‘Special’ F1 circuit Lewis Hamilton loves now on the ‘home straight’ to signing new five-year contract

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The race to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix is hotting up and putting more and more pressure on the current circuits to up their game to remain their spots on the calendar.

Next year’s Formula 1 calendar won’t change, with 24 events still set to take place, with the only difference being that the Australian Grand Prix will host the first race instead of Bahrain.

However, 2026 is set to be a completely new ball game for F1, with sweeping rule changes and two new teams on the grid.

Audi will replace Sauber, while a General Motors-backed Cadillac team also look set to feature in the paddock.

The Madrid Grand Prix will also make its debut and with teams not willing to increase the calendar further to a 25-race season, another event has to make way.

There are currently seven events that will be entering the final year of their contracts in 2025: Belgium, China, the Netherlands, Emilia Romagna, Italy, Las Vegas and Mexico City.

A report from Formula Passion suggests that Monza is well on its way to confirming its status for the foreseeable future.

The Italian Grand Prix has been a staple of the F1 calendar since 1950 although races have been run at the track for more than 100 years.

It appears as though that run isn’t going to end any time soon.

Italian Grand Prix closing in on Formula 1 contract extension

The report from Formula Passion suggests that the Italian Grand Prix is close to being confirmed as an F1 event beyond 2025.

The negotiations between ACI Sport – who run motorsports in Italy, the organisers who run the race at Monza and Liberty Media are now in the ‘home straight’.

The signing of a new contract is ‘well underway’ and an announcement could be made ‘shortly’.

Monza is set to have its contract renewed for at least another five years, meaning F1 will be racing in Lombardy until at least 2030.

Importantly, it’s also believed that Monza will not be included in the potential rotation of some European circuits in the future to make way for other events around the world.

READ MORE: Which F1 drivers do well at Italian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton successful at Monza

Improvements to the infrastructure around Monza were vital to negotiations going smoothly between the circuit owners and F1.

A new underpass was built to separate cars leaving the circuit and pedestrians, making it easier for people to arrive at and leave the circuit.

The work was rushed through to be ready in time for this year’s race which was ‘appreciated’ by F1 organisers.

Lewis Hamilton is already a huge fan of Monza ahead of Ferrari move

For one driver in particular, Monza is going to have significant meaning in 2025 and beyond.

After racing at the circuit for nearly two decades in F1, Lewis Hamilton will arrive at Monza in 2025 in Ferrari colours for the first time.

This year, the passionate Tifosi cheered Charles Leclerc over the line to secure a historic victory for the Monegasque driver.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Italian Grand Prix from Niki Lauda’s return to Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen

Speaking at the circuit this year, via the Formula 1 website, Hamilton described his connection to Monza and how different it will feel next year.

The seven-time world champion said: “I’m not going to lie, it definitely does feel a little bit different.

“I mean, it always feels special when you come here. We’re coming here at a decent time in terms of the weather’s incredible today, obviously the huge changes they’ve made to the track.

“But as Charles [Leclerc] was saying, there’s always such incredible passion throughout Italy, just in the culture in general but particularly about racing. It’s always exciting just to see the fans that we’re going to see throughout the weekend.

“The passion here and the excitement that they really bring to this race is really not particularly matched in too many places.”

Hamilton and many other drivers – such as Sebastian Vettel and Pierre Gasly who achieved their first F1 victories there – have fond memories of Monza and now more drivers will have the chance to create those special moments in the future.