The Italian Grand Prix is only a few days away, and Monza is ready to welcome the teams, drivers and fans in typical Italian fashion. From teary moments to the Tifosi showing up in style, the fastest circuit in Formula 1 has never lacked entertainment on or off the track.
Monza was on the F1 calendar from the very beginning and has hosted all Italian Grands Prix but one since 1950. Here are some of the most unforgettable moments from the Temple of Speed in recent racing history…
Leclerc delights the Tifosi
There’s arguably nothing more special for an F1 driver than winning for Ferrari on home soil at Monza – something Charles Leclerc acheived in 2019 when he topped the podium in Italy, taking his second career win in Formula 1 and his first at Monza.
“There were people as far as I could see,” he said afterwards. “It was packed. I was trying to find my mum. She was in a grandstand… I was trying to find her but there were way too many people.”
Schumacher equals Senna’s tally
No driver has won more races for Ferrari than the great Michael Schumacher, but perhaps one of his most emotional victories was in the 2000 Italian Grand Prix?
After missing the previous year’s Grand Prix, the German driver returned to Monza in top shape, winning the race in front of the Tifosi. It was his 41st career victory, meaning he equalled the tally Ayrton Senna – something a very emotional Schumacher was reminded about in the post-race press conference.
Ferrari turns 90
Ferrari chose the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix to celebrate their 90th anniversary in 2019, when they took over Piazza Duomo in Milan to hold a special “90 years of emotions” event which saw Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel alongside drivers and management from the past, marking the storied history of the Maranello team in front of a sea of red jerseys and caps with the iconic Duomo di Milano as a backdrop.
