The expectation of wet weather at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix makes the result harder to predict.
Where we might have expected the usual Ferrari-McLaren battle at the front, the likes of Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso will be rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of precipitation.
Find out who did best with the Spa predictions and make your guesses for the top three below…
Wet weather expected
The one thing you can say with confidence about wet weather is that it’s better news for McLaren than it is for Ferrari.
Ferrari had a dismal race at Silverstone in the wet with both their drivers suffering a lot of spins. We have seen plenty of evidence this year that the F2008 struggles to heat up its tyres in cool weather.
Wet weather racing is Felipe Massa’s Achilles Heel and it was clear in the damp early stages of last week’s race that Raikkonen’s natural feel in these conditions is superior.
In the past year and a half Lewis Hamilton has won in the wet at Fuji, Monaco and Silverstone. He was first ‘on the road’ in Spa at the weekend and led much of the Chinese Grand Prix last year before that notorious pit blunder. On that form, he’s got to be favourite if it rains.
But wet weather can also reduce the performance advantage of the leading teams which is good news for the likes of Robert Kubica (BMW) and Fernando Alonso (Renault).
Monza marks one year since Alonso’s last Grand Prix victory, though that might have been different had he pitted a lap earlier at Spa. Alonso’s skill in the wet is tremendous – think back to his virtuoso performance on the first lap at Hungary in 2006. With all kinds of rumours about his future a surprise podium or win would be a timely reminder of those skills.
Kubica was hugely impressive in the wet at Monaco this year. While Massa spun and Hamilton clipped the barrier, Kubica was fast and error-free. With Raikkonen not scoring in the drivers’ championship Kubica has moved up to third and is exhorting BMW to keep the pressure on McLaren and Ferrari. A win at Monza would certainly make everyone take his championship credentials seriously – else BMW risk losing him to Ferrari.
Read more about the weather forecast for the Italian Grand Prix
Predictions
Wet races are particularly difficult to predict – that’s what makes them so entertaining! Monza is the quickest track on the calendar and one where the teams have virtually no experience of wet weather running. And even wet weather greats made mistakes in the rain (Ayrton Senna, Australia ’89 and Michael Schumacher, Monaco ’96).
All that taken into account, and assuming it rains, here’s my podium prediction:
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Robert Kubica
3. Kimi Raikkonen
No-one managed to get the top three entirely right at but Sush, Alex-Ctba, Graham228221, Todd and Kavana all managed to name first (Massa) and third (Hamilton) correctly. I only managed to predict Massa’s win correctly…
What do you think will be the top three at Monza? Share your top-three predictions below.
Follow the weather forecast for this weekend on the F1 Fanatic Forum: 2008 Italian Grand Prix weather watch
The comments below have been split across multiple pages. If you are having trouble viewing all the comments click here to see them all.
Fernando
11th September 2008, 20:45
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Kovi
Nathan
11th September 2008, 20:49
I’m gonna go on a limb and say:
1. Alonso
2. Raikkonen
3. Kubica
Salty
11th September 2008, 20:51
Ah Monza! Can feel my loins girding already. If Spa gives us hills, rills and thrills, Monza can always whisk your breath away with her rolling seas of red fans and ramrod straight er… straights!
Okay, I’ll leave the wordsmithing to you – you just want a prediction…
1.Ham
2.Rai
3.Glo
Gman
11th September 2008, 20:53
If it’s dry…
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Raikkonen
If it’s wet..
1. Raikkonen
2. Alonso
3. Hamilton
Paige
11th September 2008, 20:57
If it’s dry:
1. Hamilton
2. Kovalainen
3. Raikkonen
If it’s wet:
1. Hamilton
2. Raikkonen
3. Kubica
RaV
11th September 2008, 20:59
1. HAM
2. MAS
3. KUB
Hope it rains!
Becken
11th September 2008, 20:59
Man… I confess that is really hard to predict the 2th and 3th places in a wet race…mmmm… ok, I will put my money this time in:
1º LEWIS HAMILTON
2º Quick Nick (to help his contract deal!)
3º Trulli (I like to see the drivers go well on his home race!)
diseased rat
11th September 2008, 21:03
Following Keith’s lead to just predict one set of results rather than hedging my bets with two sets of predictions depending on the weather:
1. Hamilton
2. Heidfeld
3. Alonso
John
11th September 2008, 21:09
HAM
KOV
ROS
dmw
11th September 2008, 21:16
KOV
ALO
HEI
And VET for 4th or 5th.
KOV finally figures out the 6 paddle wheel. Cool weather / rain puts HEI ahead of KUB. (HAM and RAI enter turn 1 abreast and exit on cranes. Massa has a timely swoon.
ajokay
11th September 2008, 21:16
1. Raikkonen
2. Massa
3. Hamilton (Originally the victor, given a 25 second penalty 2 hours after the race by 3 Italian stewards for not letting Ferrari achieve a 1-2 at Monza)
stubie
11th September 2008, 21:22
Dry
Hamilton
Raikkonen
Massa
Wet
Hamilton
Kubica
Kovalainen
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
11th September 2008, 21:23
Diseased rat – thankyou! Makes it so much easier to follow when I come back to these later.
Luke
11th September 2008, 21:32
Kimi
Fernando
Vettel
i dont think HAM will be a factor, either to an incident at the first corner or pressure on himself to make up for the SPA incident will cause him to make a mistake in quali. Massa will flounder in the wet, and the BMW’s will struggle for pace.
ch.pl
11th September 2008, 21:35
OK so here’s my top 3:
Fonso
Kub
Vettel
Yes i know, but I’m sure there gonna be a top cars crash (of course if it will be rain)
Spencer
11th September 2008, 21:38
I sit here now praying that the Tifosi are sorely disappointed this weekend, and well if they are not please let it be Kimi!!!
1st Hamilton
2nd Kimi
3rd Kubica
Why do I dislike Massa so much???
albert
11th September 2008, 21:41
1-rai
2-ham
3-bou
Internet
11th September 2008, 21:45
Here’s a little coincidence for you that I’ve read on pf1 forum.
So far Massa has missed out on podiums in exactly the same races as he missed out on last year!
If that’s anything to go by then it’s going to be either
Kimi
Lewis
Heikki/Vettel
or
Lewis
Kimi
Heikki/Vettel
steve
11th September 2008, 21:46
1 Hamilton
2 Kubica
3 Alonso
Hamilton penalised 25 seconds for driving too wide into parabolica
Kubica penalised 30 seconds for overtaking under no yellow flag
Alonso disqualified for looking too glum
Massa declared the winner.
Dorian
11th September 2008, 21:51
Internet!!!….haven’t seen you in ages!
My prediction:
1. Hamilton
2. Raikkonen
3. Heidfeld
Feeties
11th September 2008, 21:54
I think it will be:
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Kovalainen
Sassan
11th September 2008, 22:17
1.Hamilton
2.Massa
3.Vettel
Dan Brunell
11th September 2008, 22:25
My Predictions:
1: Hamilton
2: Kubica
3: Kimi
With Alonso, Heidfeld, Vettel, and perhaps Sutil in the mix when the wet stuff comes down.
Ratboy
11th September 2008, 22:26
I’ll go for fist across the line:
1.Kovalainen
2.Raikkonen
3.Hamilton
And two hours after the race
1.Raikkonen
2.Massa
3.Heidfeld
But in all seriousness I think it will the top one..
sultryBOB
11th September 2008, 22:31
if wet:
1.L.HAMILTON
2. R.KUBICA
3. M.WEBBER
if dry:
1.K.RAIKKONEN
2.L.HAMILTON
3. F.MASSA
K.RAIKKONEN only because i think he’s due
nicho
11th September 2008, 22:36
1. Robert Kubica
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Kimi Raikkonen
EGC
11th September 2008, 22:40
:-) i go…in wet and cold, of course…
Alonso
Kubica
Kimi…
Massa and Ham will have a little accident somewhere…..
Dan Wells
11th September 2008, 22:40
1. Button
2. Raikonnen
3. Hamilton
Haha i know but ive put a fiver on button to win at 750-1 :P
chaostheory
11th September 2008, 22:47
After that crazy end to Spa GP i dont play this game anymore :P
(but i am Raikkonen and Kubica fan, so hope they can take two first places)
Smitty
11th September 2008, 22:48
What the hey! Might as well go with my heart than try to be logical and get it wrong anyway.
1. Kovalainen
2. Button
3. Heidfeld
Wesley
11th September 2008, 22:50
“…in anticipation of precipitation”
1-Hamilton
2-Kubica
3-Alonso
shery
11th September 2008, 23:32
1.kimi
2.kubica
3.heiki
Brad P
11th September 2008, 23:51
Qualifying:
1. RAI
2. MAS
3. HAM
4. KOV
Race:
1. KOV
2. HAM +1.1seconds.
3. HEI +30seconds.
MAS will crash into RAI and both fail to score points, and Ferrari will be stripped off all their constructor points because of the antics in Valencia.
GDalcin
12th September 2008, 0:02
1-lewis
2-massa
3-kubica
Chalky
12th September 2008, 0:43
Well I’m on vacation and will have to watch this after it’s run, so how about a full grid prediciton this time.
I reckon they’ll be a few DNFs on the 1st lap.
1. KOV
2. MAS
3. HEI
4. HAM
5. RAI
6. VET
7. ALO
8. WEB
9. GLO
10. COU
11. BUT
12. ROS
13. TRU
14. NAK
15. PIQ
16. BAR
17. FIS
18. SUT
19. KUB
20. VET
Tengil
12th September 2008, 0:46
I’m reusing my prediction from last week, I feel I barely used it.
1. Hamilton
2. Heidfeld
3. Kovalainen
Pink Peril
12th September 2008, 1:13
I predict that it’ll be wednesday before we know the ‘official’ outcome of the race ;)
For the ‘actual’ race I predict
1. Hamilton
2. Kubica
3. Heidfeld
Pole : Hamilton
Hammer time
12th September 2008, 1:44
I agree with Deseased Rat Ham/Hei/Nando’s in the wet.
In the Dry, ferrari power. Mas/Rai/Vet
Paul
12th September 2008, 1:56
01. RAI
02. MAS
03. KOV
Sush
12th September 2008, 2:32
1)hamilton
2)Kubica
3)massa
kavana
12th September 2008, 4:13
I expect a dry race.
Qualifying
1. HAM (He usually starts with light fuel load)
2. MAS
3. RAI
Race
1. RAI
2. HAM
3. MAS
(I have a feeling Kimi will pass Mas at Turn 1 and pass Ham during Pitstop)
cyanide
12th September 2008, 5:22
If it’s wet,
1: Alonso
2: Kubica
3: Sutil
If it’s dry,
1: Raikkonen
2: Massa
3: Kubica
Alvin
12th September 2008, 5:58
Wet or dry:
1. Lewis
2. Kubica
3. Kovalainnen
But you never know 2 hours after that…
jae
12th September 2008, 7:34
1.Räikkönen
2.Hamilton
3.Alonso
Mick
12th September 2008, 7:35
I doubt Heidfeld will have as good a race as everyone predicts. If he can’t get tyre temperatures for quali, he’s going to languish in the midfield, and could get into incidents if it’s wet. Too much of a lottery in the wet, even for the good drivers.
Rain or shine:
1. Lewis
2. Raikkonen
3. Massa
The Renaults may not quite be up there as in Spa, but the engine power of the Torro Rossos will definitely be a factor.
Mick
12th September 2008, 7:37
Oh, wait. Maybe Raikkonen will let Massa by.
Eddie Irvine
12th September 2008, 8:06
Hamilton
Rosberg
Kovalainen
Ferraris out due to engine problem and whether
Rob Bloor
12th September 2008, 8:22
Dry:
1) Rai
2) Ham
3) Mas
Wet:
1) Ham
2) Kov
3) Kub
Jean
12th September 2008, 8:24
Kimi
Felipe’
Lewis
Nick
‘Nando
Robert
Seb V
Niko R
(I still have some mixed feelings on Rosberg , sometimes I believe the car is poor and he is good and tries hard , othertimes I feel he tries only as hard as is necessary to beat his team-mate?)
Phil B
12th September 2008, 10:10
1. HAM
2. RAI
3. KOV
Sumedh
12th September 2008, 10:15
1. Kimi
2. Lewis
3. Felipe
El Gordo
12th September 2008, 10:44
IF WET:
1. Hamilton
2. Massa
3. Heidfeld
IF DRY:
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Raikkonen
graham228221
12th September 2008, 11:26
following on my good prediction form, i’m going to predict a wet race with the following podium:
1) Hamilton
2) Raikkonen
3) Alonso
Fernando has gotta get a podium this season, and I’ve got a feeling that this might be his race if it is wet.
I’m also guessing that Vettel, Kubica and Heidfeld will finish in 4th, 5th and 6th. Heikki and Massa will take each other out early on ;)
IDR
12th September 2008, 11:33
1 Hamilton
2 Raikkonen
3 Massa
But I have an extrange feeling: Kimi/Ham
GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL Spaghetti western remake!
Alex-Ctba
12th September 2008, 12:22
Dry or wet
1.Massa
2.Kimi
3.Hamilton
Forza Ferrari!!!!
mattclinch
12th September 2008, 14:57
KUB
HAM
HEI
Guy
12th September 2008, 15:07
Keith –
If Hamilton hadn’t been penalised at Spa, would anyone have got the top 3 correct?
Craig
12th September 2008, 15:09
Kimi
Lewis
Heikki
Loki
12th September 2008, 15:49
Race Predict:
Ferrari (one of them)
Lewis
Ferrari (the other one)
Want:
Ferrari
Ferrari
Fernando/Vettel/Kubica
Vlad
12th September 2008, 15:54
Dry:
1. Raikkonen
2. Massa
3. Kubica
Wet:
1. Raikkonen
2. Kubica
3. Massa
Paul Sainsbury
12th September 2008, 16:13
1:Ham
2:Massa
3:Kimi
Jolene
12th September 2008, 16:19
Just heard on 5Fm ( our radio station in South Africa ) that Kimi has been signed until 2010,extending his current contract by 1 year. So no chance for Alonso in 2010 at Ferrari. Mmmm.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th September 2008, 16:22
Jolene – Perhaps a good one for the forum?
TommyB
12th September 2008, 16:27
If it rains:
Alonso
Hamilton
Bourdais
James B
12th September 2008, 16:34
Dry Race (just in case)
1. Massa
2. Raikkonen
3. Hamilton
Wet Race
1. Alonso
2. Barrichello
3. Vettel
Am I right in saying Keith, that I haven’t got a race prediction correct yet on this website?
eze
12th September 2008, 16:42
1. Kubica
2. Heidfeld
3. Hamilton
Aj
12th September 2008, 16:49
1. Kimi
2. Lewis
3. Massa
And I am sure about one thing that Massa will not beat Kimi this year, at least not in the race.
donwatters
12th September 2008, 16:52
Dry:
Hammy
Kimi
Massa
Wet:
Hammy
Kimi
Kov
AussieLeb
12th September 2008, 16:57
Firstly:
1.Massa
2.Trulli
3.Raikkonen
Hamilton DNF tries to take Heikki on the chicane only to be found out by another Finn and stuck in the kitty litter! Then gets a “walk thru” penalty past the Tifosi on his way to the pits where Daddy Hamilton gives him a dressing down and threatens to disown him if he doesn’t win the WDC this year!
All jokes aside though, I read the autosport article on Hamilton being fired up after the penalty. While many bloggers on this F1 Fanatic came to realise that he makes comments that could only be reserved for the most pompous of Englishmen I also noticed that his comments would suggest that he isn’t banking on a success at the appeal.
On formula1.com it has been stated that the appeal may not be admissable as the penalty was dealt in the substition for a drive thru for which appeals are not admissable. Maybe Lewis has accepted and realises he made a mistake and deserved the penalty. As we all have read, the stewards had no choice in the penalty that was given, as it turns out they had followed the rules after all.
I also wanted to add that when I watched the race and saw the incident I instantly and I mean instantly, thought ” That’s not right!” and then when Hamilton relinquished the position the first thing I thought was “Gee that took a while” as in Hamilton should have “almost” stopped and then once Raikkonen had passed him resumed. I think when the stewards say “gained an advantage” they were talking about Hamilton not having lost out on making the mistake of running off but rather he used the cutting of the chicane to facilitate the move at La Source.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th September 2008, 17:10
We’ve already got loads of discussions on the Hamilton penalty elsewhere:
Will Hamilton’s petition beat Alonso’s?
Can we keep the debate here on predictions for the Italian Grand Prix please?
Gabe
12th September 2008, 17:15
1. Hamilton
2. Kubica
3. Bourdais
lol
Jack
12th September 2008, 18:15
1. Raikkonen
2. Trulli
3. Massa
Heart ruling over head.
Scootin159
12th September 2008, 19:33
Wet:
Hamilton
Raikkonen
Kubica
Dry:
Raikkonen
Massa
Hamilton
Pablo___82
12th September 2008, 19:41
1. Kubica
2. Raikkonen
3. Hamilton
4. Massa
5. Kovalainen
6. Heidfeld
7. Vettel
8. Alonso
Jolene
12th September 2008, 19:46
Hamilton
Kimi
Heiki
Massa will crash out.
ScuderiaToroFerrari4Eva
12th September 2008, 21:36
My predictions are Qualifying 1.Raikkonen 2.Vettel 3.Bourdais for the race well i have a feeling its gonna be dry for like first 5laps it will start pouring for remainder of race so my top 3 in wet are 1.Raikkonen Joint with Vettel on finish line 3.Bourdais in the dry 1.Raikkonen 2.Massa and 3rd.Kubica Hamilton is gonna make a mistake and retire or his gonna have his race compromised by his pitcrew or a blackhole lol :D
_Ben_
12th September 2008, 23:18
hammy
massa
raikkonen
Manu
13th September 2008, 8:53
I think it will be:
1. HAM
2. KUB
3. MAS
rnk
13th September 2008, 13:42
if dry:
Hamilton1
Kovalainen2
Kubica3
Ferraris out of the race
if wet:
Hamilton1
Kovalainen2
Vettel3
Again Ferraris out
shery
13th September 2008, 22:43
alonso
truli
kimi