Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix History
History - Facts - Winners - Schedule - Circuit
Monza remains one of the fastest tracks even with the introduction of chicanes in the 1970s it continues to be very hard on cars. Formula 1 driver Farina won the first World Championship race at Monza in 1950 in his Ferrari, and in 1960 the first American to win the Monza Grand Prix was Phil Hill.
Jackie Stewart had his first ever GP victory at Monza in 1965, and in 1966, Scarfiotti led home a Ferrari one-two. In 1971 spectators saw one of the most spectacular finishes at Monza, with Peter Gethin bursting from a pack of five cars to take the win.
Ronnie Peterson won in 1973, 1974, and 1976, but sadly, Monza was also the place of his own death in the year 1978. Damon Hill won in 1993 and 1994, with Johnny Herbert taking the win in the following year.
In 1996, Michael Schumacher made the Monza Tifosi (fanatics) wild after he claimed the first Ferrari victory on home soil since Gerhard Berger beat Michele Alboreto across the line in 1988. David Coulthard took the win at Monza for McLaren in 1997, followed by Schumacher again in 1998 after securing his first pole of the season.
Michael Schumacher went on to win the Monza event and many fans will remember the emotion he displayed during the post race interview. A mixture of grief over the marshals death and realizing he had achieved the same amount of victories as his idol, Ayrton Senna.
The 2001 event at Monza was delayed and it took place after the tragic terrorist attacks in the United States and this was the year in which Juan Pablo Montoya took his maiden victory.
2002 and Ferrari brought to Monza a one-two in front of their home fans with Rubens Barrichello on the top step of the podium and Michael Schumacher in second. In 2003, Schumacher claimed his 50th Ferrari victory at Monza.
The Monza Grand Prix of 2004 seemed to be all over for Ferrari on the first lap as Michael Schumacher spun at the second turn and dropped right down the order while Rubens Barrichello led the Monza race, but the tires condition was not right for the weather conditions. Ferrari ended up pulling off the race 75-minutes later .
A year later Ferrari was struggling at Monza. Schumacher finished at Monza in just tenth position while Barrichello found himself a lapped 12th. Montoya took the win from Pole Position ahead of the Renault duo Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. Kimi Raikkonen fought back from 11th position on the grid to take a final fourth position at Monza.
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