Italian F1 Grand Prix

Italian F1 Grand Prix Tour Hotels

Italy – Track and Stands

MILAN INFO

No track gets a Formula One fan’s pulse racing faster than Monza. It’s the quickest circuit on the calendar and also one of the most evocative: the old banking – last used in 1961 – is clearly visible, as are some of the old stands. And when you combine the track’s merits with the cultural delights of nearby Milan, you are left with one of the most alluring races of the season.
 
As well as the city and the circuit, the charms of Lake Como are just a short drive to the north and the Mediterranean coast is only a couple of hours away.
 
“Milan is undoubtedly a great city,” says Italian former driver Giancarlo Fisichella. “It’s very beautiful, with some great places to see and good food. But there are some great pizzerias in Monza itself and I try to eat in one over the GP weekend.”
 
Did you know?
A staggering 83 Italian drivers have started Grands Prix and two – Nino Farino and Alberto Ascari – have become world champion.
 
Thick woodland in the centre of the track limits the amount of grandstand space at the second chicane and the Lesmos, but there are great seats available at the first chicane, Ascari and Parabolica. Grandstand prices are split into three categories, while general admission has the advantage of letting you visit the more inaccessible areas of the circuit, such as the old banking.
 
To complete your Monza experience, visit Mr Acquati’s memorabilia and book shop behind the paddock. He has a treasure chest of race-related gems, with something to appeal to every Formula One fan.
 
Milan has every kind of bar, club and museum you could wish for. The Duomo is the world’s fourth-largest church, the Pinacoteca di Brera is the city’s leading art gallery and take a look at the San Siro football stadium, home to both AC and Inter Milan. The way to start an evening out is with cocktails at the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of town before checking out the numerous nightspots.

Race History

Monza is regarded by many as the embodiment of Formula One racing.
 
Not only is it a fantastic example of a track that combines speed with skill, it also has a heart and soul all of its own. It has seen some of the finest races of all time, but also some of the sport’s worst accidents. The names of great drivers and the sounds of engines from years gone by linger in the grand old trees surrounding the track in the royal park.
 
Work began on the circuit in 1922 and was completed in under six months. After Brooklands in the UK and Indianapolis in the USA, it was the third permanent race track in existence. With a banked oval incorporated into the design of the road racing circuit, the total track length stood at a whopping 10 kilometres.
 
Formula One racing visited the circuit as part of the inaugural season in 1950, and it has remained a permanent fixture on the calendar ever since.
 
Over that time, Monza has borne witness to an incredible list of historic moments, famous victories and horrifying crashes. All combine to make it one of the most magical places on the Formula One calendar. For many there is nowhere that encapsulates the sport better than this circuit. The Italians call it ‘La Pista Magica’, the magic track, a description few would disagree with.