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Monza What to Watch For: The title showdown and points to prove
There might be just a single round to go in the 2024 FIA Formula 3 season but there are plenty of drivers still with a point to prove and that’s not counting our six title contenders.
While Leonardo Fornaroli will attempt to keep five of his closest rivals at bay to secure the Drivers’ Championship, there’s plenty of intrigue elsewhere in Round 10 of the campaign.
Here is what you’ll want to keep an eye on.
TITLE PERMUTATIONS
Six drivers, one goal: be crowned 2024 FIA F3 Drivers’ Champion.
Easier said than done as this year has brought eight changes of lead in the Drivers’ Standings, but it’s Trident’s Fornaroli that leads the pack ahead of the finale.
The Italian driver will be aiming to end his second home race weekend of the year on the highest possible note and follow 2023 teammate Gabriel Bortoleto in securing the F3 title. But he has to keep up the consistency that’s led him to this point after missing points just twice all season.
Gabriele Minì is just one point behind in P2, the PREMA Racing driver also looking to achieve glory at home and has been on the podium three times in the last four rounds.
In third, Luke Browning has a few more points to make up but is only six off the lead himself. The Hitech Pulse-Eight driver has missed points in the Feature Races just once all year, that non-score coming in Budapest.
Arvid Lindblad has the most victories of any driver this season with four, but the British rookie is scoreless in the last four races. He will be aiming to overcome that and the 16-point deficit to Fornaroli.
Teammate Dino Beganovic ensures all three PREMA drivers are in contention for the Drivers’ Title, though the Swede needs a lot to go in his favour from fifth position on 100 points. Finally, Christian Mansell is also in the same boat, sixth for ART Grand Prix on 97 points, but aiming to overcome the odds.
READ MORE
- Fornaroli hopeful of achieving ‘amazing’ title victory at ‘special’ Monza circuit
- Minì aiming for final F3 flourish and Drivers’ Championship crown
- Browning says he is ‘ready to win’ Formula 3 title ahead of Monza title showdown
- Lindblad planning to ‘send it’ at Monza as he has nothing to lose in title showdown
- Mansell aiming to end 2024 with no regrets ahead of Monza title decider
FRESHENING UP THE PLACE
Monza is a legendary venue in motorsport but the famous circuit has undergone a few changes since the last time we went racing here.
The track has been resurfaced and the expectation is that tyre wear will become less of a factor than it was in the past.
The opening chicane has also been adapted, with Turns 1 and 2 widened compared to last year. The Ascari chicane has also undergone a revamp, with the kerbs flattened out in what is a fast section of track already.
Time will tell what the changes will do in terms of action, but all of the drivers are eager to get out on track and go racing for the final time this season.
READ MORE: Stenshorne aiming to round out rookie F3 campaign on a high note
SPLITTING UP
Monza Qualifying will be a little different in 2024 as the drivers will be split into two groups of 15 as is the case in Monte Carlo.
With traffic and jostling for a slipstream being such a crucial factor in the session, it has been decided that the field will be split into separate groups, with even-numbered cars in one and odd-numbered cars in the other.
After the drivers' briefing on Thursday, it was determined that the even-numbered cars will be on track first, followed by those with odd-numbered cars.
FINAL SEND OFF
The 2024 Monza round will also mark the final competitive race weekend using the current generation of Formula 3 car.
On Saturday, the F3 2025 car will be unveiled and shown off for the first time, offering fans a glimpse of the machine that will be in action from next season onwards.
After six seasons, the first generation of FIA F3 car will be replaced by a new specification, and the Monza weekend will be the first chance for everyone to see what comes next in 2025.