A Ferrari front-row lock-out leads to packed stands at Monza for the final European Formula 1 race of 2018. Dieter Rencken brings his final report from the paddock.
7am
Up and about, sort check out, then depart for circuit. Skip B&B breakfast in favour of McLaren’s full English, and so I’m out of my digs and on the road within the hour.
9am
Arrive at circuit – seems Monza’s in for a good day, for race day traffic is heavier than I recall from previous years. Possibly Ferrari’s front row lock-out has added last-minute ticket sales, but more likely last week’s win in Spa for Seb has done the trick. Either way it’s good news, even if it means circuit traffic control is more chaotic than usual. The promoters claim a crowd of 87,000 post-race.My route takes me through local golf club access roads, and I’m amused to see a spectator marshal directing fans to the left side of the road, while 100 yards up the road her colleague directs pedestrians to the opposite side. They’re blissfully unaware of the confusion due to standing with their backs to each other…
10am
Eating with media colleagues at McLaren, in particular a dedicated Roland Ratzenberger fan, seeking support for a movie about the Austrian, who lost his life at Imola the day before Ayrton Senna’s death. I wish Peter well with his project – it’s good to see initiatives about lesser-known drivers, who, too, deserve recognition. That a driver dies prematurely does not mean he could not have scaled great heights, but for fate.
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10:30am
11:00am
I’m unashamedly on the prowl, seeking out Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s F1 consultant and 1971 Le Mans winner in a Porsche 917. I have a line drawing of the car – the only version to race with a full magnesium chassis – and I’d like the Austrian to sign it for my collection. Eventually I track him down, and – slightly fanboyishly – ask whether he’d mind autographing the aluminium print.
As Helmut graciously does so he relates a marvellous story: At end-1971, after the car was outlawed due to a capacity reduction, he was offered the car for DM100,000, then about £20k. He turned the opportunity down, then 15 years later saw it on display in a museum. He enquired as to its value, and was told it was insured for DM10m (£2m).
“Recently one that hadn’t even won Le Mans sold for $15m…” he says, shaking his head wistfully.
While waiting for Helmut I join two ex-F1 drivers for a chat, and am amused by their main topic: the costs of their respective hair transplants. To spare them embarrassment they shall remain nameless, but all I’ll say is that both were active within the last five years…
12:30pm
I spy Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera, so approach him to discuss the FIA’s 2020-23 tyre tender, which marks the first time that Pirelli has faced competition. I ask whether he’s concerned that Pirelli may be outbid by the other brand – believed to be Hankook – referred to by FIA president Jean Todt on Saturday.
Tronchetti is adamant: “We don’t want the deal at any price; on the same terms as present we’re interested, but no bidding war.” May the brand that’s best for F1 overall win.
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1:30pm
Late breakfast means I have little appetite for a full lunch, so grab some ham and cheese sandwiches in the media canteen, then have a helping of fruit salad. That should see me through to tonight, and maybe beyond.
Thereafter its catch up time: a couple of team members indicate they’re increasingly peeved by F1’s later race start times, as many now spend ever fewer nights at home due to being unable to catch late Sunday flights as previously.
One of them maintains she checked with broadcasters, who recorded no improved audience ratings due to time shifts. Spectators are in the same boat, I tell her: many complain that now need to take Mondays off for the same reason. Attending races is expensive enough, but losing additional vacation days compounds the issue.
2:30pm
5pm
Post-race interviews start – these have become fewer this year due to drivers team bosses rushing out post-race to catch whatever flights they can. I grab Pierre Gasly, who is vocal about Fernando Alonso’s on-track conduct.
I also chat with Mario Isola of Pirelli, who states that rain on Friday plus a shortened second practice session (due to Ericsson’s crash) means teams were unable to collect sufficient set-up data, and hence some blistering. During his session Vettel agrees with Isola’s reasoning, and given he was one of the victims, it stacks up.
8pm
Depart circuit in the knowledge that the Renault’s appeal against Haas for non-conforming floors is unlikely to be resolved soon. I’m due at my B&B near Malpensa at 9pm local, and make it with five minutes to spare. An early night beckons as I’m on a red-eye flight to Brussels – so leave Keith and co. to handle Haas’s eventual exclusion over an irregular floor.
‘Wonder whether the team will appeal?’ is my final thought after the last European race of the season. It later transpires they will…
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The Paddock Diary will return at the Russian Grand Prix.
2018 Italian Grand Prix
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- Paddock Diary: Italian Grand Prix day four
- Vote for your 2018 Italian Grand Prix Driver of the Weekend
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
3rd September 2018, 11:47
What was the original ratio male for moving the start time. It was a “bratches” thing wasn’t it?
It seems from your article that perhaps it’s a complete dud – I for one would love it to com back to the original times.
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
3rd September 2018, 12:38
I think it was based on “research” – and let’s not forget that “research” suggested Brexit wouldn’t happen…
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
3rd September 2018, 13:59
Love to know where they’ve been getting their research from. I’ve yet to hear from anyone who has actually participated in any surveys for F1 or Liberty.
Silfen (@silfen)
3rd September 2018, 19:20
Imho it was to improve viewing ratings in the Americas as the race now starts between 6 and 9 am instead of 5 and 8 am (depending on time zones).
Captain Pie (@captainpie)
3rd September 2018, 12:05
Hmm Ferrari drivers active in the last 5 years you say?
Alonso and Massa? Or if we add in development and sim drivers maybe Vergne and Kvyat are going a bit balding ;)
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
3rd September 2018, 12:37
I didn’t say Ferrari drivers, I said ex-F1 drivers. Neither of the two “transplants” raced for Ferrari. But I won’t be commenting more on them as it’s not fair – it was simply an amusing discussion already underway when I joined them.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
3rd September 2018, 13:00
I was going to say JEV and Massa..but I guess the latter is out of contention now!…hahaha
Jonathan (@jonathan)
3rd September 2018, 13:38
Did they pay more or less than the winner of yesterday’s race paid for his, I wonder?
MarcusAurelius (@marcusaurelius)
3rd September 2018, 21:54
Well, one of them is dutch. It was mentioned in a funny True or False interview by two dutch commentators.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
3rd September 2018, 12:16
Tell that to those guys from SkyF1 who used valuable time to speak to someone interesting interviewing celebrities from some random TV show I think who had no clue what was going on. For a PayPal service, they sure let you down… Alesi was there, Piquet At too and they chose to have an awkward conversation with a nobody in Motorsport terms.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
3rd September 2018, 12:16
Pay wall*
PaulK (@paulk)
3rd September 2018, 21:36
Same TV show whose ad is broadcast every race…
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
3rd September 2018, 14:02
Personally I prefer the later start times for races but, living in the U.K. Its not really an issue for European races.
I think a 14.00 start gives one time to do something constructive on Sunday mornings. I always felt 13.00 stopped you doing too much in the morning but then still took up most of the afternoon.
I love F1 but there are things to do as well on a weekend!
Melbourne (@melbourne)
3rd September 2018, 21:53
Ha! good one. i think the same, personally at first i dislike the hour plus to race start, but at the same time it gives you one hour to do some more before the race; at least in south america.
Thomas Beccerich
3rd September 2018, 15:35
First of all the the change of race start time alienated existing fans in Asia and Australia. Secondly even for us in Europe it is a bit annoying because the whole Sunday is gone. Don’t get me wrong I love watching the races but I also enjoy having a Sunday afternoon outdoors especially in the Summer. If FOM wants to attract more US fans then they need to have US drivers (2 good ones at least). It is that simple and you don’t need to pay for any research on that.
Additionally, if it is all about research…then the teams and race fans should be included and a referendum :) should be held. Bratches might be able to purchase flags, dangerous t-shirt guns and of course enjoys advertising the paddock club where fans can take their photo with him but he has no clue or interest in the sport or fans outside of the paddock.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
4th September 2018, 15:10
Yeah in Australia the late start time means for me the races start at 10:30pm – the majority of Aussie fans live on the east coast making it a 11:00pm start; it’s just too late.
I’ve fallen asleep the last couple of races because I just can’t keep awake. For Spa no biggie but was disappointed to miss the tension of Mona’s – I woke up to find Hamilton already in front of Raikonnen.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
4th September 2018, 15:57
Is another Ronnie film in the makes? SuperSwede came out just last year, and featured footage of Nina at modern Monza. Seems strange if they’re doing something similar.
Dieter Rencken (@dieterrencken)
4th September 2018, 17:15
No, Superswede is a full length movie – I’ve got a copy – whereas this visit to Monza by Nina was for a TV insert for the F1 weekend broadcast 40 years after her father’s death.