Few tracks are as iconic to the world of motorsport as the Autodromo Nationale Monza, which truly evokes history and tradition at every turn.
Speaking of those famous turns, we’ve put together a rundown of how each of the corners at the home of the Italian Grand Prix got its name.
Despite a series of changes since first being incorporated into the racetrack in 1972, the first sequence of corners at Monza has always been known as ‘Prima Variante’ or ‘First Chicane.’
When the section comprised two chicanes before a redesign in 2000, it was known as the Variante del Rettifilo. Rettifilo in Italian means ‘straight stretch’.
Taken at full throttle to catapult cars from the first chicane to the second among the tall pines of Monza Park, Biassono gets its name from a nearby village of the same name.
Many fans will know this corner as the ‘Curva Grande’ ( Great Curve) and whether you’re watching live trackside, on the main TV broadcast or onboard with the drivers, the fast right-hander is a sight to behold.
You’ve met the first chicane, now meet the second (seconda). A popular passing place during the race, and often a scene of drama on the opening laps, left/right sequence can also be known as the ‘Curva della Roggia’, which takes its name from a nearby stream.
Long before F1 rolled into town in the 1950s, these two right-handers were known as the ‘Curva della Querce’ or Curve of the Oaks, because of the dense forest surrounding the track.
It wasn’t until 1927 that the corners were renamed to Lesmo 1 and 2. There are multiple theories as to where the name comes from. One is that it comes from the Laetissimus family, while another relates the Greek island Lesbos.
Lesmo 2 has previously been known as Curva dei 100 Metri (100 Metre Curve) in honour of the distance between the two corners, and Curva del bosco dei Cervi (Curve if the Deer Forest).
In the modern world of F1, this gentle left flick sends the cars out of the forest and towards home. It isn’t recognised as a corner on track maps but does have an interesting story to tell.
The name Serraglio was named after the hunting lodge of the king that once stood in the forest.
An iconic set of sweeping bends that have become faster as the technology of F1 has evolved.
Variante Ascari was named in honour of Italian racing legend Alberto Ascari after his fatal accident at Monza in 1955.
Prior to being renamed, the corner had been known as Curva del Platano (Plane Tree Curve) or Curva del Vialone (Avenue Curve).
It’s hard to picture Monza and not imagine the long, sweeping final right-hander that carries drivers back onto the pit straight.
It may not be the famous and decorated Sopraelevate (banked) version of years gone by, but nothing epitomises the speed and beauty of Monza more than the Parabolica.
The 180-degree turn was officially renamed in 2021 to Curva Alboreto after ex-F1 driver Michele Alboreto who tragically passed away in 2001.
Going back further, the Parabolica was known as Curva de Porfido, because of the porphyry stones used in the corner’s construction.
Like Serraglio, this is another ‘non-corner’ to appear on the track map at Monza. Rettilineo Box means ‘straight by the pits’ when translated in Italian, so no prizes for guessing where this particular name comes from.