Skinny wings, high speeds and an incredible atmosphere, Team Principal Mike Krack looks ahead to the Italian Grand Prix and reflects on a hard-won point at Zandvoort.
While Formula One changes and evolves, Monza remains a fixed point. With the exception of the 1980 season, when the circuit was being refurbished, it's been ever-present on the F1 calendar, catching the last throes of summer before F1 packs up and heads out further afield.
This year, Monza has an element of mystery with new tarmac, new kerbs and reprofiled corners allowing us to see something familiar in an entirely new light. Team Principal Mike Krack has some thoughts on the refreshed 'Temple of Speed', but also takes a look back on our week in the Netherlands, and a look ahead to our goals for the rest of the 2024 season.
This is Mike on...
Zandvoort
"We had a very strong Qualifying session in Zandvoort: probably a bit stronger than where we really are, because Hamilton was out, Sainz was out, and we have managed to beat all the other midfield runners. I think there are two reasons for that: Lance and Fernando did an exceptional job and the team did really well in terms of managing the tyres and the traffic. It's a case of being at our best and getting the maximum out of it on Saturday. I don't think we could have done better. We started the race from P8 and P9, which is more than the maximum if you look at the pace of the AMR24.
"It's difficult to pass in Zandvoort so you can defend well and we optimised our strategy around that, keen to not give time away anywhere. Gasly got past us at the start of the race, in the first corner, and was slightly faster than us after that, and we had no chance to take the place back. At the end of the race, we were nearly caught out by Hülkenberg and had to fight really hard to come home with something."
Pace analysis
"On Monday, back at the AMR Technology Campus in Silverstone, we did our analysis of the Dutch Grand Prix. Our race pace analysis suggested McLaren has taken another step, and we are at the same distance to the second, third and fourth teams. Then, there's a bunch of five teams within two-tenths. Where you are in that bunch decides whether you are ninth or 18th. That's the reality at the moment. To come away with a point was a good effort – but it's still disappointing not to be a little further ahead of that midfield bunch."
The unknowns of Monza
"There are a lot of unknowns this weekend. The track has been fully resurfaced, which we’d expect to come with an increase in grip, the chicanes have been slightly realigned and the kerbs are new – so to understand that, to understand how the tyres behave, is going to be an important factor for making setup decisions. Get it wrong, even by a little bit, and you're at the wrong end of that midfield group with little chance of scoring. You have to be at the front of that group if you want to score points. It's as simple as that now."
Low-drag
"Monza is a very fast circuit with long straights and, unlike Zandvoort, you can overtake here, so if we have another race without interruptions, you'll probably see the cars running in order of pace. Like everyone else, we will bring a low-drag package to Monza. Ours has a new front wing, new rear wing, and a new beam wing. It's not really a choice: if you don't have a dedicated Monza package, there's not much point turning up to compete."
The tow
"In the past, we've seen teams at Monza trying to set up a tow, having one car sit in the slipstream behind the other for a speed boost – mainly if one driver is out of contention and is going to start from the back anyway, for instance with a power unit penalty. If both cars are in the fight, the procedure has to be set up really carefully – especially given how complicated the timing is now. You have to be careful to not try to be too clever. The tow isn't everything: with the car close in front, you lose a lot of downforce in the corners.
"There's a bit of luck involved – or cleverness – to catch a tow from someone finishing a lap. You move out of the way of a quick car on the back straight approaching Parabolica and then slot in behind to start your lap, getting a tow for half of the main straight."
A special place
"Monza is a really special place – usually all red. The atmosphere is incredible. Last week, in Zandvoort, it's music and dancing; here it's just Ferrari, Ferrari, Ferrari. It can be a little bit intimidating, walking in through the massed ranks of tifosi – but I enjoy it. The paddock will be busy as well for the final European round of the season. I've seen our guest list for the weekend: it's massive. This is just a mega event."
The return of F2
"We didn't have F2 in Zandvoort, but our junior driver Jak Crawford was with us for the weekend. It's good to see him back in action here at Monza. He's 65 points off the championship leader but only 29 points away from second; I think he can still be a key player in the title fight, especially if things go his way.
"When Jak's not racing, we use him in the simulator a lot. He's really good, lives nearby and ticks all the boxes. It's really good for us, but he says he gets a lot from it as well. It's not just a tool for young drivers, however. Team Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa was in the simulator, preparing for his drive in the AMR22 at Silverstone this week. He was refamiliarising himself with the steering wheel controls and buttons – and the simulator is absolutely the best tool for that."
Taking stock
"This is round 16 of 24, so two-thirds distance, and with the European season ending here, it feels like a natural place to take stock and make plans for the long-haul races ahead. Our target for the season going into the final block is to finish fifth. We have a 40-point advantage over RB. They look quite fast at the moment but we should be able to manage that – not easy, but manageable. 2025 is quickly coming into focus, but we've got more updates planned for the AMR24. Everything we learn now, we take into next season so we've got an important few months ahead."
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