First F1 race, finally after 40 plus years.

This isn’t Monza-specific, but I tell everyone to watch at least a support race or two. It really helps bring home just how fast F1 cars truly are.

 

+1 some of the best 'racing' Ive seen at F1 events did not involve F1 cars at all. Im was quite the fan of Porsche Super Cup racing at F1 events.

 

Absolutely! They’re great races, too.

 

once you are at the race its will be fine... its the getting there that was painful. We were next to the paddock with the mid day pit walk...as for getting closer to the cars on track - I dont think it got much closer than this, other than being a photographer. Our bathroom was literally right on pit exit, so when a car went out it was crazy loud, and there were almost nobody there... so you had a great view through these tiny windows!
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A good piece of advice I received: if possible stand near a hard braking event to witness just how violently they slow and then absolutely rocket away.

 

Its hard to get close enough now a days to see and feel the braking. The whine from the MGUK and MGUH is weird... the acceleration is pretty awesome, but even then hard to appreciate.

 

I got to witness the 2.4ltr V-8's(2012) at COTA at the end of turn 12. The whine was very high and the immediate downshifts in less then 2 seconds is mind-blowing as they braked.

 

Wait until next year.

Exactly where I would want to be. Have a blast!

 

I find that sprint GT3 races (SRO or DTM) are more thrilling to watch than F1.

 

This is a good idea. The trains from Como to Monza were very light... trains from Milan to Monza... horrible.

 

Agree w/ Tom above. I went in 2023 — the whole experience at Monza was “difficult”. I have been to several races and must admit that Monza was challenging. Getting in and out of Monza is not easy — the trains are packed and the “shuttle” that takes you from the train station at Monza to the “park” runs on “Italian” time. What I didn’t realize is that Monza is in a beautiful park setting a la Central Park in NYC however the walking is intense. Miles and miles. Highly recommend hiring a driver for the weekend and that they drop you off in Monza and wait for you there. I did the train the first day of Practice and swear never to do it again. Overall, beautiful setting, difficult access and poorly organized — the old circuit can not cope with the masses of people, some areas especially leaving the track were very claustrophobic. Highly recommend hospitality / paddock, food / drink choices are limited and very very crowded. We had garden passes and they were “ok” for hospitality purposes but nothing special. Don’t think I would do this race again. Make sure your wife wears comfortable shoes haha

 

100%. Once you are there its good. but getting there is horrible. I have been to Monza about 6 times over the years, and this last time was by far the absolute worst. I will admit that I was much younger on my other visits, but regardless the organization and the Horrible Heat wave ... made it really bad. Once you are there, it is worth making into the paddock area shops, as this is NOT the typical F1 swag... its one of the only current F1 tracks that allow different stuff to be sold on site, so you can get really good merch... that is not available on line. The food situation for us was ok, but our friends were in grand stands across the track... and they had a 1 hour wait in line for beer... water filling stations were 45 min to 1.5 hours wait.... absolutely crazy. No idea of the cost.

I find the older European tracks just have a tough time with organization considering the huge crowds that come because of DTS...

 

Um.....please just look at the post immediately above yours. Reality bites you in the butt. It’s Italy, spirot knows F1. Pay attention.

 

See the attachment - this is the latest Monza Italian GP Map. If you are at the front chicane I'd go to Vedano and enter from there.
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Really appreciate your analysis and description of Monza. My wife wants to go to F1 in Europe in 2026, she has been to COTA twice. She mentioned Monza, Spa, Silvrerstone, however, to me, the crowd size and logistics make the idea not terribly attractive. She is now researching Hungarian GP. Any experience, opinion, re: Hungarian or Austrian GP. Mostly interested in aspects of "ease of use".

 

When the race is over make sure you find the old banking and climb up for a pic or two. It's a very cool part of history.

I forgot exactly where I went but I remember it wasn't hard to find. Hopefully it isn't fenced off now.

 

I'll be in Europe for a few trade shows and have that weekend free, I just booked flights, hotel and have a buddy grabbing tickets, will be my first time at Monza too!
I go to the Montreal race every year as it's local for me and went to Austin a few years ago. But Monza is the holy grail for me, super excited for it!