Regarded as the epitome of Formula One racing, Monza is more than just a racetrack that boasts a unique combination of speed and skill, it is one that has a heart and soul of its own. The Monza circuit has had its fair share of some of the finest racing of all time as well as some of the sport's worst moments over the years.

As one of the most prolific of circuits, residents and enthusiast alike claim that the name of the sport’s greatest drivers and the roar of the engines of the past magically continue to resonate in the forests surrounding the circuit. The Italians call Monza "La Pista Magica" or the "The Magic Track" for its long and chequered history from its famous victories and horrifying accidents.

For drivers and fans alike, Monza is arguably one of Formula One's most enchanted venues, an atmosphere that is further enhanced by the surrounding forests, thus making it also one of the season's favoured rounds.

Constructed in 1922, Monza succeeds Brooklands and Indianapolis as the one of three original permanent race tracks in existence at that time. As was the trend of the era, Monza’s oval shaped track combined with its road racing circuit features gave the circuit its grand total length at 10kilometers.
 

Located close to Northern Italy's fashion capital, Milan, the Monza circuit is easily accessible from the city by road and train. For visitors from domestic and European routes, the nearest airport to Monza is Linate, east of Milan. International flights into Milan are routed through Malpensa, located north-east of Milan.

 

The BMW Sauber F1 Team on the Italian Grand Prix:
 

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“The Italian Grand Prix brings the European season to a conclusion. Monza is all about undiluted tradition and high-speed racing. As many people know, Robert moved to Italy at the age of 13 in order to further his career. He’s a big fan of Italy and has a lot of friends there who give him great support. This is the last race of the season in which the trucks and motorhomes roll into action, as the remaining GPs of the year all take place overseas. We’ll be aiming to leave Europe with a good result under our belt.”

Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“Monza is the last genuine high-speed track left on the calendar. The four long straights mean we run the cars with less downforce here than at any other race. However, the new aerodynamics regulations mean the difference between this and other circuits will not be quite as great as before. The task of the drivers and engineers is to give the cars a mechanical set-up which ensures good braking stability and allows the kerbs to be taken aggressively, as this is essential in setting a fast lap time.”

Robert Kubica:
“I had a good race at Monza in 2008. Third place was a deserved reward for the team. I served my driving apprenticeship in Italy, so when I go back I am met by many familiar faces and have one or two fans there as well. I’m sure a few Poles will make the journey to Italy too. Monza is also a special venue for me because I had my first podium finish there in 2006 in my third F1 race. The circuit is one of the toughest on the cars as we run the lowest downforce of the season and reach the highest speeds. A key factor is keeping drag low without losing too much downforce and braking stability.”

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