What to expect at Italy GP: fast Ferraris, incredible Hulk

Team to watch: Ferrari

• Spa promised much for Ferrari yet turned into a disaster within seconds of the lights going out. The team locked out the second row of the grid and just Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes lay ahead as they reached turn one. But Sebastian Vettel’s aggressive sweep into the corner, unaware he was alongside a third car as well as his team mate, prompted an embarrassing collision. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene reckoned both cars would have finished on the podium without that.

• But if one thing can be taken for granted in F1 it’s that Ferrari will produce something special for Monza. Its drivers are due to receive new power units this weekend, and rumours indicate they will bring a substantial hike in horsepower.
• As Spa showed, fast starts have been a key weapon in Ferrari’s armour this year. If they can out-qualify the Red Bulls, which they should, the long run to Monza’s first corner will give them a great chance to beat the Mercedes. Expect the crowd to go crazy if they do.

Also on the radar: Force India

• The Indian-owned, British-based team is on course for a best-ever finish of fourth place in the constructors’ championship after overtaking Williams at Spa. Both VJM09s finished in the top five.
• Monza should be another great track for the team. They flew at Spa and Nico Hulkenberg put his car on the front row at the Red Bull Ring – another power track. If they can out-score Williams again this weekend they’ll be on course for that fourth place and the financial windfall it brings.

Driver market moves

• Traditionally Monza is the scene of the first major moves on the driver market for next season. Increasingly Singapore appears to be taking over this role, but McLaren are set for crunch talks over their future driver line-up this weekend. Fernando Alonso is staying for 2017 but the team could show his ​fellow world champion team mate Jenson Button the door and bring in highly-rated rookie Stoffel Vandoorne.
• There’s a question mark over Force India’s 2017 line-up too with Sergio Perez courting offers from other teams. The two-times podium finisher this year has been linked with a move to Renault.