Monza must be kept at all costs

For a while now, the historic European races have been under attack. Imola got the boot after 2006. The French Grand Prix followed two years later. Spa Francorchamps has missed seasons, most recently '06. The Nurburging was unable to host the German GP this year, while doubts remain over Hockenheim. And now Monza, the cathedral of motorsport in Italy, is under threat.

It is no real surprise, really. The core races in 1950 were situated in small pocket of western Europe but this is a global championship and expansion was inevitable. Seventy venues have hosted Formula 1. Only 20 remain. There isn't enough space to accommodate them all. Even now, the calendar is bursting.

In 1996, the championship finished with a flyaway in Japan following seven successive European races. This year, there's only one European race - Russia - among seven flyaways on the final leg.

Several newer races on the calendar struggle to fill grandstands © LAT

Money, of course, is a factor. China, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and most recently Azerbaijan have thrown huge sums of money at F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone to secure a race and promote their countries. While not all the new tracks have proved popular, the facilities have been impressive.

That has put pressure on historic venues, now crumbling with age, to keep up in a financial climate where everything costs more. Formula 1 faces greater competition from other sports - and the competitively priced day-out experience they offer - as well as other forms of entertainment. It's never been more challenging to be a race promoter.

Monza is one of those circuits that has perhaps relied too heavily on its status as one of the iconic circuits. Monaco doesn't pay anything to host its race, such is its perceived importance to the Formula 1 and though Monza doesn't have the same deal, it has had preferential rates.

But with greater competition than ever for places on the calendar Ecclestone has pushed for more money. Negotiations have been rambing on for two-and-a-half years and the deal is at risk.

Much of the clamour to save these traditional races is just knee-jerk reaction. The noise will arguably die down and life would carry on as normal. It would be nice if Imola returned. The same could be said for the others, too. But Formula 1 has continued without them. I don't think the same can be said about Monza.

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is part of the core of F1. It appeared on the inaugural calendar in 1950 and has stuck around long enough to become the longest-serving race on the calendar. Only in 1980, when Imola hosted the Italian GP, has it been absent.

The classic venues are important, but that's not reason enough to be kept. After all, the idea that races without 100 years of history do not deserve to have a place is utter nonsense.

Singapore is one of the highlights of the calendar and it has only been around seven years. Austin's Circuit of the Americas, with just three GPs to its name, is well on its way to joining it as a firm favourite. F1 is richer for them.

Japan finale was the only late-season flyaway race back in 1996 © LAT

Monza deserves its place because it is everything Formula 1 should be. La Pista Magica - the magic track - is a temple of speed nestled away in parkland just north of Milan.

The layout is everything a driver wants: high speeds, sweeping corners and tricky chicanes. The drivers will tell you these elements make the car feel light and tricky to drive on the edge. Corners like Parabolica and Ascari are ones fans and drivers alike will talk about whether or not Monza stays. The likes of China, Korea, Valencia can hardly say the same.

Head off track onto the old banking, which combined with the current track to host four world championship rounds between 1955 and '61, and you can breathe in the past. It's gradient, 80 per cent in places, is extraordinary.

Thinking about drivers hitting speeds in access of 170mph with just a small barrier between them and the edge sends chills down your spine. It's a remarkable tale. One that is barely believable.

Then there's the atmosphere. If F1 were a religion, the Tifosi would be its congregation and Monza the place of worship. Every year they flock in their tens of thousands. The total attendance at Monza was 86,000 on Sunday.

It is nothing astonishing, Silverstone drew 140,000 this year. But the eurozone's third-largest economy remains in its longest postwar recession. Money is tight. So it's impressive Monza achieved those figures and the fans that came spent their hard-earned money on a race.

Driving into the circuit each morning, fans decked out in red flood the internal roads, cause jams at the paddock entrance and faithfully cheer and toot air horns each time a red car passes the grandstands.

Admittedly, you could call them fickle, as it is not uncommon for many to head home early should the Ferraris retire, but you could also say the same about many football fans.

The Tifosi are F1 fanatics. They love F1 and the passion that oozes out of them from the minute they enter the circuit to the time they leave is unfaltering. Sure, their main support falls to Ferrari, but there's mutual respect for all.

Ahead of his first F1 race in Italy, Carlos Sainz Jr spoke about how he went out of the paddock during the day to attend an event and the moment he walked out of the gates, he was swamped.

"It was amazing," he said. "Even If you're a Toro Rosso guy no one knows, everyone still surrounds you. It's an incredible experience."

The sight of thousands of fans rushing onto the circuit at the end of the race is a sight to behold. The thrill of getting close to their heroes on the podium, which is suspended over the track to allow the fans to get closer than any other track on the calendar, and step on the hallowed Monza track, is palpable.

Monza's iconic banking remains in place to this day © LAT

The cheering is deafening, the flags are waved with real vigour and there's a real festival feel, complete with red, white and green confetti. It's in those moments that you see how much the fans and drivers love F1 at Monza.

"We race for the people and when you see the podium with a lot of people like that and they're screaming and crying, I don't think we can lose that," said Williams' Felipe Massa.

"This is part of our blood and we cannot lose this type of race. The history of Formula 1, this is history here (Monza). It is part of Formula 1."

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton added: "This is one of the best tracks in the world. It has to stay here for moral reasons.

"Are you going to take this grand prix away from us and put on another one that would not have the same feeling or would not have the special impact? We definitely have to keep this."

Change should be embraced, but not always at the expense of history. Formula 1 needs Monza. And Monza needs Formula 1. Losing it would be a disaster.