Both Monza and the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola (the home of Ferrari) are under contract with Formula 1 until the 2025 season. However, the future beyond remains uncertain, as F1 has not yet decided whether to continue with one or both Italian races in the long-term schedule.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali emphasised last year the importance of enhancing Monza’s infrastructure to boost its chances of a contract renewal.
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“The historical value of Monza is beyond question, but we also need to keep up with the times in terms of services, which must be in line with the prices paid by those who come to the racetrack,” he said. “Within the next year, we will have clear ideas about the future.”
In response, Monza has launched a 140-day redevelopment project, marked by a ceremony on the track’s start-finish straight. The event, attended by Italian federation president Angelo Sticchi Damiani and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, outlined the primary focus areas of the upgrade.
The renovation includes a full resurfacing of the track, construction of a new underpass and expansion of three existing ones, upgrades to the pit building, and improvements to several grandstands. This comprehensive refurbishment reflects Monza’s commitment to maintaining its prestigious spot on the Formula 1 racing calendar beyond 2025.
Discussing the changes, Sticchi Damiani said: “Our main goal is to bring the Autodromo back up to speed.
“We can no longer afford to have problems with the flow of fans, and we must offer greater comfort to those who come to the circuit. We have set ourselves three goals to best meet the requests made to us, and of these the first is the underpasses.
“The second goal is related to the grandstands. We still have several temporary structures, so we will build more solid structures that will provide all the amenities in line with what a spectator expects today. Each grandstand will be an island with all the necessary services inside, so that the public will not have to move around.
“Finally, a permanent type of roofing will be built over the pit building (it is currently a tensile structure). The support pillars will be reinforced because the structure will grow in height.”
The enhancements to the pit building hold special significance for Formula 1, as they are expected to elevate the corporate hospitality experiences in the Paddock Club.
During a video conference at Monday’s event, Domenicali remarked: “For us this is an important goal.
“We need to be able to receive our guests in a proper structure and no longer under a tent, as it was until last year.
“In addition to this, there are obviously other interventions needed for the future. Monza has a great tradition but we must also look ahead and propose the racetrack at the level of the other world championship tracks.”
The ongoing redevelopment efforts at Monza are scheduled for completion by June, well ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. This timely completion ensures that the circuit will be fully prepared and updated for the event, between August 30 to September 1, 2024. This advance completion provides ample time for any final adjustments and ensures that all new features and improvements will be fully operational for the Grand Prix, offering an enhanced experience for teams, drivers, and spectators alike.
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