Mark Hughes: F1's Inside Line

Watch the cars on the Monza track, close-cropped - and it could be any other Formula 1 venue. Red and white stripey kerbs, green grasscrete just beyond, rubbered-in black line on dark grey asphalt, a white stripe down the middle of the tyre, black carbon wishbones glinting in the sun, brash livery, violent direction change, bouncing over kerbs as downforce fights the car's urge to take off, with the dampers refereeing.

But peel back for a wider-eye view, far enough so you can see the hedges that still line much of the track behind the barriers, further back again so you see the disused old stone steps for grandstands long ago deemed too dangerously close to the track, a bit further again so you see the beautiful mature trees, further back yet so you see the ancient stone walls that surround the place and you look upon the gently crumbling banking.