The organizers of the Italian GP have apologised to the many disappointed spectators who attended the race in Monza last weekend.
This comes after 336,000 fans came through the gates of Monza over the course of three days for Round 16 of the 2022 F1 World Championship, making it a tremendous success in terms of attendance. However, it was obvious that the large numbers put a burden on the circuit’s operations and infrastructure.
Long lines of fans endured to access the venue, but once inside, complaints ranged from a poor token system that made it difficult for everyone to receive food and water to the fact that viewing of the action on the track was obstructed in some spots due to the presence of dense crowds of spectators.
Monza acknowledged the problems on social media and stated that “rigorous verification” of the situation was in progress.
“Autodromo Nazionale Monza expresses its regret for the inconvenience of those who, among the many fans who flocked to the last Italian GP, encountered some inconveniences,” the post read.
“The structure and its people put their best efforts to create an event that surpassed all previous attendance records.
“For Autodromo Nazionale Monza, the experience of the fans is a priority aspect, and for this reason, a rigorous verification has been started, also with the partners, to ascertain and investigate the origin of any critical issues and take the consequent measures so that this does not happen again in the future.”
The Italian GP will continue to be held at Monza through 2025, but F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has warned the track that it must upgrade its infrastructure or face losing its place on the sporting calendar.
“The grand prix deserves to be on the calendar but, as I have said before, history is no longer enough to be able to secure your place in the F1 world championship today,” Domenicali said last weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.
“We expect the infrastructure improvement that we have defined, both for the teams and for the public, to be done.”
“Covid has obviously brought forward other needs and other priorities, but now there are defined projects that must be carried out, and there is no more time.”
“The works are needed for the modernisation of the venue and to help fans experience the grand prix in the best possible way.
“For the sake of a grand prix that deserves to be on the calendar, now we need the facts, and a definitive and clear plan of when the works already defined will start… The promoter knows this too.”
