The Italian Grand Prix isn’t going anywhere. The race will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2031, F1 announced Wednesday, after reaching a six-year extension of its agreement with the circuit. Its previous deal ran through 2025.
“Monza is at the very heart of Formula 1 history and the atmosphere each year is unique as the Tifosi gather in huge numbers to cheer on Ferrari and the drivers,” F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a statement. “The recent upgrades to the circuit’s infrastructure and the planned investment show a strong commitment to the long-term future of Formula 1 in Italy.”
The latest deal follows upgrades to Monza — a longtime staple on the F1 calendar — before this year’s Italian Grand Prix won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in September for his second victory of the season. He’s among five current drivers who have won at the track, along with Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Max Verstappen.
Monza is a track seeped in history, known as the “Temple of Speed” and Ferrari’s home race. It has hosted a grand prix every year since the F1 world championship began in 1950, except in 1980 due to renovations.
F1 said Wednesday it “continues to see strong growth in Italy,” with a cumulative broadcast audience of 183.3 million in 2023 and a 16 percent growth in social media followers last season.
“As we all know, Monza is the oldest racetrack in the world to host a race of the World Championship, and it is also the longest-running event on the World Championship calendar,” Automobile Club d’Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani said in a statement. “We are all aware that history is no longer enough. Following the resurfacing of the track and underpasses to improve the safety on track and for the fans, we are now faced with a new challenge in 2025: improving the quality and quantity of hospitality offerings. With this goal in mind, we are already working to keep ahead of the standards required by modern Formula 1.”
Monza is just one of Italy’s two tracks on this year’s calendar, and now with this extension, the question remains about Imola’s future. The current contract for that circut runs until 2025.
(Photo: Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty)
