Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix is upon us. The stars of Formula One will take to the Monza road course for a second straight week of action. So far, the race looks like it could be Ferrari’s to lose, but will they?

Here’s the race preview.

Ferrari’s Look Fast, Can They Prevail

Charles LeClerc gave Ferrari their first win of the season last weekend in Spa. In fact, Ferrari started 1-2 in that race for that first distinction since earlier this season. Now, can they win two straight?

LeClerc was quickest in both practice sessions on Friday. He finished 11th in this race last year for a different team.

Sebastian Vettel was eighth and third respectively on Friday but does have four consecutive top four finishes in Italy including three of which being podiums. He’s won this race twice but both times were with Red Bull Racing.

The German and his teammate are hoping to give the Prancing Horse’s their first win on their home turf since 2010. Can they go 2-for-2 since the summer break?

Mercedes Has Been Dominant In Past At Monza

Heading into this weekend, Mercedes had to be the team to beat. They’ve won the last five Italian Grand Prix’s and six of the last seven overall. Lewis Hamilton has won four of those trips including a runner-up (2016) in the other.

He’s looking to extend his points lead over his teammate Valtteri Bottas on Sunday as the gap is 65 points. Bottas’ last five finishes in Italy are – 4th, 4th, 6th, 2nd and 3rd respectively. So, you can see he’s pretty good there. Plus, Bottas got back on track with a third place finish last weekend in Belgium as well.

Honda’s Looking Stout On Friday, Not So Much On Saturday

On Friday, the Red Bull’s and Toro Rosso’s were strong. Max Verstappen was seventh and fifth respectively. His new teammate Alex Albon was fifth and sixth respectively himself. The Toro Rosso drivers were sixth and 10th (Daniil Kvyat) and 10th and seventh (Pierre Gasly). That’s four of the top 10 all being Honda powered.

Can that translate into a strong race day?

Saturday proved that it may not. Verstappen was second in practice but will start last in 20th. Albon, only qualified eighth. The Toro Rosso cars will roll off 13th and 15th respectively.

Verstappen, has to make up for his first lap mistake last weekend. He now trails Hamilton by 87 points in the standings. He finished seventh in this race in 2016, 10th in 2017 and fifth last year.

Albon is a rookie while Gasly was 14th for Toro Rosso a year ago. Kvyat has scored points just once.

So, if they’re going to contend for points, they need to keep the current pace up and not revert back to the years past.

Renault Quietly Performing

Daniel Ricciardo has improved in each session. He went from 13th to ninth to fifth in practice. He even qualified fifth too. His teammate Nico Hulkenberg was 14th, 11th and seventh respectively in practice and qualified sixth.

Now, can they compete on Sunday?

Prediction

1. 44 Hamilton – He hasn’t had the best of weekends in being fourth, second and sixth respectively in practice, but he rolls off second and has five consecutive top two finishes on the season. Mercedes has won five straight years in Italy and six of the last seven with Hamilton winning four of them. Until someone proves otherwise…
2. 16 Leclerc – I do think he finishes on the podium again. The Ferrari driver was first, first and fourth respectively in practice while also earning the pole too.
3.  5 Vettel – His car has pace and he gives it a podium. Vettel, was eighth, third and first in practice while rolling off fourth too. Vettel, has two third place finishes in his last three years on this road course, so why not a third?
4. 77 Bottas – He finished second in 2017, third in 2018…fourth on Sunday? Bottas, was ninth, fourth and third respectively in practice and also starts third too.
5. 33 Verstappen – He may start last but I do think he moves up for another top five. The Red Bull Racing driver came home fifth last year for his best Italy finish. he was seventh, fifth and second respectively in practice, so he has the speed to make up ground.