Monza track story began the moment I took a closer look at Monza’s official logo. One of the most famous tracks in Formula 1 shows far too many lines in its emblem — which immediately raised my curiosity. The deeper I looked, the more surprised reactions I found among motorsport fans: Monza used to be completely different. What we see today is only a fragment of its original design.
Today’s Monza is fast — but “civilized.” Chicanes, runoff zones, modern safety.
Once, it was a temple of pure speed — steep concrete banking, a 10-kilometer loop that punished every mistake. It was a place where the spirit of open-air driving — so close to any cabrio fan — collided with physics and bravery… and eventually lost to reason.
10,000 Meters of Speed: The Combined Course (until 1971)
For decades, Monza operated with a layout very different from the one we know today. Until 1971, the Combined Course spanned 10 km — a fusion of the road circuit and a monumental oval with concrete banks.
It was the essence of “old Monza”:
Minimal braking. Maximum velocity. Absolute exposure to the elements.
Race Lap Record (F1):
2:43.600 — Phil Hill, Ferrari 246 F1, 1960
Average speed: 223.02 km/h
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1922–1933):
9 turns
Race lap record: 3:13.200 — Luigi Fagioli, Alfa Romeo P3 (1933)
Banking That Changed the Game
The legendary Sopraelevata — the towering concrete banking — looks like a relic from another planet. Up close, its steep ascent and raw surface feel more like a particle accelerator than a racetrack.
Banking angle: up to 38°
(precisely between 37.9° and 38.5°, depending on the section)
For comparison:
• Daytona Speedway: ~31°
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway: ~9°
Why Monza Had to Change
By the late 60s and early 70s, the motorsport world realized that speed needed a safety context. Technology pushed speeds higher than safety standards could handle.
So came:
• Chicanes and redesigned layouts
• Runoff areas, barriers, safety procedures
• Engineering that prioritized survival over record-breaking
Modern Monza remains fast and ruthless — but now it’s a different type of challenge: precision and optimization over man vs. concrete horizon.
Monza in Cabrio DNA
Loving a convertible isn’t just about design and sky above your head. It’s a mindset: embracing wind, noise, sensation — closeness to speed.
Monza reminds us that “open” driving was once the default. Drivers had no roofs, no survival cell — only courage defining the era. What they risked is unimaginable today… Even the bravest organizers would hesitate to recreate such danger (well… except maybe the Isle of Man TT).
Key Numbers Behind the Legend
• 10,000 m — Combined Course length (until 1971)
• 2:43.600 / 223.02 km/h — Phil Hill’s race lap (1960)
• 3:13.200 — Fagioli’s lap record (1933 GP layout),
• 38° concrete banking — the architectural symbol of speed
F1 2026: Chasing 400 km/h
Forecasts suggest the 2026 F1 season could break the 400 km/h barrier. Impressive — sure. But…
With today’s towering safety standards, survival cells, precision aerodynamics, and road cars touching 500 km/h, that number hits differently.
What truly amazes is the idea of nearly 300 km/h in the 1950s, in a Ferrari 246 F1, jumping over uneven concrete at an angle steep enough that you couldn’t simply walk up it.
That wasn’t just speed. That was fearless speed.
The Ferrari 246 F1 was a purebred racing machine, but Italy’s iconic red brand had plenty to offer “civilians” at the time as well. I invite you to explore some of Ferrari’s groundbreaking road cars.
I also highly recommend watching the remastered footage with added sound, showing the first Formula 1 race at Monza using the full oval with its famous banked corners on Youtube Italian Grand Prix (1955)