Monza, the temple of speed

He is probably surrounded in red on the drivers’ calendar. The Italian Grand Prix takes place this weekend on one of the most iconic circuits in the competition. Home of the Tifosi, loyal supporters of the Scuderia Ferrari, Monza is about to come alive for a few days. However, the prancing horse team needs to live up to expectations.

Speed is queen

At 5.793 kilometers long, the Monza circuit offers speeds reaching over 350 km/h and requires full power for three-quarters of the track. At this pace, the Italian race is also the fastest on the calendar, as it is completed in just over 75 minutes. In fact, the fastest lap in the history of F1 was set there by Lewis Hamilton, clocking an average speed of 264.362 km/h with a time of 1:18.887 during qualifying in 2020.

Four long straight lines, two technical chicanes, 11 turns and a multitude of passing opportunities: that’s what awaits at the temple of speed. With such a program, it’s no wonder that it is a favorite among drivers.

The (almost) oldest…

If it celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, the Monza circuit hosted its first Grand Prix in 1939, making it the oldest European track. The original layout, 10 km long, combined a road circuit and a 4.5 km speed oval, with the two straight lines connected by two banking turns. Over the years, as safety became a concern, two chicanes were added while the oval disappeared. The banking turns also disappeared, and the circuit obtained its current configuration in 2000.

… But also the deadliest

The Italian track also holds a sad record, that of being the deadliest circuit with the deaths of 52 drivers and numerous spectators.

The year 1928 is marked by an accident that remains, to this day, one of the most serious in the history of motor racing. Emilio Materassi and 22 spectators lose their lives as a result of a collision on the 17th lap between the Italian driver and Giulio Foresti’s Bugatti on the straight in front of the pits. The race continues nonetheless, with only the Talbot drivers from the Scuderia Materassi team retiring. Following this tragedy, the organization of the Italian Grand Prix will be suspended for the next two years.

In 1933, while the Grand Prix was only taking place on the speed ring, two accidents occurred on the south banking. The story goes that they were caused by oil on the track. Three famous drivers, Giuseppe Campari, Baconin Borzacchini, and Count Stanisław Czaykowski, lost their lives within a few hours of each other.

The 1961 edition will be the scene of yet another sad event. From the second round, Jim Clark’s Lotus and Wolfgang Von Trips’ Ferrari collide. The German, who was not wearing a safety harness at the time, is sent out of the barriers at the Parabolica turn and dies instantly. His single-seater crashes into the side embankment, hitting the crowd before falling back onto the track, causing the death of 15 spectators.

More recently, with much less tragic consequences, it is still worth noting the spectacular collision between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in 2021. The current world champion’s car flew over the Mercedes, with one of the wheels barely touching the British driver’s helmet, saved by his halo.

The Pirelli choice

She had made her debut in Hungary before the summer break, the new tire allocation regulations, are back for a second test. Pirelli has decided to bring its C1, C2, and C3 compounds, the same choice as in Zandvoort last weekend.

« Monza is synonymous with speed […] therefore, teams use the lowest possible levels of aerodynamic downforce to enhance top speed by reducing drag. Braking stability and traction coming out of chicanes are the two key factors that put the most strain on tires on this circuit, as well as the lateral forces exerted in fast corners », explains Mario Isola.

For this last race of the European tour, Max Verstappen is obviously the clear favorite. But Monza has its share of surprises, as shown by the unexpected victories of Pierre Gasly in 2020 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2021. Who will be crowned at the temple of speed this year? Can Ferrari achieve a feat, fueled by the fervor of its fans? The answer will be revealed on Sunday starting at 15:00.