Preview – F2 Round 11 – Monza

Almost five weeks since the FIA Formula 2 Championship action wrapped up in Spa-Francorchamps for the summer, the team and drivers are Monza-bound ready to supercharge the final four rounds of the season.

A refreshed and highly motivated Paul Aron has been hard at work at Hitech HQ in recent days making sure he has done everything possible to be able to stage an assault on the eight remaining races. He currently sits third in the championship, having lost ground in a frustrating run since the mid-point of the season. He and the team will be looking to recover the consistency and momentum that had previously seen him seesawing between the lead and the runner-up spot.

Paul needs 41 points to reel in Isack Hadjar, but only five points to at least usurp Gabriel Bortoleto for ‘Vice-Champion’. With four rounds of two races still to go, Paul is firmly focused on the bigger prize, along with securing an as yet elusive first win in his inaugural season to top out his current tally of seven podium finishes to date.

Amaury Cordeel is equally motivated to boost his points tally in the remaining rounds. He too has been enjoying the break from the racetrack, but spending time with his engineers at Hitech’s Silverstone base and keeping up with ‘gym and sim’.

The ‘Temple of Speed’, as the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is known, is 5.793kms of pure, unadulterated, high-speed intensity. With a mix of long straights and chicanes, the drivers go full throttle for around 80% of the lap, with just three points of heavy braking. The entire track is newly resurfaced, which can have a significant impact on a circuit’s characteristics. It is darker in colour which means it will retain more heat than previously if the climatic conditions are on the sunny side – which it appears they will be. The more heat in the asphalt, the greater the risk of overheating the tyres, which could bring welcome jeopardy for Paul Aron’s title ambitions, as he is very adept at nursing his tyres.

The teammates’ combined momentum will also play a critical role in Hitech Pulse-Eight’s bid to overthrow MP Motorsport for third in the Teams’ Standings. The margin is currently 16 points.

Here are all the times you need this Formula 2 weekend in Monza:

Friday 30 August

11:00 Free Practice

16:00 Qualifying session

Saturday 31 August

14:15 Sprint Race (21 Laps)

Sunday 1 September

10:05 Feature Race (30 Laps)

Grid set by reversing Top 12 of Qualifying Results

All times local