The Italian Grand Prix at Monza will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2031 at least.
Formula 1 confirmed on Wednesday that the track had signed a six-year extension to remain part of the world championship into the next decade.
Monza’s previous contract deal was due to run out at the end of next season.
“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,” Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a statement.
“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.”
Monza has been synonym with Formula 1 for almost a century and is the longest-running event on the world championship calendar.
The track underwent significant renovation this year with a raft of upgrades implemented on and off the circuit, while the track was resurfaced.
“We are all aware that history is no longer enough,” Automobile Club d’Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani said in a statement.
“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.”
The third oldest purpose-built racing circuit in the world after Brooklands and Indianapolis and the oldest in mainland Europe, the track has hosted the Italian Grand Prix since 1949 – the 1980 season was the only exception, with the race moved to Imola.
Monza’s future looked uncertain earlier this season, when Domenicali admitted it was unlikely Italy would retain its two races past 2025.
Imola’s future hangs in the balance
The Peninsula currently hosts two races on the Formula 1 calendar, with Imola home of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May and Monza the setting of the Italian Grand Prix in September.
The home of the San Marino Grand Prix between 1981 and 2006, Imola was absent from the Formula 1 calendar for the next 14 years before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was introduced during the Covid-disrupted 2020 season.
“Italy is central to the F1 calendar, but important issues need to be addressed in terms of what the country is willing to invest and in terms of infrastructure,” Domenicali told Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport in May.
“A rapid change is needed by improving track safety and the range of services available to the public.”
With Monza’s permanence on the calendar now secured for the next six years, Imola’s future hangs in the balance.
The track’s current contract with Formula 1 runs out at the end of 2025 and there are currently no guarantees it will be on the calendar beyond next season.
News of Monza’s extension comes less than two weeks after Formula 1 confirmed the Monaco Grand Prix will also remain on the calendar until 2031.
The Canadian Grand Prix is also under contract for another six years ,but race promoter Octane Racing Group is under pressure to address a number of logistical and organisational issues that emerged at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in June.
Formula 1 targets Africa expansion
At the other end of the scale, a number of countries are vying to join the Formula 1 world championship.
Thailand, South Korea and Rwanda are all pushing to be added to the calendar between 2026 and 2028.
“We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan,” Domenicali told Motorsport in August.
“We need to be always very careful in making the right choices.
“I don’t see big changes coming in the short term, but in the next couple of months we need to discuss what will be 2026, 2027 and 2028.
“We have different options but we are in a good place.”
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Domenicali met with Argentina’s tourism minister Daniel Scioli and Argentinian automobile federation president Cesar Carman to discuss Formula 1’s potential return to the South American country.
Argentina last host a Grand Prix in 1998, but Franco Colapinto’s rapid rise has reignited interest in Formula 1 in the soccer-mad country and the Argentinian government is now exploring the possibility of hosting a race.
“We are starting to work on the possibility of bringing Formula 1 back to Argentina. Stefano [Domenicali] knows Argentina very well, he has the best memories of our country,” Scioli said.
“There is a lot of hard work to be done in order to reach the objective. We have to work on the race track, on all the requirements of an event as sophisticated as this one.”
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