F1 has extended its Italian GP deal to race at Monza until 2031, as Luke Browning gets a FP1 drive with Williams in Abu Dhabi GP.
Monza –
Formula 1 has today announced that the Italian Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2031 inclusive as part of a new six-year extension to the existing agreement, which runs through 2025. The new deal follows significant upgrades to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza ahead of the 2024 Grand Prix, where 335,000 fans attended across the weekend to see Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc take the chequered flag.
Built in 1922, Monza – also known as The Temple of Speed – has hosted a Grand Prix every year since the inaugural World Championship in 1950, apart from in 1980 when the circuit was closed for renovations. Located just north-east of the historic city of Milan, one of the cultural and fashion capitals of the world, the 5.8km circuit boasts one of the fastest laps on the Formula 1 calendar, with the drivers on the throttle for 80% of the lap.
In 2020, Monza was the site of the fastest ever F1 lap in terms of average speed, when Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the 2020 Italian Grand Prix with a qualifying time of just 1:18.887, with an average speed of 264.362 km/h. Five drivers from the current grid – Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, and Max Verstappen – have won at the Temple of Speed, joining a roll-call ofthe sport’s icons including Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher who have won the Italian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 continues to see strong growth in Italy, both in broadcast with a cumulative audience of 183.3 million in 2023, and online where social media followers grew by 16% last season. The FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2025 will take place from 5 – 7 September 2025.
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, and I want to thank the President of the Automobile Club d’Italia, the Italian Government, and the Lombardy Region for their continued passion and commitment to our sport. I also want to pay tribute to our incredible fans across the country who support Formula 1 so passionately.”
Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d’Italia, said: “It’s a great honour for us, the Automobile Club of Italy (ACI), to have succeeded in guaranteeing the hosting of six more Italian Grand Prix F1 seasons at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza after 2025.
“We must thank the valuable and decisive contribution of the current President and CEO of Formula 1 Group, Stefano Domenicali, who made this contract extension possible. Much as we should, certainly, thank the Italian Government, the Lombardy Region, and all the local institutions that have allowed the Italian Grand Prix to attract, during the last editions, an ever-increasing number of enthusiastic fans.
“In particular, I want to emphasize the key contribution of the Italian Government and the Lombardy Region, which have invested resources in this centenarian circuit and funded the works carried out this year. As we all know, Monza is the oldest racetrack in the world to host a race of the World Championship, and it is also the longest-running event on the World Championship calendar.
“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 this goal in mind, we are already working to keep ahead of the standards required by modern Formula 1.”
Luke Browning –
Williams Racing Academy Driver Luke Browning will take part in the first Free Practice session at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and participate in the end-of-season Young Driver Test. The FP1 session fulfils the team’s second and final mandated rookie driver session this year and will mark Luke’s debut drive in a Formula 1 weekend.
Luke has had a strong 2024 season in Formula 3, achieving two poles in Austria and Great Britain and two Feature Race wins in Bahrain and Austria. He fought a closely contested Formula 3 title until the final race in Monza, concluding with a third-place finish in the championship.
Continuing his rise through the motorsport ladder, Luke stepped up to Formula 2 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he scored points on debut with ART Grand Prix. He will continue with ART for the final two rounds of the F2 season.
Luke’s participation in the FP1 session and Young Driver Test is part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy’s proud tradition of giving young talent a path into F1 which has most recently seen Academy product Franco Colapinto graduate to an F1 race seat. The Driver Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, working with them on and off the track to develop the skills necessary to race at the top level.
Luke Browning: “It’s an honour to be driving a Williams F1 car for the first time in Abu Dhabi. To have the chance to not only take part in the Young Driver Test but also Free Practice is incredibly special. A huge thank you to everyone at Williams Racing for supporting my development as part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy and entrusting me with the FW46. I’ll be working hard to prepare and make the most of the opportunity.”
Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Williams Racing: “Luke has had an impressive Formula 3 season and has taken the transition to Formula 2 in his stride, performing well from his first outing in Baku. Throughout this year, he has made important contributions to the team through his development work and has demonstrated rapid progress in his understanding, maturity, and race craft. We are now looking forward to giving Luke the opportunity to drive the FW46 in Abu Dhabi as the next step in his development as a Williams Racing Academy driver.”
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[The story is as per press release]
