F1 Tracks: Monza - Italian Grand Prix

A trip to Monza is a must for any motor racing fan. Known as the Temple of Speed, the circuit near Milan has long been the fastest track on the Formula 1 calendar.

Steeped in history, the circuit has hosted more F1 races than any other, having played host to the Italian Grand Prix every year since the inaugural championship in 1950, with the sole exception of 1980, when the race was at Imola.

The passionate Tifosi - Ferrari's army of fans - flock to the circuit every September ensuring an electric atmosphere, especially when their beloved Scuderia wins the race.

The post-race track invasion has become such a tradition that the podium extends out over the start/finish straight, allowing the fans below to get a taste of the celebratory champagne shower.

What	Italian Grand Prix
Where	Monza, Italy
When	14:00 Sunday, 3rd September
How to watch	Sky Sports F1

Where is Monza?

The track sits in the middle of the Royal Villa of Monza Park, in a woodland setting near the town of Monza, north of Milan.

There are three track layouts available. The full Grand Prix circuit, a 1.5-mile Junior track and a 2.6-mile oval with steeply-banked concrete turns which featured in the 1967 movie Grand Prix.

When was Monza first built?

The circuit was built in 1922 and at the time was one of only three purpose-built motor racing circuits in the world, along with Brooklands and Indianapolis.

How long is Monza?

The current layout, in use since 2000, measures 5.793km and features 11 turns.

The track remains largely the same as the original design and despite the additions of three chicanes to improve safety, it is an incredibly fast lap.

Power is king at Monza and cars are set up for maximum top speed and minimum downforce. That makes it unique among F1 tracks and can lead to unusual results, such as Daniel Ricciardo's victory for McLaren in 2021.

When did Monza first host an F1 race?

The Italian Grand Prix was the seventh and final round of the inaugural F1 World Drivers' Championship in 1950. 

The great Juan Manuel Fangio claimed pole position and was one of three drivers in with a chance of the title at the start of the race. However, after the Argentinian's Alfa Romeo broke down he took over the car of team-mate Piero Taruffi, which also failed to finish.

Nino Farina in another Alfa won the race and the title with Alberto Ascari second for Ferrari and Luigi Fagioli - the third championship contender - finishing third.

In fifth place was the Frenchman Philippe Etancelin, who at the age of 53 remains the oldest driver ever to score a world championship point.

Monza has traditionally become the final European event of the F1 season.

Who has won the most F1 races at Monza?

There have been 19 multiple winners at Monza in F1 but fittingly the two most successful drivers of all time head the list.

Seven-time world champions Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have each taken five Italian Grand Prix wins, with the German scoring all of his Monza successes at the wheel of a Ferrari.

What is the F1 lap record at Monza?

Rubens Barrichello holds the race lap record at the track with a 1min 21.046sec set on lap 41 of the 2004 race. 

Ferrari driver Barrichello, who also started from pole position, won the race ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Schumacher.

The fastest ever lap of the track was Lewis Hamilton's 1min 18.887sec, which put him on pole position for the 2020 edition.

The Mercedes driver averaged 164.267mph, making it the fastest lap in Formula 1 history.

Does Monza host any other events?

Despite its age, Monza is still considered one of the world's premier racing circuits. 

It has hosted numerous car and motorcycle racing series over the years but now is mostly a sportscar venue outside of F1 weekend.

The GT World Challenge visits in April, while the 24H Series endurance championship takes place in June before the 12-hour long World Endurance Championship event in July with the Grand Prix taking place in September.

What is the weather like at Monza?

The September date means summery weather is the norm at Monza, and wet races are rare.

One notable exception was the 2008 race, which saw Sebastian Vettel become the youngest pole-sitter and youngest race winner in F1 history with his maiden victory at the wheel of his Toro Rosso.