'Monza National Racetrack') is a 5.793 km (3.600 mi) race track near the city of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy.

Built in 1922, it was the world's third purpose-built motor racing circuit after Brooklands and Indianapolis and the oldest in mainland Europe.

In addition to Formula One, the circuit previously hosted the 1,000 km Monza, an endurance sports car race held as part of the World Sportscar Championship and the Le Mans Series.

Monza also featured the unique Race of Two Worlds events, which attempted to run Formula One and USAC National Championship cars against each other.

[11] A very fast circuit, Monza has been the site of many fatal accidents, especially in the early years of the Formula One world championship,[12] and has claimed the lives of 52 drivers and 35 spectators.

Track modifications have continuously occurred, to improve spectator safety and reduce curve speeds,[6] but it is still criticised by the current drivers for its lack of run-off areas, most notoriously at the chicane that cuts the Variante della Roggia.

The 1933 Italian Grand Prix was held on the original complete layout but it was marred by the deaths of three drivers (Giuseppe Campari, Baconin Borzacchini and Stanisław Czaykowski) in the supporting Monza Grand Prix held on the same day - which became known as the "Black Day of Monza" - over the shorter oval circuit[13][15][16] and the Grand Prix layout was changed: in 1934 a short circuit with two lanes of the straight line joined by a hairpin, Curva Sud of the banking (with a double chicane) driven in the opposite direction than usual, the "Florio link" and the Curva Sud (with a small chicane).

This configuration was considered too slow and in 1935 Florio Circuit was used again, this time with four temporary chicanes and another one permanent (along the Curva Sud of the banking).

[17] There was major rebuilding in 1938–39, constructing new stands and entrances, resurfacing the track, removing the high speed ring and adding two new bends on the southern part of the circuit.

[18] The outbreak of World War II meant racing at the track was suspended until 1948[18] and parts of the circuit degraded due to the lack of maintenance and military use.

The first Lesmo curve was modified to be made faster, and the track infrastructure and facilities were also updated and improved to better accommodate the teams and spectators.

Another attempt was made to use the combined circuit for the 1963 race, but the extremely bumpy nature and poor overall quality of the concrete banking saw some cars suffer mechanically.

Chicanes were added before both bankings in 1966, and another fatality in the 1968 1000 km Monza race led to run-off areas added to the curves, with the track layout changing the next year to incorporate permanent chicanes before the banked curves – extending the track length by 100 m (110 yd).

[19] These races involved drivers constantly slipstreaming competing cars, which produced several close finishes, such as in 1967, 1969, and 1971.

[30] The 1972 chicanes were soon seen to be ineffective at slowing cars; the Vialone was remade in 1974,[30] the other, Curva Grande in 1976,[13] and a third also added in 1976 before the Lesmo, with extended run-off areas.

[13] As motorsport became more safety conscious following the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994 at the Imola circuit, the three main long curves were "squeezed" in order to install larger gravel traps, shortening the lap to 5.770 km (3.585 mi).

[citation needed] Ahead of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, the Monza Circuit underwent significant changes.

Monza consists of very long straights and tight chicanes, putting a premium on good braking stability and traction.

[12] Formula One cars are set up with one of the smallest wing angles on the F1 calendar to ensure the lowest level of drag on the straights.

A mistake at one of these corners will result in a spin into the gravel, while good exits can set a driver up for an overtaking move into Variante Ascari.

A good exit and slipstream off a fellow driver along the main straight can produce an overtaking opportunity under heavy braking into Variante del Rettifilo; however, it is difficult to follow a leading car closely through the Parabolica as the tow will reduce downforce and cornering speed.

[40][41] The official race lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:21.046, set by Rubens Barrichello during the 2004 Italian Grand Prix.

As of October 2024, the fastest official race lap records of Autodromo Nazionale di Monza are listed as: