Schumacher’s tears, Leclerc’s win, and maiden victories – 7 memorable Italian Grand Prix moments from Monza

The Italian Grand Prix is only a few days away, and Monza is ready to welcome the teams, drivers and fans in typical Italian fashion. From teary moments to the Tifosi showing up in style, the fastest circuit in Formula 1 has never lacked entertainment on or off the track.

Monza was on the F1 calendar from the very beginning and has hosted all Italian Grands Prix but one since 1950. Here are some of the most unforgettable moments from the Temple of Speed in recent racing history...

Leclerc delights the Tifosi

There's arguably nothing more special for an F1 driver than winning for Ferrari on home soil at Monza – something Charles Leclerc acheived in 2019 when he topped the podium in Italy, taking his second career win in Formula 1 and his first at Monza.

“There were people as far as I could see,” he said afterwards. “It was packed. I was trying to find my mum. She was in a grandstand... I was trying to find her but there were way too many people.”

Schumacher equals Senna's tally

No driver has won more races for Ferrari than the great Michael Schumacher, but perhaps one of his most emotional victories was in the 2000 Italian Grand Prix?

After missing the previous year’s Grand Prix, the German driver returned to Monza in top shape, winning the race in front of the Tifosi. It was his 41st career victory, meaning he equalled the tally Ayrton Senna – something a very emotional Schumacher was reminded about in the post-race press conference.

Ferrari turns 90

Ferrari chose the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix to celebrate their 90th anniversary in 2019, when they took over Piazza Duomo in Milan to hold a special “90 years of emotions” event which saw Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel alongside drivers and management from the past, marking the storied history of the Maranello team in front of a sea of red jerseys and caps with the iconic Duomo di Milano as a backdrop.

A maiden victory for Gasly

Monza without grandstands packed with passionate supporters is almost impossible to imagine. But in 2020 – due to the Covid pandemic – the Italian Grand Prix was held behind closed doors, and in an empty venue, Pierre Gasly found his way to success.

The French driver, wearing the colours of the other Italian team – then known as AlphaTauri – raced to his first ever Formula 1 victory.

Vettel's first triumph

But Gasly's win in 2020 wasn't the first time a driver from 'Italy's other team' had raced to a maiden victory at Monza.

Sebastian Vettel was in just his first full season as an F1 driver when he claimed a shock pole position for Toro Rosso at the Italian Grand Prix – and then followed that up with his first ever win.

The shoey returns

The Italian Grand Prix holds a special place in Daniel Ricciardo’s heart. The Australian won at Monza for McLaren in 2021, three years after his last victory. But it wasn’t a lucky win – Ricciardo led the race from start to finish and after a 1,204-day wait, he was back on the top of the podium ahead of his team mate Lando Norris, and Valtteri Bottas.

And what a better way to celebrate the long-awaited win with the iconic shoey celebration including Norris and McLaren boss Zak Brown?

Hamilton arriving in Monza in style

More recently, Sir Lewis Hamilton wanted to show up in style for his first Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver – and he did not disappoint.

The seven-time world champion arrived at the circuit for last year's event riding a motorbike in the colours of the Italian flag.

He went on to finish sixth in that race, but will be hoping he can challenge for victory this weekend, after he took his first Grand Prix win in red earlier this year in Barcelona.