Monza Speed Trap: Who is the fastest of them all?

Italy's Autodromo Nazionale Monza fully deserves its label as motorsport's Temple of Speed.

However fast an F1 car is designed to go, it has the potential to reach or even exceed its top speed capabilities at Monza.

And that was once again the case for Williams' aero sleek FW44 which, like at Spa last month, topped the speed trap readings.

The two 'Nics' - Latifi and de Vries - powered down Monza's main straight at approximately 340 kph, edging Carlos Sainz's Ferrari.

It was perhaps a surprise not to see Red Bull's typically redoubtably swift RB18 among the quickest cars on the straight, as has been the case for most of this season.

• Read also: Hamilton expecting 'tough' race in DRS train at Monza

But at Monza, Red Bull has deliberately opted to run a higher downforce wing configuration, a choice that theoretically allows for higher exit speeds at, for instance, the Ascari chicane and at the Paraboloca for the RB18 relative to those of its main rival Ferrari.

After qualifying, Max Verstappen, who will launch his race from P7 on the grid, said that he was confident of moving up to second in short order.

But overhauling poleman Charles Leclerc – assuming the Monegasque leads the race from the start – will be a different challenge altogether that will pit the strong velocity on the straights of Ferrari's F1-75 against the superior cornering and exit speeds of Red Bull's RB18.

A battle royale at the Temple of Speed is in the making…

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