Everything You Need To Know About The Italian GP at Monza

In November, Formula 1 announced a six-year extension of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Monza will continue being the home of F1 in Italy until at least 2031.

The circuit, which has been in continuous use for decades, was recently upgraded to support the future of the event. Monza is where, ironically, one of the best Italian soccer teams (AC Monza) also calls home.

“The recent upgrades to the circuit’s infrastructure and the planned investment show a strong commitment to the long-term future of Formula 1 in Italy,” said Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

The upgrades mentioned in Formula 1’s announcement include a $21 million resurfacing project, as well as other updates on or around the track.

This is good news for Formula 1 fans, particularly as Monza’s relationship with the event is historic. What will the future of the Italian Grand Prix look like in view of this new deal, and the recent renovations?

History of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza

The Italian Grand Prix is one of the oldest active racing events. While several countries got an earlier start at championship racing (including the United States) no other nation has hosted more Grand Prix than Italy.

The first Italian Grand Prix was held in 1921. Italy has also hosted the most Formula 1 events—with 107 to its name at the time of writing.

With one exception, all of these events have taken place in Monza. The 1980 Italian Grand Prix was moved to Imola following the tragic 1978 death of Ronnie Peterson at the Monza circuit. Peterson crashed into a barrier and was actually conscious when he went to the hospital, but passed away of renal failure the next night.

Unfortunately, Peterson’s death was just one of many to take place during Formula 1 events, but the highly publicized tragedy led to safety upgrades that postponed Monza’s hosting of the event until 1981.

All to say that Formula 1’s contract extension with Monza may have come as a relief to racing fans, but it is far from surprising. To those passionate about Formula 1, the Italian Grand Prix is an important staple event and one that is inextricably linked with Monza. One can safely expect many more contract extensions to come.

Renovation Problems?

The resurfacing project that helped Monza retain the event was necessary to keep the track safe and usable. However, the new materials used to complete the upgrade caused complications almost immediately after they were applied.

In August, during a practice run the track reached temperatures of nearly 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because the track’s blacktop surface traps and stores heat more effectively than previous materials.

This number is well below the “danger zone,” of 195 degrees, but tires also accumulate heat when they are used at high speeds.  This is due to friction.

Formula 1 drivers do not necessarily worry about tire heat much because they have immense on-track support. In fact, tires are often warmed before a Formula 1 race for better traction. Warm tires “grip,” better than cold tires, making it easier to handle the car.

However, the high temperature of the track, coupled with the responsiveness of the materials caused some analysts to worry.

The track is smoother than it was prior to the resurfacing project, causing what insiders describe as both a “gripping problem,” and a “graining issue.” Basically, the new surface of the track could cause tires to degrade quicker than the driver is used to which could have dangerous consequences.

Pirelli F1 engineer, Simone Berra described the issue in this way:

‘We are seeing high levels of degradation compared to 2023. At the moment, we are not thinking about going to a two-stop race. Even the teams are not thinking about it. They are keeping two hard compounds for the race; they want to be safe in case degradation values are higher, or there is a safety car, and they can exploit this window to pit and put a new set [on]. I think the degradation level and thermal management of the tire will be the key to complete the race on a one-stop.’

This, of course, does not mean that the recent renovations are a $20 million disaster. It does mean that racers may need to compensate in order to finish the race with the level of speed and safety that they are used to.