New Layout for Monza in 2017

"DasWauto" (DasWauto)
06/01/2016 at 10:15 • Filed to: Formula 1

Formula 1's fastest track, the Autodromo Nationale Monza in Italy (average lap speed of some 160 mph) is being prepped for some revisions following this year’s Grand Prix. No need to worry that the track will be neutered of its high-speed reputation though, the planned changes will make it even faster.

Gone will be the dreadfully slow Rettifilio chicane, which interruptsthe main straight, and much of the Curve Grande that follows it. In their place will be a long curve, which the designer says will be flat-out in an F1 car, and a much faster left-right chicane. This will be similar to the Circuit De La Sarthe’s opening sequence, just faster.

A few other minor changes are also planned, mostly limited to moving a couple of barriers to improve visibility and changes to the run-off areas. The most significant of these is the planned return of a gravel runoff at Parabolica. The tarmac installed 2 years ago, much maligned by drivers and fans alike for removing some of the challenge of the high speed bend, will at least partially be converted back to aggregate.

More info and pictures at F1Fanatic:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (19)

AntiSpeed > DasWauto
06/01/2016 at 10:35

Hmm, sacrificing Curva Grande to get rid of the first chicane. I guess considering the first chicane totally neuters the Curva Grande anyways, it’s an upgrade.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > DasWauto
06/01/2016 at 10:36

Audi did it first:

Sounds amazing though, let’s hope F1 stays at Monza. I cannot wait for the mad dash at the start and the high-speed passing attempts that’ll undoubtedly happen.

EDIT: didn’t realise the new, faster chicane is actually in the middle of Curva Grande, boo! Ah well, the second part of the comment still stands.

Malanga > DasWauto
06/01/2016 at 10:43

This sucks. Curva Grande is one of the best corners (read: legendary) and it shouldn't be changed, like, at all. They should just revert back to the double chicane layout they had in the late 80s if they wanted a change.

Clemsie McKenzie > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/01/2016 at 11:05

Monza stays until 2020 I think!

DasWauto > AntiSpeed
06/01/2016 at 11:27

That’s how I’m taking it as a positive as well. F1 won’t run a race without a chicane before Circa Grande out of safety concerns so this is the next best thing, IMO. I think this has the potential to be epic run down to the first corner, both as a challenge in qualifying and when 22 cars take the start. I’m looking forward to it.

DasWauto > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/01/2016 at 11:31

F1 won’t do Curva Grande without the chicane as it is out of safety concerns. It’s too bad but I think this could be the next best thing. It’ll be a similarly high speed curve but with some runoff to satisfy the FIA. I can’t wait for the pack of 22 cars to fly through there the first time. I think there could be some epic high speed side by side racing during that curve as well as the cars will have the tow on the straight before. Done right, it could make for great racing.

DasWauto > Malanga
06/01/2016 at 11:34

I disagree. F1 can’t (read: won’t, out of safety concerns) run Curva Grande without a chicane of some sort, which in itself neuters the grand bend anyway. Moving the high speed curve to give it some runoff is the next best thing, I think. It will give us the speed, the challenge, and, done right, the potential for side by side action through it. I’m looking forward to it.

Malanga > DasWauto
06/01/2016 at 11:49

I know... what I meant is that instead of just decimating Curva Grande, they should just make the chicane faster. Ex. The old layout!

Kinja'd!!!

DasWauto > Malanga
06/01/2016 at 12:45

I understood what you were referring to. I don’t like that layout either and think the new solution will be favourable.

Malanga > DasWauto
06/01/2016 at 12:46

Each to his own!

DasWauto > Malanga
06/01/2016 at 12:49

Yup. I guess we’ll see how it plays out.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > DasWauto
06/01/2016 at 12:56

Indeed, not a lot of run-off in Curva Grande, while with the new design they can simply go straight if necessary. I’m actually amazed that such a high-speed first corner/kink is allowed by the FIA, but it should indeed provide some breathtaking racing. It probably won’t be as hair-raising as an overtake through Blanchimont, but there will be a lot more action.

DasWauto > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/01/2016 at 13:03

I went to F1 at Spa in 2011 and Blanchimont is exactly what I hope it will be like, it’s a great corner. It will probably be a bit wider as it’ll be just off the front straight but that will open it up a bit more, hopefully to good effect for passing. They’ll most likely be running 330+ km/h when they enter the turn so I think it’ll be plenty hair raising on its own, let alone if they go into the bend side by side with another car. I’m looking forward to it.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > DasWauto
06/02/2016 at 18:11

I saw you reposted my AMG GTS review. What exactly does that mean?

DasWauto > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/02/2016 at 18:38

I shared it to OppositeBlog: http://oppositeblog.kinja.com

It’s basically a more continuous version of the Best of Oppo posts I used to do, just less onerous on me. Think of it as a reader’s digest for Oppo. The Jalop editors use it sometimes to select posts to share to the main site, or at least they used to, as that whole practice has been cut down on significantly.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > DasWauto
06/03/2016 at 18:30

Good to know. Thanks!

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > DasWauto
06/05/2016 at 17:19

I just posted another review (Range Rover Autobiography) and when I posted it I had the option of sharing it to Oppo or kinja. It’s up on Oppo now, but what does it mean to share a post to kinja? Isn’t that automatic when posting to Oppo? So confused.

DasWauto > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/20/2016 at 16:10

If you post on Oppo you don’t need to share anything. Sharing effectively refers to cross-posting, like is done on Jalopnik from it’s sister sites or Oppo.

I’ve just shared your post to OppositeBlog.

/Sorry for the late response, I’m not on my computer too often and I had this open in a tab there.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > DasWauto
06/20/2016 at 16:15

No worries. I’m finishing a review of the Charger R/T Scat Pack that I’ll post to OB when it’s finito.