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Monza records scoffed - but let's hope!

LONDON, England - Top speeds during the 2014 Italian GP at Monza on September 7 may not be quite as spectacular as hoped, according to Auto Motor and Sport.

The website claims that speeds could be lower despite predictions that Formula 1's new turbo V6-powered machines could soar beyond the 370km/h+ record set during the 2005 Italian GP by Kimi Raikkonen's almost 750kW McLaren-Mercedes V10.

MONZA SPEED RECORDS

Nevertheless the turbo V6 engines, combined with reduced drag, have been turning heads.

At the 2014 Spanish GP, Felipe Massa's Williams topped 342km/h:

• The fastest V8 at the 2013 Spanish GP, Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, made less than 320km/h.
• At the 2014 Canadian GP in June, the fastest car was a tad under 350km/h.
• Similar speeds were seen at 2014 Hungarian GP in July.

Monza, however, has special layout - the last truly ultra-low downforce circuit on the calendar.

In 2013, Esteban Gutierrez's Ferrari-powered Sauber reached 341km/h. With the 2014 field often proving 20-30km/h faster than 2013's V8-powered cars, 370km/h or more had been predicted.

LOWER TOP SPEED

According to analysis by F1 correspondent Michael Schmidt, this is unlikely. He said pre-Monza team simulations had shown an actual likely top speed of 350-355 - perhaps 360km/h in a slipstream.

Force India technical boss Andy Green explained: "The regulations have taken about 10% downforce from us and reduced drag by the same amount but this refers to the circuits where we run with maximum downforce.

"If we now go to Monza then we are comparing ourselves with cars that, in the past, were running with minimal downforce anyway. So the difference will be not so great."

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