F1 | Too much rhetoric, Ferrari is racing for the podium in Monza

Given the trend, colored blue, this Monza with the Red stained with "Modena yellow" must be revised and reinterpreted in "A" minor, significantly lowering expectations which, instead, going back to a few months ago, would have been very high.

The good thing is that Charles Leclerc has a right of first refusal on pole position, he will just have to drive cleanly, keeping out of trouble and keeping Russell, the most concrete threat, away. The grid penalties for Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton and team mate Sainz (who will give way to the predestined in qualifying) will take care of the rest.

On the negative side, the F1-75 is a very effective weapon for dry fire, but not (anymore) at long range. No particular problems in the developments and in the new fund - this would emerge from the tests in Brianza - but Red Bull simply, inexorably, has a different pace.

Verstappen knows this very well, it is no coincidence that he sports a sly smile, and he professed to be confident and not at all worried about Ferrari, with a laconic and cutting "They are fast, but we are the best".

This is why, putting aside the rhetoric of the home event, the push and warmth of the public and stuff like that that doesn't give away tenths of a second, the state of the art reads more or less like this: Red Bull is favored for a triumphal walk , and Ferrari should welcome a possible podium as a good result.

In Hungary, at Spa and at Zandvoort, Mercedes was stronger in terms of race pace. Perez could move up and put on a show from the back with a fresh engine, Leclerc (and Sainz if he returns to the match) will have to use all their skill to bring the Red team to the podium in their home GP. The risk is to witness a comeback from Perez and the current Russell who mocks the Cavallino.

For this reason, Leclerc must not be upset if and when Verstappen leaves, a bit like in Spa, remaining focused on his race.

Dreaming remains permissible. But telling the reality is necessary. Without fueling false hopes preparatory to bitter disappointments, just because we are racing in Monza. The environmental discourses, the warm stadium, can well adapt to football or other sports; less so when the stopwatch is king.

The Cavallino's objective is to confirm itself on the podium, a result already achieved in Spa and in Holland. As long as you manage the harder tires over the distance, make adequate strategies and keep the Mercedes at bay.

Antonino Rendina