Setting the scene for Italy

Monza is the last truly historic circuit that will have a say in which of Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso will win the world championship. Granted, Interlagos can trace its history back to the 1920s and Suzuka opened as a Honda test track in the 1960s, but Monza held its first grand prix way back in 1922. That makes it the granddaddy of grand prix circuits.

Pietro Bordino, who as well as being one of Italy's top drivers of that decade holds the distinction of being one of those rare breed of racing drivers to be killed by a dog while racing, won that inaugural race six years before his unfortunate rendezvous with an Alsatian. The Monza that he hurtled around in his Fiat the day of his triumph would be at least a little familiar to modern eyes, while if Bordino were to stroll around the royal Parco di Monza today he would recognise his environs - although his lack of a swipe card pass would surely soon lead to his ejection!