About Monza
The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is a historic race track near the city of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. Built in 1922, it is the world's third purpose-built motor racing circuit after those of Brooklands and Indianapolis. The circuit's biggest event is the Italian Grand Prix. It is known as the "Temple of Speed" due to its long straights and fast corners.
Cars run the lowest downforce packages of the season here to maximize top speed, exceeding 350 km/h on the main straight. This low drag makes the cars unstable under braking, particularly for the tight first chicane, the Rettifilo. The circuit is located within the Royal Park of Monza, providing a unique forested setting.
The atmosphere is dominated by the Tifosi, the passionate Ferrari supporters who flood the track after the race. Famous corners include the Curva Grande, the Lesmos, and the Ascari chicane. The final corner, Parabolica (now Curva Alboreto), is a long, accelerating right-hander that launches cars onto the start/finish straight.
The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is owned by the Automobile Club Milano, a member organisation of the Automobile Club d'Italia federation, and operates under a lease from the municipal governments of Monza and Milan that covers the entire Parco di Monza landholding. Its current F1 hosting agreement, renewed in October 2022 by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, runs until 2031 at an annual fee of roughly 25 million euros heavily subsidised by the Ministry of Sport. Uniquely, the Automobile Club Milano is required by statute to reinvest at least 40 per cent of race-weekend profits into local grassroots motorsport, including the maintenance of the Sanvito ice track in Val Rendena and the Rossano municipal karting circuit near Cosenza. The paddock buildings underwent a partial renovation in 2020 timed for the venue's centenary that September.