THE CIRCUIT
If tracks could talk, oh the stories the Autodromo Nazionale Monza would tell... Built in 1922 this iconic circuit, universally known as ‘The Temple of Speed’, was only the third purpose built racetrack in the world after Brooklands and Indianapolis and has borne witness to sporting triumph and tragedy in equal measure.
What’s the circuit like?
Rapido! McLaren driver Lando Norris’s 263 kph average speed during his 2024 pole lap should give you some idea of the nature of the track the locals call ‘La Pista Magica’. Cars are on full throttle for 80% of the lap, and hit their max on the circuit’s 1.1km start/finish straight. From there, they roar off into the historic park section, where a series of big stops into tight chicanes give the brakes a good workout.
When was the track built?
Constructed in just 110 days in 1922, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza was the world’s third purpose-built race track, coming after Brooklands in the UK and Indianapolis in the US. Like those two tracks, the original circuit featured a daunting series of banked curves, as well as much of the ‘outfield’ section that’s still in use today.
When was its first Grand Prix?
Monza opened its doors on September 3 1922, just a week before it hosted that year’s Italian Grand Prix. It was then part of the original Formula 1 calendar in 1950, and has held the Italian Grand Prix every year, bar one, since.
SAFETY CAR
PROBABILITY:
VSC
PROBABILITY:
Trivia
The Italian Grand Prix has featured on the F1 calendar since the inaugural 1950 season, with Monza home to every race apart from 1980, when Imola played host
FIRST GRAND PRIX:
1950
TRACK LENGTH:
5.793km
LAP RECORD:
1:21.046
Rubens Barrichello (2004)
Previous winners
2024 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2023 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2022 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2021 Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
2020 Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
Previous polesitters
2024 Lando Norris (McLaren)
2023 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
2022 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2021 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2020 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
PIT STOP
TIME LOSS
24.3 S
(Including 2.5s stationary)
OVERTAKES COMPLETED IN 2024:
71
POLE RUN TO TURN 1 BRAKING POINT:
The Driver's Verdict
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault F1 driver
Monza is one of a kind on the calendar, yet in many ways is the simplest track. It’s low downforce and all begins with braking into the chicane for Sector 1 and getting your car to stop as nicely as you can for Turn 1 – that’s the key.
In the middle sector, the Lesmos are actually more fun to drive than they look, with a slight camber. You can carry a bit of speed in, pick your line for a little brake and again through Lesmo 2 as well.
Gravel can greet you if you carry too much speed into Turn 8/9/10 at Ascari – the first part of the corner is the crucial area – but it’s quite bumpy as well. Then stay pinned through 9 and 10, if you get 8 right, which takes you to Parabolica or Curva Alboreto (renamed after the late Michele Alboreto). Sadly, they took away the gravel that was the charm of this final corner, but it’s still a cool challenge – attack it, run right around the outside to carry speed, get on the throttle as soon as possible and charge onto the main straight.
It used to be perilous with the gravel on the outside, whereas now a little bit of the exhilaration is maybe taken away with the tarmac run-off, but it’s still possible to crash and Monza is still a fantastic high-speed circuit.
Current Form
What can be expected going into the Grand Prix weekend?
McLaren again had the edge over their competitors last time out at the Dutch Grand Prix, giving them an even stronger lead in the Teams’ Standings – but the Drivers’ Championship battle took a potentially significant turn when Lando Norris retired due to a mechanical issue.
With team mate Oscar Piastri going on to seal a commanding victory, the Australian stretched out his advantage over Norris in the title fight to 34 points. This means that the Briton has a tougher job on his hands when it comes to trying to close the gap.
However, while admitting that the outcome was “frustrating”, Norris conceded that the squad’s strong pace in Zandvoort was “reassuring” as he vowed to look ahead to the next race, so the 25-year-old will be keen to bounce back this weekend..
Piastri, meanwhile, arrives into the event with momentum, not only from extending his championship lead but also from winning last weekend’s race in faultless style. Can the McLaren driver carry that forward at Monza?
The papaya squad will also remain wary of the potential challenge posed by their rivals. This weekend is of course Ferrari’s home event, one in which Charles Leclerc memorably claimed victory last year. After a double DNF in Zandvoort, the Scuderia would relish the chance to have a better outing in front of the Tifosi.
Mercedes, meanwhile, are looking to catch the Italian team in the fight for P2 in the Teams’ Championship, while Max Verstappen can never be ruled out after another podium for the Red Bull man last time out. And with the midfield scrap continuing behind, there is plenty to keep an eye on this weekend.
Iconic Moment
Vettel's Victory
Following that aforementioned note about Monza featuring on the F1 calendar every year bar one since 1950, it comes as no surprise that our archives are filled with unforgettable moments from decades past.
One particularly special weekend at Monza occurred back in 2008, when a rookie by the name of Sebastian Vettel made quite an impression by clinching his debut pole position and race victory during a rain-soaked event.
Just over a year into his full-time F1 career with the Red Bull-backed Toro Rosso team, Vettel mastered the slippery conditions to upset the establishment not only over one lap but also a race distance. One of the standout underdog results in recent Grand Prix history, it sent Vettel on his way to a glittering career that included 52 more victories and four world titles.
Relive Vettel and Toro Rosso’s special weekend in our video...
