MONZA 2023: BETWEEN HOPES, RECORDS, AND CRITICISM

It’s been a week since the Monza Grand Prix, held on the famous circuit known as the Temple of Speed. It was a race that brought strong emotions despite numerous criticisms aimed at the organizers, particularly regarding the prices charged for attending the race in certain grandstands. The prices, deemed excessive by many even compared to those of other European circuits hosting Formula 1, nearly made the event a desolate place, with the famous Ascari section only filled in the final days before the race when ticket prices were halved.

However, the weekend provided motorsport fans with unmissable events, starting from Wednesday when Milan was flooded with Ferrari fans awaiting the drivers both at the Ray-Ban Store on San Babila for an exclusive interview with Sky, and at the Ferrari Store, where the crowd rushed to buy exclusive merchandise for this Grand Prix, dedicated this year to Ferrari’s victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Other unmissable events included Max Verstappen’s appearance not only on the facade of the Duomo but also at the inauguration of the new TAG Heuer boutique, Red Bull’s official partner, and Lewis Hamilton’s participation in the Tommy Hilfiger event, Mercedes’ sponsor. In short, the scent of motors filled the air from the very beginning.

Another opportunity for fans, of all ages and even those without tickets, was the free entry to the fan zone, where various attractions like simulators and pit-stop challenges were set up on Thursday afternoon. Although this event was scheduled for 2 PM, people began lining up as early as 10 AM, with the line stretching along the street leading to the entrance. Despite the wait, and the sunburn for those who had been under the sun since the morning, the fans earned the first row at the barriers separating them from the stage where Formula 3 drivers (Paul Aron, Gabriele Minì, and Leonardo Fornaroli) and Formula 2 drivers (Arthur Leclerc, Victor Martins, and Frederik Vesti) were interviewed.

But the real action started on Friday, when the free practice sessions gave Ferrari fans hope. Carlos Sainz and his number 55 Ferrari showed the possibility of a good result for the Scuderia. This hope turned into celebration the following day when the Spaniard, celebrating his 29th birthday the day before, claimed pole position on the Monza circuit. The reaction, as one can certainly imagine, was a roar from the spectators, thrilled by the excellent result, which was crowned by Charles Leclerc’s third-place finish. This hope ignited the Italian anthem, sung before the race under the watchful eye of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and completed by the inevitable tricolor produced by the Frecce Tricolori. The excitement lasted for 15 exhausting laps, during which Sainz held off Max Verstappen and his Red Bull. Despite the Red Bull’s double victory on Ferrari’s home turf and the heart-stopping moments when the two red cars nearly collided, the result satisfied both the team, which is not having the season it hoped for, and the fans.

On the other hand, if there’s one lesson the 2023 Formula One season has taught us, it’s that whether it’s rain or shine, pole position or grid penalties, Max Verstappen is the predator who will eventually overtake you. With his car and the impeccable talent honed from a young age, the Dutchman did not miss the opportunity to win again with a comfortable gap between him and second-place finisher, his teammate Checo Perez. With the Monza win, Max Verstappen has rewritten history once again: he’s now the youngest driver to ever win a Grand Prix, the driver with the most wins in a single season, and now the driver with the most consecutive wins. Indeed, Max has now won ten consecutive races. The question now is: will these ten wins be enough? Or will he continue to win until the end of the season? After all, even the Monza curse didn’t affect the driver!

For now, we just have to wait. And for purely comical purposes, if you plan to attend the Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia, make sure you have healthy lungs and fast legs to catch the podium, but most importantly, work on your arms because the signs on the barriers are not as light as they appear on TV!