Italian GP Sauber preview

Pedro Diniz:
Monza is another fast circuit which I really enjoy, and because its low downforce nature will suit the C19. I am looking forward to a strong qualifying and race performance.

Mika Salo:
I've had a lot of good races at Monza, and I seem to have scored points there every time that I've finished a Grand Prix. We confirmed that our car is good in low downforce trim in Hockenheim, so there is no reason why it should not be strong in Italy too. I'm hoping for another competitive race.

Willy Rampf:
Monza's character hasn't changed much over the years. It demands the highest top speed that we see all season, and requires the lowest downforce. The drivers reach 350 km/h on the main straight before heavy braking into the first chicane. It is a power circuit primarily, with less of a premium than usual on chassis performance.

It also boasts the longest period of full-throttle motoring of any circuit up to now. There is the run from the Ascari chicane to the Parabolica, and then the engine is flat out again in top gear from the Parabolica right down to the first chicane. That places strain on the engine.

Subsequently, there are also very heavy demands on the brake performance and brake cooling. Going into the first chicane we see loadings around four "G"- deceleration. The braking area there is quite bumpy, too, so the car gets quite nervous in its low downforce mode.

The RED BULL SAUBER PETRONAS C19 ran well in the last Monza test and was competitive in low downforce configuration in Hockenheim, so it should be well suited to Monza.