. "We also worked on car set-up, acquiring information which will be important for the coming race weekend. On the tyre side, we also made some significant progress, thanks to the work we carried out with Bridgestone. Both Michael and Rubens declared themselves satisfied with the results."
Verstappen v Hamilton: Who was at fault?
Formula 1: Sprint Qualifying analysis
How Lotus F1 uncovered, then squandered its last ‘unfair advantage’
Cast in the mould of its founder Colin Chapman, Lotus was powerful and daring but flawed – as it proved through further soaring peaks and painful troughs into the 1980s. DAMIEN SMITH examines a game-changing era
The core problems Yas Marina’s long-awaited tweaks won't address
OPINION: Changes to the layout of Abu Dhabi’s circuit aim to reverse the trend of insipid Formula 1 races there - the promoter has even described one of the new corners as “iconic”. And that, argues STUART CODLING, is one of this venue’s abiding failings
How Ferrari offered Britain's next F1 prospect what Red Bull couldn't
Last year's Formula 2 runner-up Callum Ilott could be on his way to becoming the first Briton to contest a grand prix in an Alfa Romeo since Reg Parnell in 1950. But, says OLEG KARPOV, the Ferrari Driver Academy protege is having to temper his ambition at the moment – outwardly at least…
The signs that point to F1's rude health
OPINION: Formula 1's calendar might still be facing disruption as the pandemic affects travel but, says MARK GALLAGHER, the business itself is fundamentally strong thanks to the epic rivalry taking place on track and the consistent arrival of new sponsors
The unexpected benefit of F1’s sprint race repeat
OPINION: Formula 1's sprint race trial at Silverstone drew mixed feedback on Saturday, but there remained the true test of how it would impact Sunday's Grand Prix. While fans were busy marvelling at Fernando Alonso's progress, a key lesson was being learned that would directly contribute to the dramatic lap one clash at Copse the following day
The off-track considerations that led to F1’s Hamilton/Verstappen Silverstone shunt
OPINION: Formula 1’s 2021 title fight turned ugly last weekend when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided at the start of the British Grand Prix. Verstappen thankfully walked away unharmed, but this had been a clash long-since coming
Will 2022's all-new cars look like F1's concept model?
Formula 1 provided its clearest example yet of what the 2022 cars are set to look like when it presented a full-scale concept to the world during the build-up to last weekend’s British Grand Prix. Underneath the special shiny livery was a design that hinted at the future, but teams will be digging into key areas that may reap differing results
British Grand Prix Driver Ratings
The 2021 British Grand Prix will live long in the memory for the dramatic clash between Formula 1's two title protagonists, which opened the door for other drivers to capitalise. One did so in spectacular fashion, while others fluffed their lines
