SPORT / SPORTS
FORMULA 1 ARRIVES IN MONZA Temple of speed and luxury In the world of auto-moto sports, September is reserved for one of the most renowned and prestigious weekends in the calendar F rom 4 th to 6 th September, Italy’s Autodromo Nazionale Mon- za hosts the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. Better known as the Temple of Speed, this cir- cuit – located at the heart of Lombardy – represents a unique confluence of rich history, engineering excellence and pas- sionate fan culture. Many people associate Monza ex- clusively with its racing circuit, but it is actually a beautiful, historic city that’s located just 20 km north of Milan. Known for its magnificent cathedral, the construction of which began back in the 6 th century, and the former summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, the city also boasts one of Europe’s largest walled city parks. It was in this huge, green Royal Park (Parco di Monza) that the famous circuit was constructed back in 1922. Monza is one of the oldest tracks in the F1 championship, but also its fast- est by far. With legendary straights and
curves like the Parabolica and the Curva Grande, here cars drive at full throttle for as much as 80 per cent of each lap. Mon- za also officially holds the record for the fastest lap in the history of Formula 1 – set in qualifying in 2025, when Max Ver- stappen drove a lap at an incredible aver- age speed of 264.682 km/h. The record fastest lap during a Monza race itself was held for 21 years, since 2004, by Rubens Barrichello. Due to low-downforce aer- odynamic setups, cars on Monza’s main straightaways reach maximum top speeds exceeding 355 km/h. Throughout history, this track has crowned the big- gest legends of this sport. The absolute record holder for the number of victories in Monza is Lewis Hamilton (6 wins), fol- lowed by Michael Schumacher with five victories and Nelson Piquet, who won at Monza three times. What sets this circuit apart from all the others is the unique atmosphere created by the passionate fans of Ferra- ri, known as the Tifosi. The colour red
dominates the stands, while the distinc- tive Italian supporter tradition includes a mass track invasion immediately af- ter the completion of the race, when thousands of fans run towards the bot- tom of the podium to witness the award ceremony and the famous popping of champagne corks. Apart from the racing spectacle it- self, this September weekend offers a su- perb experience thanks to the close prox- imity of Milan. While the tyres smoulder on the track, Milan’s culture scene reach- es its annual peak. The city’s famous Roy- al Palace is hosting a monumental exhi- bition of contemporary artist Anselm Kiefer, while you can complement the whole atmosphere with an evening at Mi- lan’s Teatro alla Scala, where Verdi‘s La Traviata is on the repertoire this Septem- ber. The combination of roaring engines in Monza, haute couture fashion on the street catwalks of Milan, aperitifs in the Brera district and the art of opera make this weekend a unique Italian experience.
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