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Formula1.com - Latest Features
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Italy Preview - Monza make or break for Ferrari?
Monza, that wonderful cathedral of sport, could be the turning point of the world championship fight this weekend.
Its long straights and the need for minimal downforce may militate against Red Bull, while Ferrari, fresh from no further penalties in their team orders hearing at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday, will decide their strategy for the rest of the season based on their performance here on their home ground...
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Renault on how to master Monza
Monza presents a unique challenge for a Formula One car. It's known as the 'Temple of Speed' for the simple reason that it's by far the quickest track of the year. It's so extreme that all teams have to develop bespoke aero packages to make their cars slippery enough to be competitive over the 5.8-kilometre lap. The old Hockenheim used to present a similar challenge, but today Monza stands alone as the only track on the calendar where the cars race flat out at speeds approaching 340 km/h. Renault explain how they plan to master the Italian circuit...
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La Pista Magica - Magical Monza
It's a tough ask to follow Spa-Francorchamps on the Formula One calendar - but Monza can. The legendary circuit, which will host the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, boasts enough history, passion, speed and magic to offer up an unmissable event in front of some of the most fervent fans.
On paper it looks like no other track. Its layout is deceptively simple, but masks what is widely-regarded as one of the toughest challenge on the calendar. Dominated by long straights, but punctuated by slow chicanes, the circuit demands minimum downforce and maximum speed. Affectionately labelled a 'car-breaker', nowhere is tougher on brakes and engines than Monza, which boasts average speeds of around 250 km/h and top speeds of 340 km/h.
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Belgium analysis - McLaren strike back at Spa
Spa was never going to be Red Bull's favourite circuit, but after clinching their 12th pole of the season on Saturday, things were looking pretty good. That was before Mark Webber's slow start, sporadic showers, a collision between Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button and two safety-car periods intervened.
Amidst all the drama it was McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who kept his head to secure his first win since June - and the lead in the drivers' championship. And with McLaren just one point adrift of Red Bull in the constructors' table, the stage is set for a battle royal at the remaining six rounds. We take a team-by-team look at how a memorable Belgian Grand Prix played out...
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Paddock Postcard from Spa-Francorchamps
The paddock at Spa is always a good place to meet old friends. This year former Arrows, Benetton and Simtek racer Jos Verstappen was there with rising kart star son Max, Le Mans virtuoso Tom Kristensen was working with television, Adrian Fernandez paid another visit, watching over GP2 and GP3 racers Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez, Alex Ribeiro made an appearance, as did Robert Doornbos, while Jonathan and Jolyon Palmer were busy chasing GP2 rides for 2011 and Nigel Mansell was again a steward. On Thursday evening the 1992 world champion was among friends who gathered to celebrate former Lotus, Williams and Benetton team boss Peter Collins' 60th birthday.
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Qualifying analysis - McLaren ripe to challenge Red Bull?
Changing weather conditions played havoc in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, especially in Q1 when it rained while some cars were still out on slick tyres. Q2 was dry, but the onset of rain again after the first runs in Q3 again made life difficult for the survivors. In the end Red Bull took their 12th pole position in 13 races, but McLaren ran them mighty close. We take a team-by-team look at the pre-race form
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Friday analysis - Ferrari looking quietly confident
Many teams were cautious in reading too much into their performance, since the rain in the morning disrupted things so significantly and with more bad weather possible, they wanted to preserve their three sets of full wet Bridgestone tyres and four sets of intermediates. And as expected, for once Red Bull were not among the pacesetters. We take a team-by-team look at Friday progress at Spa
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Spa celebrations for Barrichello and Webber
There was a nice little ceremony in a packed Williams hospitality area at Spa on Thursday, as Rubens Barrichello celebrated his 300th Grand Prix with all of his friends in the paddock. Everyone who was anyone was there, including most of his fellow drivers with the notable exception of Michael Schumacher
Bernie Ecclestone was there, and presented the Brazilian with a medal...
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Belgium Preview - break over, who'll take Spa spoils?
The title fight couldn't be better poised as it enters its final European stage after the summer break, with only 20 points - less than you get for a win - separating the top five drivers.
In Hungary Mark Webber moved up to the lead with 161 points after becoming the only driver to win four times this season. He is chased by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton on 157, Red Bull team mate Sebastian Vettel on 151, McLaren's Jenson Button on 147, and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso on 141...
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Renault's Robert Kubica on Spa-Francorchamps
Renault's Robert Kubica talks us round a flying lap of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix
Spa is one of the best, if not the best place for a driver. I think most of the drivers say that they enjoy driving there. I still prefer Suzuka, but Spa has a unique character. It's a pretty amazing track and a lot of the corners are not actually corners at all because they are taken at full throttle. The middle sector especially is just amazing.
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Shirley Muldowney-4/27
