Few tracks in the world are as iconic as Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Known as ‘The Temple of Speed’ because of its long straights and high-speed corners, the oldest circuit in mainland Europe has hosted the Italian Grand Prix every year since the first world championship in 1950. Given the venue’s history and prestige, it’s not surprising that the racetrack has won over motorsports enthusiasts from around the world, enjoying somewhat of a ‘cult status’, especially amongst the Tifosi.

After significant upgrades being made to the track ahead of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Formula 1 has announced that Monza will remain a part of the sport’s calendar until 2031. The decision went down well with fans, many of whom took to social media to express their relief.

The Temple of Speed is here to stay

Scuderia Ferrari remains one of the most popular Formula 1 teams. Even though the championship has eluded the Italian manufacturer for over a decade, the hype around the iconic red cars has not died down. A staggering 335,000 fans were in attendance at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix when Charles Leclerc secured a victory in his team’s home race. No team has enjoyed as many triumphs at Autodromo Nazionale Monza as ‘The Prancing Horse’, which remains F1’s most successful team in history despite recent struggles.

Given Ferrari’s popularity, Monza has enjoyed an elevated status in Formula 1 as well. Highlighting the reasons behind the contract extension, Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said, “I am delighted that the Italian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2031. 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. 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.”

At a time when Formula 1’s popularity is at an all-time high, no track can take its place on the calendar for granted. Even though venues such as Spa, Monza, and Silverstone have historically been a part of the sport, interest from the Middle East, Africa, the United States, and Asia has made the competition more fierce than ever before. As things stand, 24 races already take place in a season and plenty of investment has gone into developing some of the more modern tracks, such as the Jeddah Corniche Circuit or Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina.

Knowing that legacy and prestige are no longer enough to guarantee a place in the Formula 1 calendar, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d’Italia said, “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 modern times requiring newer solutions, it’s not surprising that venues such as Monza have to adhere to higher standards to remain relevant in an industry that is becoming increasingly cutthroat.

Fans elated after Formula 1 renews Monza contract

As expected, Formula 1’s decision to renew Autodromo Nazionale Monza’s contract until 2031 was met with much fanfare and enthusiasm. The track’s current deal was due to expire in 2025, but for many motorsports enthusiasts, the absence of an Italian GP at ‘The Temple of Speed’ was unfathomable. Widely recognized as one of the fastest tracks on the calendar, it’s not surprising when one fan addressed the renewal by saying, “Good. Monza is one of my favorite tracks.” The sentiment was echoed by others as well, as another Reddit user went on to write, “Oh this is so good. I love Monza!”, presumably because of its incredible atmosphere and entertaining races.

Plenty of investment has gone into Monza in recent times. A new track surface was laid out ahead of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix along with access tunnels and changed entrances while the main pit building will be upgraded next year. Taking those factors into account, a fan demanded that the 5.793 km venue have a permanent place in the calendar by saying, “One of the tracks that should have an indefinite contract as long as they’re putting in effort to maintain the track.”

With Formula 1 expanding to Miami, Las Vegas, and the Middle East in recent years, a motorsports enthusiast found it staggering that iconic venues on the calendar were potentially in jeopardy because of modern circuits. Responding to news about the renewal, the fan wrote “Good. Spa, Monza, Silverstone, and Interlagos are absolutely iconic and the fact that all of them have been in question at some point is absolutely insane.” After seeing Leclerc triumph in front of home fans at this year’s Italian GP, another fan expressed hope that F1’s most successful team continues to succeed on their home track. The fan wrote, “Not a surprise, but it’s nice to see it stay on the calendar. Lets hope Ferrari can continue to win there until at least 2031 as well.”