The best Italian Grand Prix stats you should know as F1 all-time lap record could be broken at Monza

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Formula 1 is headed to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza this weekend, and all eyes are on the ultimate F1 record that could be broken.

Monza is known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, so it should come as no surprise that the all-time fastest F1 lap was set by Lewis Hamilton in 2020 at the circuit. The then Mercedes driver set a time of 1:18.887 and reached an average speed of 264.362 km/h (164.267 mph) during the third qualifying session.

With both McLaren drivers breaking the lap record at Zandvoort last weekend, there is a chance that either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri could break Hamilton’s record at Monza during Saturday’s qualifying session.

Hamilton will be making his Monza debut as a Ferrari driver this weekend, with all eyes on whether the Brit can secure his first podium with the team.

The Italian team faced heartbreak at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix when both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc crashed out of the race. Hamilton initially hit the Turn 3 barrier in the early stages of the race, with Leclerc later taken out by Kimi Antonelli at the same spot.

The Monegasque driver brought joy to the Tifosi in 2024 when he pulled off an impressive one-stop strategy to take the race win in front of the team’s home crowd.

Read More: 2025 Italian Grand Prix race predictions: F1 experts decide if Lewis Hamilton can achieve Ferrari glory in Monza

Italian Grand Prix shares prestigious record with British counterpart

The Italian Grand Prix is one of the oldest races on the Formula 1 calendar, dating all the way back to the first official Formula 1 season in 1950. Alongside the British Grand Prix, they are the only two grands prix to have appeared on every single F1 calendar since the first season.

Monza will host its 75th grand prix event in 2025, continuing its record for the most races held at one circuit. The track beats Monte Carlo (Monaco), where the event has been held 71 times, and Silverstone, which has hosted 60 British grands prix.

The iconic track has hosted every Italian Grand Prix, bar the 1980 race, when it was moved to Autodromo Dino Ferrari – otherwise known as Imola. The 1980 Italian Grand Prix was moved to the other circuit due to Monza undergoing a major upgrade, which saw the construction of a brand new pit complex.

Nelson Piquet won the event in his Brabham, taking his third victory of the 1980 season. Despite starting from fifth, the Brazilian won by almost half a minute, when the leading Renaults of Jean-Pierre Jabouille and René Arnoux were forced to retire.

Monza circuit stats and history

Monza is known as the ‘Temple of Speed’ because it is the fastest track on the Formula 1 calendar. Drivers reach an average speed of 256.1kph (159.13 mph) with recorded top speeds of 350 km/h (217.47 mph).

It is unsurprising, then, that Monza has hosted 13 out of 20 of the shortest grands prix in Formula 1 history, which includes races that had been cut short due to a variety of reasons, such as poor weather conditions.

Monza is a 5.793 km (3.600 mi) circuit, featuring seven right turns and four left, making a total of just 11 corners, the second fewest behind Austria with 10.

The track also has the highest percentage spent at full throttle, with the FIA revealing that drivers spend 66% of the lap with their foot fully down. Although this number could be higher, with Mercedes saying the figure is more likely to be 76% of the lap time and 82% of the full lap distance.

Monza has the fourth-longest straight from pole to the first corner at 476m, just behind Spain, Silverstone and Mexico, with the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez leading with 980m.

What have the drivers said about Monza heading into the 2025 Italian Grand Prix?

With Monza known for being the fastest and most historic track on the Formula 1 calendar, it is no surprise that it is beloved by the drivers.

Pierre Gasly: “Monza is obviously a very special place for me as the location of my first Formula One victory in 2020. It’s also a bit of a home race for me too considering I live in Milan so I can sleep in my own bed during the weekend, which is always a bit of a luxury since we travel so much!

“The track is incredibly historic, and the high-speed nature makes it really special to drive. The long straights usually brings some good overtaking opportunities and we also have to get it right in the low speed corners, especially first chicane. We are already working hard to take on board the lessons from Zandvoort and to make sure we round off the European season with a good team result.”

Isack Hadjar: “It’s very good to be back racing a few days after such a strong result last week. Being in Monza, at one of our home races, it’s special for us.

There’s a lot of confidence within the team, but we also want to manage our expectations and be focused. It might be challenging as it’s a track with a lot of straight lines, but it will be important for us to be in the game so that we can aim for another great result.”

Franco Colapinto: “I made my Formula One debut in Monza last year, so I am looking forward to returning, this time with some more experience under my belt. I spent some time testing with the team in Monza earlier this year and it is a track I like. With its high speed and long straights, the circuit is a favourite amongst the grid and it is such a historic track.”

Alex Albon: “I’m looking forward to racing in Monza this weekend as part of the next round of the double-header. We’re coming off a strong P5 result and heading to another track that should suit our car, plus it’s always been a fun track to drive.

There are always tactics and games in Qualifying at this circuit, so we will need to be on our A-game and execute everything cleanly in order to stay ahead of our rivals. We’ll put our full focus into doing that.”

Records that could be broken at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix

There are a significant number of records that could be broken at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, with all eyes focused on the all-time F1 lap record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2020.

If the 2025 Italian Grand Prix runs the full race distance in less than 1 hour, 14 minutes and 19 seconds, it will become the shortest full-length grand prix in history. It would take the record from the 2003 Italian Grand Prix, which was won by Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari at the team’s home track.

Lewis Hamilton can become the first driver to set eight fastest laps at a single grand prix, if he sets the fastest lap during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. He currently holds seven fastest laps, matching the record set by Michael Schumacher at the Spanish Grand Prix.

A win for Ferrari will see them continue their lead for most wins at a single circuit by a constructor. The Italian-based team currently hold the record for 20 wins at Monza, ahead of McLaren with 16 wins in Monaco.

Ferrari could also match their record for most wins at a single grand prix with 21, matching the record they currently hold at the German Grand Prix.

Kimi Antonelli could become the first driver to achieve their maiden Formula 1 victory at his home race since Johnny Herbert in 1995. A win for Antonelli at the 2025 Grand Prix would break the 30-year-old record that Herbert set at the British Grand Prix.