Few of the current tracks are worthy enough to follow a weekend at Spa, so it takes a classic circuit like Monza to take up the task. One of the few legendary circuits still on the F1 calendar, the Italian Grand Prix brings drivers close to the home of Ferrari. Expect unique configurations on everyones machines for this race, particularly for the rear wing.
The Italian Grand Prix (Gran Premio d'Italia) is one of the longest running events on the motor racing calendar. The first Italian Grand Prix motor racing championship took place on 4 September 1921 at Brescia. However, the race is more closely associated with the course at Monza, which was built in 1922 in time for that year's race, and has been the location for most of the races over the years.
The 1923 race included one of Harry A. Miller's rare European appearances with his single seat "American Miller 122" driven by Count Louis Zborowski of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame.
The Italian Grand Prix counted toward the European Championship from 1935 to 1938. It was designated the European Grand Prix seven times between 1923 and 1967, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one grand prix race in Europe. The Italian Grand Prix was also one of the inaugural Formula One championship races in 1950, and has been held every year since then. The only other championship race for which this is true is the British Grand Prix.
After winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher announced his retirement from Formula 1 racing at the end of the 2006 season. Kimi Räikkönen replaced him at Ferrari from the start of the 2007 season. At the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver in history to win a Formula One Grand Prix. Aged 21 years and 74 days, Vettel broke the record set by Fernando Alonso at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix by 317 days as he won in wet conditions at Monza. Vettel led for the majority of the Grand Prix and crossed the finish line 12.5 seconds ahead of McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen. Earlier in the weekend, he had already become the youngest polesitter, after setting the fastest times in both Q2 and Q3 qualifying stages. His win also gave him the record of youngest podium-finisher. Uncertainty grew over the fact that Monza would continue to host the race as Rome had signed a deal to host Formula One from 2012. On 18 March 2010 however, Bernie Ecclestone and the Monza track managers signed a deal which meant that the race will be held there until at least 2016.
The Italian Grand Prix in recent years has been labeled as a jinx to the winning driver. Over the past two decades, only Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher have won the Italian Grand Prix and gone on to win the world championship in the same year. The last year that the winner of the Italian Grand Prix won the world championship is 2003.
Onboard Lap
Onboard lap of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza courtesy of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
Take a closer look here.
Fastest Lap
Adrian Sutil - Force India-Mercedes - 1:24.739
Most Wins
Michael Schumacher - 5
Most Wins for Constructor
Ferrari - 18
Highlights from Previous Years
Highlights from Italian GP from 1996 through 2001
Clips from 1971 Italian GP
Previous Winners
Drivers Championship Standings
Constructors Championship Standings
NeoGAF Championship Standings
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