Italian Grand Prix: start time and TV details

Jo Harrison
Monza

Monza

This article is about the 2018 Italian Grand Prix. Click here for details about the 2019 Italian Grand Prix.

The 2018 F1 Italian Grand Prix takes centre stage this weekend with the title race between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel reaching boiling point.

The tifosi will be out in huge numbers at Monza to cheer on Ferrari ace Vettel as he bids to peg back Hamilton, and here’s your guide to the big weekend.

When does the Italian Grand Prix take place?

The Italian Grand Prix takes place from August 31 to September 2 inclusive. The action begins with Free Practice 1 and 2 on Friday August 31, followed by Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday September 1. The race proper takes place on Sunday September 2.

What time does the Italian Grand Prix start?

The start times for the Italian Grand Prix are as follows:

Practice 1: Friday August 31, 1100 local time (1000 BST)

Practice 2: Friday August 31, 1500 local time (1400 BST)

Practice 3: Saturday September 1, 1200 local time (1100 BST)

Qualifying: Saturday September 1, 1500 local time (1400 BST)

Race: Sunday September 2, 1510 local time (1410 BST)

Monza fans

Where does the Italian Grand Prix take place?

The Italian Grand Prix takes place at the Autodromo Di Monza, which is around 15km (10 miles) north-east of Milan.  The circuit is easily accessible either via the A1 or A4 routes then the S36 into the town itself. Milan has two airports – Linate is the nearest to Monza and handles the internal and European flights. The more distant Malpensa handles both European and international flights.

The race itself is run over 53 laps of a circuit which is 5.793km long. The original banked track built in 1922 has long since been abandoned, with the modern Monza boasting fast sweeping corners and long straights. Some of the corners have been tightened a little in the interests of safety in recent years and chicanes have been brought into play.

Where can I watch the Italian Grand Prix on TV?

Italian Grand Prix weekend – including the race proper – will be screened live in the UK by pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sports on its dedicated Sky Sports F1 channel. Highlights will be shown by free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4.

Subscribers to F1’s own app can hear radio commentary on the race proper from the BBC along with accessing live data around each session.

PlanetF1 will carry live timing and expert commentary on every session of the race weekend.

The Italian Grand Prix will be shown live on TV by the following outlets in other key markets:

United States: ESPN

Canada: RDS (French), TSN (English)

Australia: Fox Sports

France: Canal +, TF1

Italy: TV8 (Sky coverage), RAI

Germany: RTL

Spain: Movistar F1

What are the odds for the Italian Grand Prix?

Sebastian Vettel is favourite to win the Italian Grand Prix according to major British bookmaker Bet365.

The leading odds are as follows:

5-6 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

2-1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

5-1 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

10-1 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

20-1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

66-1 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)

(Prices correct at 1445 BST on Thursday August 30)

What are the latest F1 Championship standings?

The leaders in the race for the driver and constructor titles are as follows:

Drivers’ Championship

Lewis Hamilton – 231 points

Sebastian Vettel – 214 points

Kimi Raikkonen – 146 points

Valtteri Bottas – 144 points

Max Verstappen – 120 points

Daniel Ricciardo – 118 points

Constructors’ Championship

Mercedes – 375 points

Ferrari – 360 points

Red Bull – 238 points

Full F1 championship standings are here

Which drivers are best at the Italian Grand Prix?

Lewis Hamilton has won the Italian Grand Prix on four occasions heading into this weekend’s race, with title rival Sebastian Vettel successful three times. Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher holds the record for most Italian Grand Prix victories ever, with five in total. Ferrari as a team meanwhile have won their home race 19 times.

Tyre compounds for the Italian Grand Prix

F1 tyre manufacturer Pirelli will bring three compounds to Monza – medium, soft and supersoft.

Grid penalties for the Italian Grand Prix

Renault ace Nico Hulkenberg will be penalised 10 places on the grid for his part in last weekend’s opening-lap crash in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, and starts from the back of the grid for multiple replacement power unit elements.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo starts from the back of the grid at Monza in return for having a new power unit fitted for the Italian Grand Prix.

Marcus Ericsson of Sauber is penalised 10 places on the grid for multiple replacement power unit elements.