Italian F1 Grand Prix 2014: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
The dust has finally settled on the controversial Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix and as the pack heads to the legendary track of Monza for the Italian leg of this year's championship, all eyes will be on Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes team.
Belgium belonged to Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo, and the Australian will be as relaxed as can be as he prepares for one of the fastest track in the world. Mercedes and their powerful engines are expected to dominate—but the pressure is one following the debacle that was Belgium.
Lineup
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| Nico Rosberg | Mercedes |
| Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull |
| Fernando Alonso | Ferrari |
| Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull |
| Valtteri Bottas | Williams |
| Kevin Magnussen | McLaren |
| Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari |
| Felipe Massa | Williams |
| Jenson Button | McClaren |
| Daniil Kvyat | Toro Rosso |
| Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso |
| Sergio Perez | Force India |
| Adrian Sutil | Sauber |
| Romain Grosjean | Lotus |
| Jules Bianchi | Marussia |
| Pastor Maldonado | Lotus |
| Nico Hulkenberg | Force India |
| Max Chilton | Marussia |
| Esteban Gutierrez | Sauber |
| Andre Lotterer | Caterham |
| Marcus Ericsson | Caterham |
TV Schedule
| Sunday | 1 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. | 12:10 p.m. (One) |
How Clear Is The Air Between Hamilton and Rosberg?
Mercedes were furious with the way the Belgian Grand Prix played out, with Rosberg and Hamilton involved in an incident early that ultimately gifted the victory to Red Bull and saw the Brit abandon the race.
Talks were held internally. Rosberg was widely blamed for sacrificing the good of the team with an eye on the race for the world title, but the controversy quickly died down after a few days.
The message from the Mercedes camp is that the air has been cleared, and both drivers are taking a fresh start. Hamilton wrote the same in a blog on his personal website:
"Nothing has really changed in terms of how Nico and I will race together. We had the meeting, and it was blown up into this big thing, but we have meetings every weekend, generally.
We sit down. Sometimes it's heated. Sometimes it's relaxed. Sometimes the bosses do all the talking. Sometimes it's me and Nico. But the good thing is the bosses always manage it really well.
Paddy Lowe, our executive technical director, and Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes Motorsport, are real passionate racers, so they understand the human side to it.
What I got from the meeting was their emphasis that it was not about us as drivers, it was about Mercedes-Benz. There was a reconfirmation that we both have to finish the races, which I already knew.
I am hired to race hard for the team, to win races, wear the silver star proudly and really shine a light on Mercedes. And that's what I'm going to do.
"
The message is admirable, but then again, this is exactly what fans would expect to hear from the drivers in the wake of such an event. Whether they actually mean it is a different story.
The gap at the top of the standings is 29 points, with the German holding the advantage. Nobody expects the Brit to seek revenge on his team-mate, but in the heat of the moment, how will he react in a similar situation? Hamilton can't afford to play it safe—the title is on the line.
It doesn't help that Mercedes will go into the race with mechanical worries. Monza isn't a technical track, but it's fast and particularly hard on the brakes—the car's main weak spot in the 2014 season.
Mechanical issues have already played their part in the frustrations of both riders. If they rear their ugly heads again on Sunday, more inner-team fireworks could be on their way.
Can Red Bull Keep It Up?
Ricciardo is arguably the hottest driver in all of Formula 1 right now. Winning back-to-back races, the young Australian is exceeding even the wildest expectations, and as he told Formula1.com, he's keen on trying his hand at the legendary Monza track:
"The biggest challenges at Monza nowadays are the braking zones. The first chicane is the ultimate example: you're coming down to that first chicane at the highest speed an F1 car will reach all year and you're braking into one of the tightest corners you'll take all year.
"
[...] I'm not really that keen on super-long straights; I find them a little dull compared to hammering through a series of demanding corners but Monza is the exception to that. There's something about flashing through those trees in front of that massive crowd that definitely gets the pulse all the way up!
Monza is Ferrari-land, but given the team's struggles this season, there's a good chance the Italian crowd will be vocal in their support of other teams as well this season. And with Rosberg as the ultimate villain and the dominance of Mercedes, Red Bull presents the fans with the ultimate underdog story.
Of course, the odds are against the team from a technical standpoint. The Red Bulls simply don't have the pace to compete with some of the more powerful engines, and that became evident during the practice sessions. Both Ferrari and Williams had cars in front of Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel.
Momentum may be on the side of Red Bull, but unless we see another crazy race on Sunday, don't expect Ricciardo to win his third race in a row.
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