Constructed in 1922, with the financial backing of the Milan Automobile Club, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza became the third permanent racetrack in existence, after the Brooklands and Indianapolis circuits. It hosted its first and Italy’s second Grand Prix (GP) in the same year of its inauguration in 1922. Since then, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza has been the location for most of the races over the years.

The original Monza circuit was not only exceptionally fast but also tediously long. The amazing10km long track circuit, with its long straights, saw F1 drivers pushing their cars to their maximum capacity for most part of the circuit. This competency of the circuit, of churning out mind boggling speed, has still been maintained on the new Autodromo Nazionale di Monza with the new V10 F1 cars easily reaching a top speed of 372kph.

The Monza circuit was reduced to 5.75kms in length in the major renovations that took place in 1955. The new changes included a new 4.25 km high-speed oval with banked sopraelevata curves that when combined with the main circuit would result in a track 10km long, with cars running parallel on the main straight. The new oval track, however, was permanently excluded from the main Monza racing circuit following the death of German driver Wolfgang von Trips and eleven spectators in a serious accident in the 1961GP.

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza had 3 more chicanes introduced in its layout as part of the modification process of the 1970s. The primary aim of installing these chicanes was to make the track a bit slower and safer. These chicanes and other sections of the circuit were again refurbished in 2000 to keep the track at par, in terms of technological innovation, with the new generation F1 cars. These renovations included the addition of kerbs, extension of run-off areas and structural alterations to the first and second chicanes. The present Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is 5.793kms in length.

Since its inaugural F1 race in 1950, the Monza circuit has seen some of the finest races in F1 history. Popularly known among Italians as “La Pista Magica” (the magic track), the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is yet another track which has been dominated by the German F1 maestro, Michael Schumacher. Schumacher holds the record for the highest number of wins (five in total) by a F1 driver at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. After taking his fifth victory at Monza circuit in the 2006 Italian GP, it was on this very track where Schumacher announced his official retirement from F1 Championship.

Recent Results:
2009: Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP)
2008: Sebastian Vettel (Torro Rosso)
2007: Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
2006: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2005: Juan Pablo Montoya (McLaren-Mercedes)
2004: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
2003: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2002: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)