Sep 1, 2011
The final European race of the season has never had the pleasure of a Red Bull Racing driver on the podium yet.
But, Sebastian Vettel did win in the colours of our Italian sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2008 during his debut F1 season. Aged just 21 years and 74 days, Seb became F1’s youngest-ever pole-sitter and race winner.
Since then, Sebastian has secured an eighth place for us in 2009, and fourth last year. Our only other points-scorer in Italy is Mark Webber, who came sixth in 2010 and eighth in 2008.
This will be the 82nd grand prix staged at Monza, with the race dating all the way back to 1922, although the first Italian GP took place at Brescia a year earlier. Monza has featured on the modern calendar every year since F1’s inception in 1950, save for 1980 when the race was run at Imola. The setting is fantastic, in a royal park - complete with palazzo - on the outskirts of Milan, and you can still see, and visit, the old banking and stands, which were last used in 1961 after a terrible accident claimed the lives of Ferrari driver Wolfgang Von Trips and 14 spectators.
The only true low downforce track, Monza’s the quickest of the lot. It’s all about raw power here, with long, long straights and fast corners – there are 11 turns on its 5.793 lap. The race is 53 laps, a distance of 306.720km.
The lap record is held by Rubens Barrichello who did 1:21.046 in 2004, while Michael Schumacher has the most number of wins here, with five to date.
Spectators are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to visit, with Lake Como just a short drive to the north and the cultural delights and glamorous nightlife of Milan on the doorstep.
Credit: Red Bull Racing Formula one Team (www.redbullracing.com)
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