| The Temple of Speed | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Modern Grand Prix Circuit (2000–present) | |
| Location | Monza, Italy[1] |
| Coordinates | 45°37′14″N9°17′22″E / 45.62056°N 9.28944°E /45.62056; 9.28944 |
| Capacity | 118,865[2] |
| FIA Grade | 1[3] |
| Owner | Communes ofMonza &Milan[1] |
| Operator | SIAS S.p.A.[1] |
| Broke ground | 15 May 1922; 103 years ago (1922-05-15) |
| Opened | 3 September 1922; 103 years ago (1922-09-03) |
| Architect | Alfredo Rosselli |
| Former names | Autodromo Nazionale di Monza (1965–1974, 1983–present) Autodromo di Monza (1928–1964, 1975–1982) Circuito di Milano (1922–1927) |
| Major events | Current: Formula One Italian Grand Prix (1950–1979, 1981–present) GT World Challenge Europe (2013–2019, 2021, 2023–present) TCR World Tour (2025) Former: FIA WEC and predecessors 6 Hours of Monza (1949–1988, 1990–1992, 1995–2001, 2003–2005, 2007–2008, 2021–2023) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Italian motorcycle Grand Prix (1949–1968, 1970–1971, 1973, 1981, 1983, 1986–1987) World SBK (1990, 1992–1993, 1995–2013) FIM EWC (1964–1965, 1985, 1987) Monza Rally Show (1978–2000, 2003–2021, 2023–2024) WTCCRace of Italy (2005–2008, 2010–2013, 2017) Race of Two Worlds (1957–1958) |
| Website | https://www.monzanet.it |
| Modern Grand Prix Circuit (2000–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.793[4][5] km (3.600 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:20.901 (257.781 km/h (160.178 mph)) (  Lando Norris,McLaren MCL39,2025,F1) |
| Motorcycle Circuit (2010–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.777 km (3.590 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:42.229 (Tom Sykes,Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R,2013,World SBK) |
| Junior Course (1959–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.405[5] km (1.494 mi) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Race lap record | 0:54.300 ( Giorgio Schön,Porsche 934/76, 1976,Group 5) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1999) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.770 km (3.585 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:24.808 ( Mika Häkkinen,McLaren MP4/12,1997,F1) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1994–1995) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.834 km (3.625 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:24.808 (Damon Hill,Williams FW16B,1994,F1) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1976–1993) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.800 km (3.604 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:23.575 (Damon Hill,Williams FW15C,1993,F1) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1974–1976) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.780 km (3.592 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:29.600 ( Jean-Pierre Jarier,Renault Alpine A442,1976,Group 6) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1972–1973) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.775 km (3.588 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:21.900 (François Cevert,Matra-Simca MS670,1973,Group 5) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1955–1959, 1962–1971) Motorcycle Circuit (1955–1973) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 5.750 km (3.573 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 1:23.800 (Henri Pescarolo,March 711,1971,F1) |
| Oval (1955–1971) | |
| Surface | Concrete/Asphalt |
| Length | 4.250[5] km (2.641 mi) |
| Turns | 2 |
| Banking | ≈30° |
| Race lap record | 0:54.000 (283.34 km/h (176.06 mph)) (  Bob Veith,Bowes Seal Fast Special, 1958,IndyCar) |
| Combined Course (1955–1971) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/Concrete |
| Length | 10.000 km (6.214 mi) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Race lap record | 2:43.600 (223.02 km/h (138.58 mph)) (  Phil Hill,Ferrari 246 F1,1960,F1) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1948–1954) | |
| Length | 6.300 km (3.915 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 1:56.200 (Giuseppe Farina,Alfa Romeo 159M,1951,F1) |
| Florio Circuit (1938–1949) | |
| Length | 6.993 km (4.345 mi) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 2:34.200 ( Hermann Lang,Mercedes-Benz W154,1938,GP) |
| Florio Circuit with Temporary Chicanes (1935–1937) | |
| Length | 6.952 km (4.320 mi) |
| Turns | 23 |
| Race lap record | 2:49.800 ( Tazio Nuvolari,Alfa Romeo Monoposto Tipo-C "8C-35",1935,GP) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1934) | |
| Length | 4.329 km (2.690 mi) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 2:13.600 ( Hans Stuck,Auto Union Type A,1934,GP) |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit (1922–1933) | |
| Length | 10.000 km (6.214 mi) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Race lap record | 3:13.200 (Luigi Fagioli,Alfa Romeo P3,1933,GP) |
TheMonza Circuit, officially called theAutodromo Nazionale Monza (Italian for 'Monza National Racetrack'), is a 5.793 km (3.600 mi)race track near the city ofMonza, north ofMilan, in Italy. Built in 1922, it was the world's third purpose-built motor racing circuit afterBrooklands andIndianapolis and the oldest inmainland Europe.[dubious –discuss][6] The circuit's biggest event is theItalian Grand Prix. With the exception of the1980 running when the track was closed while undergoing refurbishment, the race has been hosted there since1949.[7] The circuit is also known as "the Temple of Speed" due to its long straights and high-speed corners.
Built in theRoyal Villa of Monza park in a woodland setting,[8] the site has three tracks – the 5.793 km (3.600 mi)Grand Prix track,[4] the 2.405 km (1.494 mi) Junior track,[5] and a 4.250 km (2.641 mi) high speed oval track with steep bankings, which was left unused for decades and had been decaying until it was restored in the 2010s.[9][7] The major features of the main Grand Prix track include theCurva Grande, theCurva di Lesmo, theVariante Ascari and theCurva Alboreto (formerlyCurva Parabolica[10]). The high speed curve, Curva Grande, is located after theVariante del Rettifilo which is located at the end of the front straight orRettifilo Tribune, and is usually taken flat out by Formula One cars.
In addition to Formula One, the circuit previously hosted the1,000 km Monza, an endurance sports car race held as part of theWorld Sportscar Championship and theLe Mans Series. Monza also featured the uniqueRace of Two Worlds events, which attempted to run Formula One andUSAC National Championship cars against each other. The racetrack also previously held rounds of theGrand Prix motorcycle racing (Italian motorcycle Grand Prix),WTCC,TCR International Series,Superbike World Championship,Formula Renault 3.5 Series andAuto GP. Monza currently hosts rounds of theBlancpain GT Series Endurance Cup,International GT Open andEuroformula Open Championship, as well as various local championships such as theTCR Italian Series,Italian GT Championship,Porsche Carrera Cup Italia andItalian F4 Championship, as well as theMonza Rally Show. In 2020, Monza hosted the2020 World Rally Championship final round,ACI Rally Monza, with the circuit hosting 10 of the 16 rally stages.
Monza also hosts cycling and running events, most notably the Monza 12h Cycling Marathon[11] and Monza 21 Half Marathon.[11] The venue was also selected byNike scientists for theBreaking2 event, where three runners attempted to break the 2-hour barrier for themarathon.Eliud Kipchoge ran 2:00:25.[12]
A very fast circuit, Monza has beenthe site of many fatal accidents, especially in the early years of the Formula One world championship,[13] and has claimed the lives of 52 drivers and 35 spectators. Track modifications have continuously occurred, to improve spectator safety and reduce curve speeds,[7] but it is still criticised by the current drivers for its lack ofrun-off areas, most notoriously at thechicane that cuts theVariante della Roggia.[13][obsolete source]
The first track was built from May to July 1922 by 3,500 workers, financed by the Milan Automobile Club[8] – which created theSocietà Incremento Automobilismo e Sport (SIAS) (English:Society for the Promotion of Motor Racing and Sport) to run the track.[14] The initial form was a 3.4 square kilometres (1.31 sq mi) site containing a paved 4.490 km (2.790 mi) oval and a 5.500 km (3.418 mi) road course which could be run as a combined 10.000 km (6.214 mi) course via their shared front straight.
The track was officially opened on 3 September 1922, with the maiden race the second Italian Grand Prix held on 10 September 1922. Monza's close proximity to Milan, the center of Italy's economy, the largest metropolitan area in Italy and one of Europe's leading major cities made Monza a particularly convenient location for racing and other events.[14]
In 1928, the most serious Italian racing accident to date[8][13] ended in the death of driverEmilio Materassi and 27 spectators atthat year's Italian Grand Prix.[8][13] The accident led to further Grand Prix races' confinement to the high-speed loop until 1932.[15] For these reasons the Italian Grand Prix was not held again until 1931; in the meantime the 1930Monza Grand Prix was held on the high speed ring only, while in 1930Vincenzo Florio introduced the Florio Circuit. The1933 Italian Grand Prix was held on the original complete layout but it was marred by the deaths of three drivers (Giuseppe Campari,Baconin Borzacchini andStanisław Czaykowski) in the supporting Monza Grand Prix held on the same day - which became known as the "Black Day of Monza" - over the shorter oval circuit[14][16][17] and the Grand Prix layout was changed: in 1934 a short circuit with two lanes of the straight line joined by a hairpin,Curva Sud of the banking (with a double chicane) driven in the opposite direction than usual, the "Florio link" and theCurva Sud (with a small chicane). This configuration was considered too slow and in 1935 Florio Circuit was used again, this time with four temporary chicanes and another one permanent (along theCurva Sud of the banking). In 1938 only the last one was used.[18]
There was major rebuilding in 1938–39, constructing new stands and entrances, resurfacing the track, removing the high speed ring and adding two new bends on the southern part of the circuit.[14][15] The resulting layout gave a Grand Prix lap of 6.300 km (3.915 mi), in use until 1954.[19] The outbreak of World War II meant racing at the track was suspended until 1948[19] and parts of the circuit degraded due to the lack of maintenance and military use.[7] Monza was renovated over a period of two months at the beginning of 1948[14] and a Grand Prix was held on 17 October 1948.[19]
In 1954, work began to entirely revamp the circuit, resulting in a 5.750 km (3.573 mi) course, and a new 4.250 km (2.641 mi) high-speed oval with bankedsopraelevata curves (the southern one was moved slightly north).[7][20] The two circuits could be combined to re-create the former 10 kilometres (6.214 mi)[7] long circuit, with cars running parallel on the main straight. The first Lesmo curve was modified to be made faster, and the track infrastructure and facilities were also updated and improved to better accommodate the teams and spectators.[14][20]
TheAutomobile Club of Italy held 500 mi (800 km)Race of Two Worlds exhibition competitions, intended to pitUnited States Auto ClubIndyCars against European Formula One and sports cars.[7][20] The races were held on the oval at the end of June in 1957 and 1958,[21] with three 63 lap[22] 267.67 kilometres (166.32 mi) heat races each year, races which colloquially became known as theMonzanapolis series.[21][23] Concerns were raised among the European drivers that flat-out racing on the banking would be too dangerous,[23] so ultimately onlyEcurie Ecosse andMaserati represented European racing at the first running.[24] The American teams had brought specialFirestone tyres with them, reinforced to withstand high-speed running on the bumpy Monza surface, but the Maseratis' steering was badly affected by the larger-than-usual tyre size, leading to theModena-based team withdrawal.[24]
Ecurie Ecosse's threeJaguar D-type sports cars used theirLe Mans-specification tyres with no ill-effects, but since they raced at less than their practice speeds to conserve their tyres, they were completely outpaced. Two heats in 1957 were won byJimmy Bryan in hisKuzma-OffenhauserDean Van Lines Special,[24][25] and the last byTroy Ruttman in theWatson-OffenhauserJohn Zink Special.[26] In 1958Jaguar,Ferrari and Maserati teams appeared alongside the Indy roadsters,[20][27] but once again the American cars dominated the event andJim Rathmann won the three races in aWatson-Offenhauser car.[21]
Formula One used the 10.000 km (6.214 mi) high speed track in the1955,1956,1960 and1961 Grands Prix.[7][20]Stirling Moss andPhil Hill both won twice in this period, with Hill's win at Monza making him the first American to win a Formula One race. The combined circuit was not used for 3 years because during the 1956 event the Ferraris and Maseratis were suffering mechanically on the banking, and the combined circuit was used again in 1960 because Ferrari's main strength that year was straight-line speed and the organizers wanted to maximise this advantage.[28] The 1961 race saw the death ofWolfgang von Trips and fifteen spectators when a collision withJim Clark'sLotus sent von Trips' car airborne and into the barriers at the approach to the Parabolica.[14][28]
Although the accident did not occur on the oval section of the track, the high speeds were deemed unsafe and F1 use of the oval was ended. Another attempt was made to use the combined circuit for the 1963 race, but the extremely bumpy nature and poor overall quality of the concrete banking saw some cars suffer mechanically. The teams protested and threatened to leave unless only the road circuit was used, which is ultimately what happened.[29] Future Grands Prix were held on the shorter road circuit,[20] with the banking appearing one last time in the filmGrand Prix.[29] New safety walls, rails and fences were added before the next race and the refuelling area was moved further from the track. Chicanes were added before both bankings in 1966, and another fatality in the 1968 1000 km Monza race led to run-off areas added to the curves, with the track layout changing the next year to incorporate permanent chicanes before the banked curves – extending the track length by 100 m (110 yd).[20]
The combined circuit held its last major race in 1969 with the 1000 km of Monza, the event moving solely to the road circuit the next year; the banking has never been used again for any major races.[20] The banking still exists, albeit in a decayed state in the years since the last race, escaping demolition in the 1990s. It is used once a year for the Monza Rally, which served part of the2021 World Rally Championship, which was the first FIA championship event since 1969.[29] The banked oval was used several times for record breaking until the late 1960s, although the severe bumping was a major suspension and tyre test for the production cars attempting endurance records, such as theFord Corsair GT which in 1964 captured 13 records.[30]
Both car andGrand Prix motorcycle racing were regular attractions at Monza.[20] These races involved drivers constantly slipstreaming competing cars, which produced several close finishes, such as in1967,1969, and1971.
As the speed of the machines increased, twochicanes were added in 1972 to reduce racing speeds – the Variante del Rettifilo at the middle of the start/finish straight,[31] and the VarianteAscari.[14] This resulted in a new circuit length of 5.755 km (3.576 mi).[31] Grand Prix motorcycles continued to use the un-slowed road track until two serious accidents resulted in five deaths, includingRenzo Pasolini andJarno Saarinen,[31] in 1973, and motorcycle racing did not return to Monza until 1981.[31] The 1972 chicanes were soon seen to be ineffective at slowing cars; theVialone was remade in 1974,[31] the other,Curva Grande in 1976,[14] and a third also added in 1976 before theLesmo, with extended run-off areas.[31] The Grand Prix lap after these alterations was increased to 5.800 km (3.604 mi) long.[31]
With technology still increasing vehicle speeds the track was modified again in 1979 with added safety measures such as new kerbs, extended run-off areas and tyre-barriers to improve safety for drivers off the track.[32] The infrastructure was also improved, with pits able to accommodate 46 cars, and an upgraded paddock and scrutineering facilities.[32] These changes encouraged world championship motorcycling to return in 1981, but further safety work was undertaken through the 1980s.[32] Also in the 1980s the podium, paddock and pits complex, stands,[32][33] and camp site were either rebuilt or improved.[14]
As motorsport became more safety conscious following the deaths ofAyrton Senna andRoland Ratzenberger in1994 at theImola circuit, the three main long curves were "squeezed" in order to install larger gravel traps, shortening the lap to 5.770 km (3.585 mi).[33] In1997 the stands were reworked to expand capacity to 51,000.[33] In2000, the chicane on the main straight was altered, changing from a double left-right chicane to a single right-left chicane in an attempt to reduce the frequent accidents at the starts due to the conformation of the braking area, although it is still deemed unsafe in terms of motorcycle racing. The second chicane was also re-profiled. In theFormula 1 Grand Prix of the same year, the first to use these new chicanes, a fire marshal, Paolo Gislimberti, was killed by flying debris after a big pileup at the second chicane.[13]
In 2007, the run-off area at the second chicane was changed from gravel to asphalt. The length of the track in its current configuration is 5.793 km (3.600 mi).[4] At the2010 Monza Superbike World Championship round, Italian riderMax Biaggi set the fastest ever motorcycle lap of Monza when he rode hisAprilia RSV4 1000 F to pole position in a time of 1:42.121. In the Superpole qualification for the 2011 race, he improved on this lap time, for a new lap record of 1:41.745 and his speed was captured at more than 330 km/h (210 mph).
In late 2016, work was planned on a new first bend, which would have bypassed the first chicane and the Curva Grande. Drivers were to go through a fast right hand kink and into a new, faster chicane. Work was planned for to be completed by 2017 in hopes of a renewed contract for Formula 1. Gravel would have also returned to the run-off area at the Parabolica bend.[34] However, plans for the track's change were suspended due to the track being in the historicMonza Park.[citation needed] Ahead of the2024 Italian Grand Prix, the Monza Circuit underwent significant changes. This forcedWEC to abandon the6 Hours of Monza, moving it to theImola Circuit.[35] In addition to facility improvements, changes included a resurfacing of the entire track.[36]
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Monza, throughout its long and storied history has been known for its high-speed, simplistic nature (compared to "harder" circuits such asSingapore orMonaco, which are tight, unforgiving street circuits with lots of corners) thanks to its 1920s design and the few alterations it has received, and is currently the fastest track on the Formula One calendar and has been so since 1991. Monza consists of very long straights and tight chicanes, putting a premium on good braking stability and traction. The 5.793 km (3.600 mi)[4] circuit is very hard on engines; Formula 1 engines are at full throttle for nearly 80% of the lap, with engine failures common, notablyFernando Alonso in the2006 Italian Grand Prix orNico Rosberg in the2015 Italian Grand Prix.
Drivers are on full throttle for most of the lap due to its long straights and fast corners, and is usually the scenario in which the open-wheeled Formula One cars show the rawspeed of which they are capable: 372 km/h (231 mph) during the mid-2000sV10 engine formula, although in2012 with the 2.4LV8 engines, top speeds in Formula One rarely reached over 340 km/h (210 mph); the 1.6L turbochargedhybridV6 engine, reduced-downforce formula of 2014 displayed top speeds of up to 360 km/h (220 mph). The circuit is generally flat, but has a gradual gradient from the second Lesmos to the Variante Ascari. Due to the lowaerodynamic profile needed, with its resulting lowdownforce,[13] the grip is very low;understeer is a more serious issue than at other circuits; however, the opposite effect,oversteer, is also present in the second sector, requiring the use of a very distinctiveopposite lock technique.[citation needed] Since both maximumpower and minimal drag are keys for speed on the straights, only competitors with enough power or aerodynamic efficiency at their disposal are able to challenge for the top places.[13]
Formula One cars are set up with one of the smallest wing angles on the F1 calendar to ensure the lowest level of drag on the straights. There are only 6 corner complexes at Monza: the first two chicanes, the twoLesmos, theAscari complex and theParabolica. Thus cars are set up for maximum performance on the straights.
Cars approach the first corner at 340 km/h (210 mph) in eighth gear,[4] and brake at about 120 m (130 yd) before the first chicane—theVariante del Rettifilo—entering at 86 km/h (53 mph) in second gear, and exiting at 72 km/h (45 mph) in second gear.[4] This is the scene of many first-lap accidents. Higher kerbs were installed at the first two chicanes in 2009 to prevent cutting.[38]
Good traction out of the first corner is imperative for a quick lap. Conservation of speed through the first chicane is made possible by driving the straightest line, as a small mistake here can result in a lot of time being lost through theCurva Grande down to theVariante della Roggia chicane in eighth gear, at 330 km/h (210 mph).[4] The braking point is just under the bridge. The kerbs are brutal and it is very easy for a car to become unbalanced and a driver to lose control, asKimi Räikkönen did in 2005. This chicane is probably the best overtaking chance on the lap, as it is the only one with the "slow corner, long straight, slow corner"; one of the characteristics of modern circuits.
TheCurve di Lesmo are two corners that are not as fast as they used to be, but are still challenging corners. The first is blind, entered at 273 km/h (170 mph) in sixth gear, apexing at 217 km/h (135 mph),[4] and has a slight banking. The second is a seventh gear entry at 278 km/h (173 mph), apexing in fifth gear at 203.5 km/h (126.4 mph),[4] and it is very important that all the kerb is used. A mistake at one of these corners will result in a spin into the gravel, while good exits can set a driver up for an overtaking move intoVariante Ascari.
The downhill straight down toVariante Ascari is very bumpy under the bridge.Variante Ascari is a very tricky sequence of corners and is key to the lap time.
The final challenge is theCurva Parabolica Alboreto: approaching at 335 km/h (208 mph) in eighth gear,[4] cars quickly dance around the corner, apexing in sixth gear at 229 km/h (142 mph)[4] and exiting in sixth gear at 285 km/h (177 mph),[4] accelerating onto the main start/finish straight. A good exit and slipstream off a fellow driver along the main straight can produce an overtaking opportunity under heavy braking intoVariante del Rettifilo; however, it is difficult to follow a leading car closely through theParabolica as the tow will reduce downforce and cornering speed.
The maximum speed recorded in a2025 Formula One car was 364.1 km/h (226.2 mph), established at the end of the start/finish straight.[39] They experience a maximumg-force of 4.50 during deceleration, and the track has many dramatic high to low speed transitions.[40][4]
Max Verstappen recorded the fastest pole position lap at Monza during the2025 Italian Grand Prix, when he lapped in 1:18.792 at an average speed of 264.681 km/h (164.465 mph) – the fastest average lap speed recorded in qualifying for a World Championship event.[41][42] The official race lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:20.901, set byLando Norris during the same Grand Prix at an average speed of 257.781 km/h (160.178 mph) – the fastest average lap speed recorded in a race for a World Championship event.[43] As of October 2025, the fastest official race lap records of Autodromo Nazionale di Monza are listed as:
![Florio circuit (1935–1938)[142]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMonza_1935.svg)
![2nd variation (1948–1954)[143]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMonza_1950.png)
![7th variation (1976–1993)[144]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMonza_1976.jpg)
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
