Formula 1: Home game for Alfa Romeo Sauber
TENSION BEFORE MONZA GP This weekend, the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team will be competing in a special Grand Prix. With Ferrari power behind them, the Sauber drivers are hoping to score more world championship points at the home race of their Italian title sponsor. Alfa Romeo Sauber's weekend already started on Wednesday with participation in the F1 Festival in Milan. In the middle of the city experienced [...]
Then it was @Charles_Leclerc's turn to disturb the peace
Again, maybe don't watch this at full volume 🙉 @F1 #f1 #F1MilanFestival #AlfaRomeoSauberF1Team pic.twitter.com/MQGSk7ingL
- Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) August 29, 2018
Alfa Romeo Sauber's weekend already started on Wednesday with its participation in the F1 Festival in Milan. In the middle of the city, fans witnessed the two Sauber drivers Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc driving Formula 1 cars from Hinwil. Beforehand, the drivers took part in a parade in iconic cars and interviews on stage.
The team then set off for Monza. The Grand Prix there is considered a home race, as Alfa Romeo is united with the Swiss team as title sponsor. In addition, the Sauber C37s are powered by current Ferrari engines.
Advanced to 8th place
Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc are looking forward to their appearance at the historic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. After another championship points win for the Swede at the Belgian GP last Sunday (10th place) and the previous haul for the Monegasque driver, who is only 20 years old (13 points so far), the team is highly motivated.
Charles Leclerc: "It's great to be back in the car right after the race at Spa, where I retired in the starting phase due to a collision. Italy has a special meaning for me personally. I raced here in karting when I was a kid, and later I became a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy."
In the constructors' standings, the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team is in eighth place with 19 points. The Swiss gained one position by deducting all points from Force India, which had to start from scratch again after a change of ownership and name in Belgium.
However, following 5th and 6th places by its two drivers Perez and Ocon, Force India has already closed the gap to Alfa Romeo Sauber to within one point.
Historic site for Alfa Romeo
Monza has been a fixture on the calendar since the first race of the modern Formula 1 in 1950. Juan Manuel Fangio won the first Italian Grand Prix, which counted towards the world championship, in 1950 in an Alfa Romeo, and his teammate Giuseppe Farina was later celebrated as the first world champion.
The heroes of that time were still driving on the legendary steep face. This week, the modern-day Alfa Sauber drivers and other team members explored it on foot.
If you walk the track at @Autodromo_Monzayou have to climb the banking... it's the law. Because then everybody gets the chance to watch you try and get back down again!#AlfaRomeoSauberF1Team #Italiangp @F1 pic.twitter.com/YJD2rcSm4a
- Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) August 30, 2018
The 14th race of the 2018 Formula 1 season will take place over 52 laps (306.720 km) and will start at 3.10 p.m. on Sunday, September 2 (TV live on SRF zwei from 2.30 p.m., from 3.30 p.m. on SRF info).
On the same day, Marcus Ericsson celebrates his 28th birthday - no question that he wants nothing more than more world championship points.