What to Watch this Labor Day Weekend (Sept 4th - Sept 9th)

• Formula 1 - Grand Prix of Italy; from Autodromo di Monza, Italy. Practice. Friday @ 8am - 9:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Grand Prix of Italy; from Autodromo di Monza, Italy. Qualifying. Saturday @ 8am - 9:30am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Formula 1 - Grand Prix of Italy; from Autodromo di Monza, Italy. Race. Sunday @ 7:30am - 10am (NBCSN(HD)) live
• Pirelli World Challenge 2015. Sonoma. Sunday @ 4:30pm - 6:30pm (CBSSN(HD)) delayed airing from 8/29-8/30
• Top Gear (UK). Marathon of past episodes. Monday @ 5pm - 12am (BBCAmerica(HD)) great replays
• Motorweek. Tuesday @ 7:30pm - 8pm (VelocityHD) new
• Wheeler Dealers. VW Thing. Wednesday @ 9pm - 10pm (VelocityHD) new

It's that time again for us to enjoy the majesty that is Monza and the Tifosi that cheer Scudaria Ferrari on. Before that happens a quick recap on what took place at Spa. Mercedes came back with a vengeance, running nearly a second a lap quicker than anyone else on the grid. Hams took pole, again, topping Rosberg's best qualy lap by over half a second. McLaren looked week again, on this power track and Monza likely won't be much different. Ferrari, despite multiple technical issues on Kimi's car and not that great of pace on Vettel's car, had an opportunity for podium via a tire gamble that didn't pan out; Seb lost his right-rear after 27 laps on his primes, just a few laps before the checkered flag (finished out of the points in 12th/DNF; Kimi finished 7th). Force India was quick all weekend and Sergio Perez did quite well (5th). The Williams boys competed hard this weekend, but the pit still cost Bottas a chance at podium (9th) via drive-through due to a busch-league error in tire installation -- one of these tires is not like the other (Massa finished ahead, leap-frogging him in standings). Hamilton got the start he wanted and won, with Rosberg working hard to reel him in. Meanwhile, the Red Bull's were flying quickly on Sunday only to have Ricciardo DNF with an engine failure. Kvyat raced well, overtaking at will, but couldn't catch Grosjean who took his Lotus to a podium for the first time in over a year (with a 5 grid spot penalty for power-unit repairs). Lotus is in the midst of legal troubles and the team treated this podium like a championship. Young Max Verstappen finished 8th on his home track and has looked strong, lately. Four cars retired on this demanding track leaving plenty of mechanical issues to be sorted going into this Italian GP weekend.

With the smoke cleared the driver standings are as follows: Hamilton, Rosberg (-28), Vettel (-67), Raikkonen (-145), Massa (-145). This weekend should be sensational as always with the ruckus fans, but it's hard to say if Ferrari will be able to give the people something to cheer for; we'll have to tune in to find out. Enjoy your weekends.


Video courtesy of Motorweek.