Formula 1: Italian Grand Prix a distraction from the real problems

The Italian Grand Prix was a much needed race for Formula 1, and it was a much welcomed one from the fans. A shock winner and a completely unpredictable podium made everything seem nostalgic, but when the blurred lines are cleared, Formula 1 still has key problems.

It was great watching Pierre Gasly win his first Formula 1 race in the Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale Monza driving for AlphaTauri.

It was also great watching Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz Jr. chase the leader down in the closing laps for McLaren, losing out by just 0.415 seconds, the closest finish in 10 years, with Racing Point’s Lance Stroll playing rear gunner in third place.

Coincidentally, all three podium finishers secured their second career podium finishes in Formula 1, and it was a very welcome sight. But one has to ask the question: how did they get there?

More from Formula One

• Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
• Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
• Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
• Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
• Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points

The race effectively had a race one and a race two, with the former not being very memorable. Despite a manic opening lap, the 26 laps that followed quickly became a DRS train for the drivers, except for Lewis Hamilton, who had strolled away into the distance in his Mercedes.

Valtteri Bottas did not do his reputation any good with a dismal lap one, as his Mercedes dropped behind both McLarens and the Racing Point of Sergio Perez. Surprisingly, both Red Bull drivers were as memorable in the first race as they were the second — not at all.

A retirement for Max Verstappen and a finish outside of the top 10 for Alexander Albon left them with zero points on the weekend. And Ferrari, oh Ferrari. With both cars running out of the points, Sebastian Vettel’s car decided it no longer wanted to stop for the corners, as he flew straight through the makeshift chicane inside turn one and two.

A rear left brake problem was found to be the cause, to Vettel’s relief, most likely. Charles Leclerc then stuffed it heavily into the wall coming out of Parabolica, causing a red flag, a red flag which would change plenty — for the better.

The breakdown of Kevin Magnussen’s Haas near the pit entry caused the pits to close for the drivers. Errors from the teams of Hamilton and Antonio Giovinazzi left their drivers in trouble, and they were eventually slapped with stop and go penalties after pitting in a closed pit lane.

Hamilton had to say goodbye to his lead as he flew to the very back of the field, and suddenly the race was flipped onto its head and everything went mad. But many people are forgetting a very important thing.

Without a mistake from Mercedes, which would have ultimately led to Hamilton not having to serve a severe penalty, he would have led from the restart all the way to the end and won. Again. By a lot. Without the error, no one would have gotten near him in the race. So although the Italian Grand Prix was a welcome surprise, it blurs the lines for Formula 1.

If the second “race” was like the first, the usual complaints would have been swinging around yet again. The first race, although it started well, became dull rather quickly. There were three groups of cars: Hamilton on his own out front, a group of 10 cars, and then the back group of nine cars all following each other, unable to produce anything of significance.

There are multiple factors that go into this. Of course, everyone knows by now that the cars cannot follow while racing. Just look at Bottas’s onboard camera coming out of the second Lesmo on the opening lap.

Another reason for this is the ban of the changing of engine modes. Although it did seem like a reasonable idea in an attempt to bring the field closer together, it kind of backfired.

Mercedes were still dominant in qualifying, and the DRS still provided the same amount of effectiveness. So back to the scrapbook for the big bosses of Formula 1. A logical idea could be to ban Mercedes from racing until 2022. One can dream.

The much discussed reverse grid qualifying race is definitely not the answer. The fact that the latter part of the race was more entertaining was not due to Hamilton coming through the field. It was due to watching different drivers and different teams battle for the victory.

Let’s be honest, a reverse grid race would ultimately see the usual participants in their usual positions when they cross the finish line on race day, when it matters.

The FIA could place a weight punishment on Mercedes, like the one on Toyota in the World Endurance Championship, but that goes against everything Formula 1 stands for, and therefore should never even be a consideration for the rule makers of the sport.

With the Tuscan Grand Prix at Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello coming up on the schedule this weekend, the paddock will arrive in high spirits due to the recent results. If we’re honest, we can wish for a similar result again, but that is really only a pipe dream.

However, this doesn’t mean the first ever Formula 1 race at Mugello will be dull. Watching these cars lapping the track during qualifying will be an amazing sight to see, and maybe Bottas can grow some elbows to fight Hamilton and the Red Bulls can run well and also join in the fight.

Or maybe Hamilton can get another 10-second stop and go penalty.