Monza memories - Italian GP in pictures through the years

What the report says

BBC World News published a photo-led retrospective on the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, timed to this weekend’s race. The piece says Monza has hosted more Formula 1 races than any other circuit, appearing in every season since the championship began in 1950 except 1980, when the track was being renovated. It also notes the venue’s long-standing status as one of the sport’s most historic and recognisable settings.

Set in a royal park and often called the “cathedral of speed,” Monza is presented as central to Formula 1’s identity and especially to Ferrari’s home support. The article revisits landmark moments there, including Giuseppe Farina’s 1950 title win, Juan Manuel Fangio’s success in the 1950s, Jim Clark’s championship-clinching victory, and later title-deciding or title-shaping races involving Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Michael Schumacher and others.

The images also highlight the circuit’s risks and tragedies, such as Wolfgang von Trips’ fatal 1961 crash, Jochen Rindt’s death in 1970 and Ronnie Peterson’s fatal accident in 1978. More recent scenes include title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen coming together in 2021, showing that Monza remains a setting where speed, history and controversy often intersect.

Overall, the BBC’s feature uses archival photographs to show why Monza is regarded as one of motorsport’s most important venues and why the Italian Grand Prix continues to carry unusual historical weight.