Monza Circuit Guide: Every Corner of the Temple of Speed
Monza is not a circuit: it’s a pilgrimage. Opened in 1922 in the royal park north of Milan, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is the fastest track on the calendar and the spiritual home of Italian motorsport. The lap is 5.793 km, mostly flat out, broken up by three chicanes that decide everything.
Its layout is simple to learn and very hard to master: long straights where the slipstream is king, and heavy braking zones where races are won and lost. That makes it perfect for Pocket GP, where the duel is the game. Here it is, corner by corner.
The main straight (Rettifilo)
The race starts and every lap ends on the longest straight of the lap, past the grandstands and the old banking. Cars reach their top speed here, and the tow is enormous: a car directly behind can pull alongside before the braking zone.
Racing tip: don’t pull out of the slipstream too early. Wait until you are almost touching the rear wing, then move over. You want to arrive at the braking zone alongside, ideally on the inside (right).
Prima Variante (Variante del Rettifilo)
A tight right-left chicane at the end of the straight, and the number one overtaking spot of the lap. It’s the heaviest braking zone at Monza, from top speed down to a crawl.
- Brake: in a straight line. Don’t turn in while you are still at the limit of braking, or you will lock the front-left.
- Line: clip the right-hand kerb, then let the car flow left. Cutting too much costs you on the exit.
- Overtaking: the classic move is a late dive down the inside. The defender’s answer is the switchback: brake earlier, cross behind and get the better exit toward Curva Grande.
At the start, the Prima Variante is chaos: eight cars into a funnel. Lose two places there and you can gain them back. Lose the car, and you can’t.
Curva Grande (Curva Biassono)
A long, fast right-hander taken flat out or nearly. It’s more of a bend in the straight than a corner, but it rewards a clean exit from the Prima Variante, because whatever speed you carry stays with you all the way to the Roggia.
Racing tip: don’t fight side by side here. The outside car has nowhere to go. Keep the tow and plan the move for the next braking zone.
Variante della Roggia
A left-right chicane after a short straight: the second best overtaking spot. The braking zone is shorter than at the Prima Variante, so moves here are more about the exit you had from Curva Grande than about bravery.
Racing tip: this is a good place for the crossover. If someone dives inside you on the left, brake slightly earlier, cross behind and take the inside for the right-hand exit.
Lesmo 1 and Lesmo 2
Two right-handers in quick succession through the trees, the most “technical” part of the lap. Lesmo 1 is faster and wider. Lesmo 2 is tighter and leads onto the Serraglio straight, so the exit of Lesmo 2 matters more than the entry.
Racing tip: sacrifice a little speed into Lesmo 2 to get on the throttle earlier. A late apex here pays all the way to Ascari. Overtaking is rare: use the Lesmos to set up a tow, not to pass.
Variante Ascari
A fast left-right-left sequence after the Serraglio straight, named after Alberto Ascari. It’s taken at high speed, and a smooth line through all three apexes is worth more than any heroic braking.
Racing tip: don’t try to pass into Ascari. A mistake here throws you onto the run-off. Focus on the exit: the back straight leads to the most important corner for your lap time.
Parabolica (Curva Alboreto)
The legendary final corner: a long right-hander that opens up onto the main straight. It was renamed Curva Alboreto in 2021 in honour of Michele Alboreto. Brake late, turn in, then hug the inside and let the car run out to the exit kerb as you go back to full throttle.
Why it matters so much: the Parabolica feeds the longest straight of the lap. A good exit means more speed all the way to the Prima Variante, and a free tow for the car behind if you mess it up.
Racing tip: if a car is close behind you here, defend the inside before braking and make your exit clean. If you are the one behind, stay in their tow out of the Parabolica: the Prima Variante is the place to strike.
Monza in numbers
| Length | 5.793 km |
| Direction | Clockwise |
| Opened | 1922 |
| Chicanes | 3 (Prima Variante, Roggia, Ascari) |
| Best overtaking spots | Prima Variante, Variante della Roggia |
Race it
Monza is one of the two launch circuits of Pocket GP, built from the real track geometry with all the corners above. Hold to accelerate, lift to brake into the Prima Variante, and drag to the inside to set up the switchback. See if you can make the move stick.
FAQ
How long is the Monza circuit?
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza Grand Prix circuit is 5.793 km long. It is the fastest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar, with long straights broken up by three chicanes.
Where do you overtake at Monza?
The main overtaking spot is the braking zone of the first chicane (Prima Variante, or Variante del Rettifilo) at the end of the main straight, helped by the slipstream. The Variante della Roggia, after Curva Grande, is the second best opportunity.
Why is Monza called the Temple of Speed?
Because Formula 1 cars run there with very little wing and spend most of the lap at full throttle, reaching the highest average speeds of the season. Monza opened in 1922 and is one of the oldest permanent circuits in the world.