Monza is decided by straight-line efficiency and slipstream mathematics more than by cornering ability. Wing levels are stripped back, so teams with a strong power unit and low drag tend to come alive here even if their season form is ordinary. Qualifying matters less than usual because the passing zones are real, which means grid slips can be recovered. Tyre degradation is typically mild and one-stop strategies dominate, so the pit wall has fewer levers to pull. Watch for tow games in qualifying, which can distort the grid, and for safety cars triggered by first-lap chicane chaos. Backing a driver who is fearless on the brakes and calm in traffic is usually sounder than backing the fastest car.