Formula 1 sure knows how to sign off from the European season with style, as we head to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy, one of F1’s coolest circuits in one of the world’s most fashionable countries.

The Italian Grand Prix is one of the most hotly anticipated of the year, and for good reason. Monza is a real fan-favourite. It is brimming with history and tradition, almost always produces excellent, overtake-laden races, and is situated in a beautiful part of the world, known for its incredible cuisine.

To set you up for the weekend, we’ve gathered some words of wisdom from Lando, Oscar, and Team Principal Andrea Stella. We also caught up with Alex Dunne ahead of his second FP1 appearance this weekend. Additionally, we’ve also compiled a long list of reasons why we love Monza, explained some of its biggest challenges, and prepared another tricky trivia question for you to tackle.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Monza. The Italian Grand Prix is always a good one. The fans come out in full force and the high speeds make it more fun.

“I’m focused on this weekend, ready to give it my all and fight for the win. The team have done a great job and we have a lot of performance in the car, so I’ll be extracting the maximum. Bring it on!”

“I’m really excited for Monza. Zandvoort was a very strong weekend and I’m determined to follow that up and fight for the victory in Italy. I finished second there last year and I’m working hard to go one better this year.

“A big thank you to the whole team who are working so hard at track and back at MTC to give us such a great car.”

Alex Dunne #89

“I’m super excited to be back in the MCL39 for my second FP1 with McLaren. My first session in Austria was an extremely special day for me, but I think to do it again in Monza, which is a historic and prestigious track, is definitely going to put a very big smile on my face.

“I’m looking forward to building and improving on what was already a strong outing in Austria and helping Lando and Oscar as much as possible going into their weekend.”

“Up next, we have the Italian Grand Prix, an event which many fans look forward to every year. It’s one of the most popular and fastest circuits on the calendar. We also look forward to seeing Alex Dunne return to the MCL39 in FP1.

"Last weekend was very much one of mixed emotions, but having fully reviewed Lando’s DNF internally, our full focus shifts to the remaining nine rounds of the Championship. We continue to be competitive, but we must not be complacent and must not take for granted that there is a fine line between challenging for victories and disappointment. The team and drivers remain motivated to maximise our pace this weekend, taking on the low-down force challenges of Monza where we strive to continue our current level of competitiveness."

Why we love the Italian Grand Prix

If you were to provide a blueprint for what a Formula 1 circuit should be, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza wouldn’t be far off. It is extremely fast, pushes a car’s power and performance to the limit, is beautifully old school, and draws in some of F1’s most passionate fans.

It is the oldest track on the F1 calendar and runs through one of the largest walled parks in Europe, the Parco di Monza, just north of Milan. Spanning 688 hectares, it uniquely connects nature, culture, and sports, with the greenery and woodlands providing quite a contrast to the roar of engines and a fanatical F1 crowd.

Built in 1922, the circuit was only the third purpose-built race track in the world and has hosted the official Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix every year bar one since the inaugural season in 1950.

Whether watching from the circuit or on TV, the circuit certainly holds up in the modern day. The grandstand at the Variante del Rettifilo must be considered among the best on the calendar to watch a race from, with cars slowing from 350km/h to 70km/h to tackle one of the track’s primary overtaking spots.

What are the challenges?

The sheer speed of the circuit is a lot for even a modern-day Formula 1 car to cope with. For his Pole lap in last year’s Italian Grand Prix, Lando set a remarkable average speed of 263km/h.

The speed required and the circuit’s heavy braking zones demand a lot from the engine and the brakes, with cars needing to hit speeds of up to 350km/h and slow down to as low as 70km/h at various points. Monza is one of the most power-sensitive circuits on the calendar, meaning teams will look to keep drag to a minimum by stripping back their cars and bolting on thinner, purpose-built rear wings.

For those with efficient power units and good braking performance, this presents plenty of overtaking opportunities, including at the aforementioned Variante del Rettifilo, but just as famous is the renowned corner directly beforehand, Parabolica, a long right-hander. The two turns, which are the first and the last on a lap, are separated by the circuit’s lengthy 1.1km, DRS-enabled main straight, and moves are possible both before, during, and after it.

The season so far

Oscar achieved his seventh win of the season and our fifth in succession last time out in Zandvoort. It was a frustrating day on the other side of the garage, as Lando suffered an unfortunate retirement.

With nine races remaining, we are first in the Constructors’ standings on 584 points, 324 ahead of second place. Oscar and Lando lead the Drivers’ standings in first and second, respectively, 70 points ahead of third place.

The fit

The nights are drawing in and autumn is fast approaching, which means you’ll need to start digging out your winter clothes. To help with this gradual transition, we’ve sorted you out with a hoodie and hat combo on the McLaren Store. For a limited time, you can cop our Formula 1 team hoodie and a free New Era cap, worth £147, for only £100.

It’s also perfect for those of you who are lucky enough to be heading out to Monza, which is on the doorstep of one of the fashion capitals of the world, Milan, and in need of a new outfit to impress the locals.