News summary
- Aston Martin chief Mike Krack expects slipstreaming to play a major role at Monza because of the energy limitations of the 2026 power units.
- Krack believes the Italian GP could produce a record number of overtakes and repasses, with the race potentially looking “more like MotoGP.”
- The Aston Martin chief also hopes qualifying will avoid a repeat of the chaotic 2019 Italian GP Q3, when drivers waited for a tow and several failed to start their final laps in time.
Aston Martin chief Mike Krack believes Formula 1 could see a record number of overtakes at the Italian GP this weekend, with the race potentially resembling what is seen in MotoGP.
Monza’s high-speed layout is expected to put particular emphasis on energy management, as the long straights can leave drivers with limited battery deployment. That could create significant differences in speed between cars and lead to repeated position changes throughout the race.
Asked whether the slipstream would be particularly important at Monza this year, Krack agreed that it would.
“I think yes. I think the lack of energy basically that you have here over the qualifying lap will manifest itself in people looking for that,” Krack said.
The Aston Martin chief also recalled the 2019 Italian GP qualifying session, when drivers became so focused on securing a tow that almost nobody wanted to be the first car on track for the final Q3 run.
“I hope we will not have a situation like 2019,” Krack said. “Nobody wants to be first, probably. But I think there will be more of this than we have seen in recent years.”
Beyond the drivers themselves, Krack highlighted the operational challenge teams face when deciding when to send their cars onto the circuit.
“It will definitely be an interesting exercise to validate your models, but also to see how operationally you manage it, because it’s one side to say the effect is big or the effect is small, but also you have to be in a position to be able to follow someone,” he explained.
“There are quite a lot of restrictions on the energy side this weekend. So I think it will be interesting to see how teams will go about it, first of all, in a free-of-tow deployment, but then also in the tow situation.”
The biggest question, however, could come during the race itself. With energy deployment potentially creating significant speed differences between cars, Krack expects drivers to repeatedly pass and then be passed back.
“And then also in the race, how easy will it be to pass, and especially the passing and repassing games probably will be a record of all time here — more like MotoGP,” Krack concluded.
The 2026 Italian GP takes place at Monza from September 4-6. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the 13th round of the Formula 1 season.
FAQ
Why is slipstream expected to be so important at Monza?
The circuit’s long straights and the limited amount of energy available from the power unit make it particularly important for drivers to gain an aerodynamic tow from cars ahead.
Why did Krack mention the 2019 Italian GP?
In 2019, drivers became reluctant to lead the field into the final Q3 runs because of the advantage provided by the slipstream, creating a chaotic qualifying session.
Why does Krack compare the 2026 Italian GP to MotoGP?
He expects an intense cycle of passing and repassing, with energy management potentially causing cars to exchange positions repeatedly.
