Italian Grand Prix

The Italian Grand Prix is the fifth oldest national Grand Prix having been held since 1921. It’s held at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on the outskirts of Monza city and it boasts the fastest average speed of any F1 track, 256km/hr, with just 11 corners; no other track has fewer.

In normal times, the race draws a parochial and rowdy crowd of passionate Ferrari fans eager to urge their boys on.

For my money, the best grandstand is the one on the outside of turn 1. It’s where many overtakes and overshots take place and the fanzone is not far away.

The best place to spot drivers is along the main entry road that winds through the park. The drivers’ car park is a short walk from the paddock gates and if you can get there, you’ll see them all walk (or ride) in.

There are few great hotels near the track so if you’re after 4/5 star properties you’ll need to look in Milan.

The one luxury hotel in Monza is the Hotel De La Ville not far from the track. This is where a crowd of a couple of hundred gather each morning and night in the hope of seeing their favourite driver. There is also a group of drivers who stay in motorhomes in a secured compound near to the track but you’ll be hard pressed to a) know where that is, and b) get anywhere near it.

Traffic around the area on the weekend gets busy as the roads are tight and few in number so many park on the outskirts and walk in.

This was the only track with a podium jutting out over the track until Abu Dhabi installed their similar but smaller podium in 2023. In normal times, the crowd invades the main straight post-race providing the most colourful fan spectacle of the year. But a word of warning, keep your belongings close as not all of those around you are there just to enjoy the spectacle.