The Italian Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2031. Grands Prix have been held in the ‘Temple of Speed’ in Monza since the 1950 World Championship with the exception of 1980 when the track was closed for works of renovation. Satisfaction was expressed by the president of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani. After all, the history of Formula 1 inevitably also passes through the Monza Park. The Monza GP is a mix of sport, social life, innovation of both the racing cars themselves and the race track (there were nine changes from 1922 to 2000).
The characteristics
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza was built in 1922 and is the third oldest permanent racetrack in the world, after Brooklands in England and Indianapolis in the United States. ‘Monza’ is, however, the second oldest still in operation after the Indianapolis oval. On 10 September 1922 the second Italian Grand Prix took place in Monza: 80 laps on a 10 kilometer track. The first to cross the finish line in a Fiat 804 was Pietro Bordino after 5 hours 43’13”. Since the Formula 1 World Championship was established in 1950, Monza has always hosted the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, with the exception of 1980 when it was closed for renovations.
The first winner of the Italian GP was Nino Farina on Alfa Romeo ahead of Dorino Serafini and Alberto Ascari on Ferrari. Monza is closely linked with Ferrari: 20 triumphs for the Maranello team, the first in 1951 with Alberto Ascari, the last this year with Charles Leclerc. Two of the most successful drivers in Monza, Michael Schumacher also on Ferrari (1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006) and Lewis Hamilton on McLaren (2012) and Mercedes (2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018). The Italian Grand Prix in Monza was won by all the great Formula 1 drivers, from Juan Manuel Fangio to Sebastian Vettel via Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Ronnie Peterson, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda , Ayrton Senna, Clay Regazzoni.
Monza, to keep up with the times, underwent major modernization works in 2024 which involved the remaking of the entire route, the expansion of three underpasses and the creation of a completely new one with the aim of improving the traffic, separating vehicular and pedestrian mobility. Next year the Autodromo Nazionale will improve its services and expand the Paddock Club with the consequent new positioning of the press centre.
Domenicali’s words
“I am happy that the Italian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2031. Monza is the heart of Formula 1 history and the atmosphere that you breathe every year is unique with the fans who gather in large numbers to support Ferrari and the drivers”. This is what was declared by the president and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, commenting on the news that the Grand Prix of Italy in Monza will remain on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar until 2031. “The recent upgrades to the circuit’s infrastructure and the planned investment demonstrate a strong commitment to the long-term future of Formula 1 in Italy – he added Domenicali -. I would like to thank the president of the Automobile Club of Italy, the Italian Government and the Lombardy Region for their continued passion and commitment to our sport. I also want to pay tribute to our incredible fans across the country who support Formula 1 with such passion.”