Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monza: Small silver stab in the red heart

The common thread throughout this very special Formula 1 racing weekend is actually a stone wall. It encompasses the Royal Park of Monza over a length of around 13 kilometers. Behind it lies an automotive sanctuary in Italy National Autodrome. A state of emergency is always guaranteed here, and a Vespa race by the marshals would be enough. But this Italian Grand Prix, the 76th guest appearance of the premier class in the Milan suburbs, threatens to blow up all the enthusiasm the racing series has experienced so far.

In Kimi Antonelli, for the first time since the times of Alberto Ascari in the 1950s, an Italian will come to a home game as the world championship leader. His first pursuer, 59 points behind, is Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari. Basically, the hearts belong to every driver in the red car. But the extraordinary starting point means that we can imagine every Ferrarista as Faust: “You are only aware of one drive; O never get to know the other! Two souls live, alas! in my chest, one wants to separate from the other.” It is the Grand Prix of great emotions.

On the high-speed track with the slogan Temple of Speed The energy management of the engines may be an issue for the drivers, but it is not one for the more than 100,000 spectators who are expected. They get excited at the mere sight of a motorcycle standard and four Alfa Romeos in police livery escorting an off-road vehicle with Württemberg license plates through the park; behind the tinted windows they imagine the Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. An efficient, discreet appearance, his big pose is only available on the autograph cards for Monza, but even there, in his black racing suit, he rather shyly reaches for the hem of the Italian flag. Does that have anything to do with the planned engine change, which threw him back to the back of the field in the 13th World Championship round on Sunday? “It frees me, it relieves the pressure,” says Antonelli. Things were different last year at the same place, where he had to prove that he deserved his place in Formula 1 and came ninth, almost a minute behind. Now all he can do is win.

Lewis Hamilton, the other newcomer of the year in Formula 1, seems to be much more sure of himself. The vexing issue of stable orders at the Scuderia is ignored for the moment when he drives up to the pit area to start work. In a restored Ferrari F 40, which is said to be a barn find and even has the numbers 44 in the engine block, coincidentally the Briton’s original starting number. A story that even the narrator, Hamilton, finds almost unbelievable. He climbs out of the flat sports car, which is worth a good three million euros (there is no need to puzzle over the color of the car), and there are not only dozens of photographers there, but also an assistant behind the rear spoiler who puts a beige Ferragamo coat over the shoulders of his black tailored suit.

“I firmly believe that we have everything to win,” says Lewis Hamilton

“I wanted to show up in this way to pay tribute to this sport, but also to capture a moment that will never come again,” says Hamilton. He then poses with a briefcase, the message is clear: he wants to win his eighth world title. “I firmly believe that we have everything to win,” says Hamilton.

In keeping with the weekend of grand gestures, opposite the old main stand there is a not-so-charming, functional building that can be dismantled – the Schumacher Lounge. Ferrari is also celebrating two big anniversaries in Monza: It is the 30th anniversary of his first appearance and first victory as a Ferrari driver at the Autodromo; 20 years ago he ended his career with the Scuderia, also with a victory. The trailer for the Netflix documentary, which will be broadcast from October 2nd, will be in the pavilion on Friday Schumacher 94 presented. Ferrari is also celebrating its most successful driver in style: the paintwork of the current racing cars is based on the great Schumi years, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are wearing corresponding applications on their racing suits, Schumacher’s companions Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello will be chasing an F 2002 around the track as part of the supporting program. The wild celebrations make Schumacher manager Sabine Kehm proud: “Michael deserves to have his legacy honored.”

On a pillar in the Schumacher lounge, five of the Kerpener’s seven world championship titles are immortalized with golden laurel wreaths – only those that he won with Ferrari. This makes it clear what counts here. For the hardcore fans, Benetton is just a sweater manufacturer. Lewis Hamilton, who also won seven overall victories with Mercedes, reflects: “I remember playing computer games as a child and always being Michael in that Ferrari and imagining what it would be like to be in his shoes. Now I enjoy the privilege of being able to have this experience myself. It’s an indescribable feeling.” Especially because he has real chances of winning the title after a disappointing debut in his second year. His team is launching a further engine expansion stage in Monza; the audience can expect nothing less. “For the Italians there is the Pope and Ferrari, as far as I know, and pasta and pizza and the family,” says the 41-year-old Brit, who is said to be about to extend his contract.

For the Italian media, it’s not just the duel between generations that is important at the weekend, the question of when Kimi Antonelli will slip into the Ferrari red racing suit is also crucial. A coded reference is made to Max Verstappen, who will probably spend his entire career at Red Bull Racing: “Kimi, is it better to stay loyal or try something else?” The Mercedes media department had long since prepared Antonelli for such trick questions, so he says with apparent impartiality: “I can’t answer that well, after all, my career is just beginning. I would probably do the same as Max, I owe Mercedes a lot. Maybe I’ll stay there forever, we’ll see.” A small silver tinge right in the middle of the red heart.