Monza, the iconic Italian Grand Prix venue, is racing against time to ensure its continued presence on the Formula 1 calendar. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has made it clear that the historic circuit doesn’t have “a single minute to waste” as it undertakes urgent upgrades required by Liberty Media, F1’s commercial owner.
Italian newspapers, including Corriere della Sera, report that the renovation works at Monza, which include new grandstands and a revamped paddock club, have commenced. These improvements were stipulated by Domenicali as essential conditions for renewing Monza’s contract with Formula 1.
The urgency of the situation was underscored during a recent event on Monza’s famous starting straight, attended by Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini and other dignitaries. The project, which aims to complete the upgrades in 140 days, is seen as Monza’s last shot at retaining its spot on the F1 calendar post-2025.
Domenicali, joining the event via video link, emphasized the importance of the renovations. “Completing the works is absolutely necessary as a business card to bring Italy into the world,” he remarked. He stressed the need to balance respect for the track’s century-long history with forward-looking improvements, highlighting the criticality of the moment: “100 years of history are important, but looking only behind is useless. There is not a single minute to waste.”
Angelo Sticchi Damiani, head of the Italian automobile club, also addressed the financial implications of a new F1 contract for Monza. He pointed out that the circuit’s fees would align with those of other European tracks and acknowledged that ticket sales alone would not be sufficient to cover these costs, signaling a significant shift in the economic landscape for the storied Italian race venue.
