Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Monza's identity is deeply rooted in its unique layout and dangerous history. Built within the Royal Villa of Monza park, the site originally featured a massive combined circuit with a high-speed oval that allowed cars to run parallel on the main straight. In 1957, this oval hosted the Race of Two Worlds, pitting USAC IndyCars against European sports cars in an event that became known as 'Monzanapolis.' However, tragedy struck during the 1961 Grand Prix when Wolfgang von Trips collided with Jim Clark's Lotus at the approach to Curva Grande, sending von Trips airborne into the barriers and killing him along with fifteen spectators. Although the accident did not happen on the oval itself, the banking continued to be used in the 1962 and 1963 Italian Grands Prix and was last used for Formula One in 1969. The circuit has seen numerous tragic accidents over the years, leading to continuous track modifications to improve safety while maintaining its fast nature.

In Their Own Story

The evolution of Monza is a story of speed, danger, and adaptation. In 1928, a severe accident at the Italian Grand Prix killed driver Emilio Materassi and 27 spectators, leading to races being confined to the high-speed loop until 1932. The 'Black Day of Monza' in 1933 saw three drivers die during a supporting race on the shorter oval circuit. By 1954, the track was revamped to include a new 4.250 km high-speed oval with banked curves. Formula One used this combined layout for Grands Prix in 1955, 1956, 1960, and 1961. Stirling Moss and Phil Hill both won twice during this period; notably, Hill's victory made him the first American to win a Formula One race. After the 1961 fatality and mechanical issues on the bumpy concrete banking in 1963, teams protested until only the road circuit was used. Permanent chicanes were added before the banked curves in 1969, and the combined circuit held its last major race that year with the 1000 km of Monza.

Reader's Guide

The current Grand Prix track measures 5.793 km (3.600 mi) and features iconic sections such as the Curva Grande, Curva di Lesmo, Variante Ascari, and Curva Alboreto (formerly Curva Parabolica). The high-speed curve, Curva Grande, follows the Variante del Rettifilo at the end of the front straight, or Rettifilo Tribune, and is usually taken flat out by Formula One cars. While the site contains three tracks—including a 2.405 km Junior track and the restored 4.250 km high-speed oval—modern racing focuses on the main layout. Monza remains one of only four circuits to feature in both the inaugural F1 season and the 2026 championship, alongside Silverstone, Monaco, and Spa. Despite safety improvements, drivers still criticize the lack of run-off areas, most notably at the chicane cutting the Variante della Roggia.

Did You Know?

• Monza was the site of the 'Black Day of Monza' in 1933, where three drivers died during a supporting race on the same day as the Grand Prix.
• The circuit hosted the unique Race of Two Worlds in 1957, pitting USAC cars against European sports cars, a spectacle dubbed 'Monzanapolis.'
• Phil Hill became the first American to win a Formula One race at Monza in 1960, using the combined road course that included the oval banking.
• The high-speed oval track has been partially restored and is still occasionally used for historic events and parades.
• Monza's long history of high-speed racing has led to numerous safety improvements, though exact fatality figures vary across sources.