Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Italian Grand Prix, Monza, Italy
For many Formula One fans, Monza is the soul of racing, and when you add to this the cultural highlights, nightlife and shopping available in nearby Milan, the appeal of Italian Grand Prix tickets can’t be overstated.
La Pista Magica (‘the magic track’) has been hosting Grands Prix since the 1920s, and you can see the history all around you. The high concrete banking used in the 1950s still stands, a reminder of the days when drivers pushing their cars to the limit flirted with disaster on every lap. It’s safer now, but drivers still complain about the lack of run-off areas and Monza remains one of the fastest tracks on the circuit.
Ever since the Italian Grand Prix was held here in 1922, the second weekend in September has been Monza weekend. You get a sense of what the race means from watching the tifosi, the Ferrari fans who dance on the 3.6-mile track the night before the race and use every psychological trick imaginable to get a result for their heroes.
The design of the Grand Prix track is much as it has always been. There are some long straights, making the power of cars all-important and allowing drivers to race on full throttle for long stretches. Drivers must be aggressive and skilful at every corner to record a really competitive time, and try not to think of the accidents that litter Monza’s history.
Emilio Materassi and 27 spectators died here in 1928, and Wolfgang von Trips and 13 others were killed in 1961 after the German brushed with Jim Clark. Numerous other fatalities include a marshall hit by debris as recently as 2000.
After the von Trips crash, changes were made gradually. Walls, rails and fences were added, the refuelling area moved back, run-off areas put in, more chicanes incorporated, tyre barriers improved and gravel traps installed at the expense of curves.
There have been many magical moments, too. It was at Monza that Niki Lauda reappeared so soon after his terrible accident at Nürburgring in 1976, and it was at Monza that Ferrari scored a fantastic 1-2 finish just a few weeks after Enzo Ferrari’s death, capitalising on an error by Ayrton Senna.
A Page & Moy F1 tour is the ideal way to see the race and live it up in Milan (or relax in Lake Como, if you prefer).
Generally seen as Italy’s most stylish city – against some pretty stiff competition – Milan has a wealth of superb bars and restaurants. The Duomo (cathedral) has a beautiful roof that visitors can walk around (featuring ornate gargoyles channeling rainwater onto the streets), and the city is also home to the 29-feet wide masterpiece The Last Supper. Football fans might like to drop in at the San Siro, where AC and Inter Milan play home games, while shopping fans may already know that Milan has some of Europe’s most exclusive shops and arcades.
If you have a hire car, you can venture further afield to Turin, the French Riviera or Maranello, the home of Ferrari.
How to book
View our complete list of F1 packages to the Italian Grand Prix this year.