Coulthard's guide to Monza
It’s one of the classic circuits, the home race for Scuderia Toro Rosso (and the other one…) and where Red Bull F1 scored its first victory last year. But, for the inside line on this infamous track we asked David Coulthard – who won here in 1997 - to take us around the Autodromo Nazionale Monza…
David Coulthard: “Monza is a unique challenge because it’s extremely low downforce, yet relatively high minimum speed because of places like Parabolica and the Lesmos.
“The first chicane, obviously, and the second chicane are the only real corners which kill the speed around the lap - it is a circuit of momentum, it is a circuit of efficiency and top speeds. But because of those first two chicanes, you need a car that has got good stopping power and good kerbability and traction. A small mistake there costs you a lot of lap time because of the length of the straight, on the exit of Ascari and around Parabolica.
“The key things to the lap as we go round it are braking into this first chicane, too early you lose two tenths, too late you lose half a second; likewise at the second chicane which is more dictated by kerb strikes.
“Lesmos are purely down to level of efficiency and really through there is not a big driver challenge. Entry to Ascari Chicane: very high speed, lot of kerb strikes and the exit is really like threading a needle at very high speed as you come through the right, through the left, and it’s not unusual to see people making mistakes on the left-hand side as you leave the corner. I spun the car whilst going to the grid there when I was on pole position in 1995…
“And then Prabolica at the end of the lap: very late braking, high-speed entry and you’re right on the edge of grip as you hug the edge of the track and then a long run down the start-finish straight.
“Monza is steeped in history, the old banking is still there which they used many years ago and is worth a walk out for the fans to go and see just how steep it is.
"And of course the Italian fans are as passionate about cars as they are about women. And you can feel that. When I was leading there in ’98 and I blew up at the second chicanwe, as I walked back the abuse I got because I was not driving for Ferrari! But, on the one hand they’re abusing you, but on the other they’re passionate about motorsport and have a great appreciation for drivers.”
Source: Red Bull Racing
