Jamey Price watches the Italian Grand Prix at Monza

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Ferrari fan and photographer Jamey Price was one of the thousands of fans cheering for a home win at Monza last weekend.

Read about his experience at the Italian Grand Prix below and have a look at the fantastic photographs he took at Monza of the race and the historic track.

I fell in love with Formula 1 in 1998 while flipping channels and happened upon the Monaco Grand Prix. Even though a McLaren driver, Mika Hakkinen, won the race, I was more interested in those beautiful red cars buzzing around the race track.

The race didn’t go particularly well for the Ferraris, but I was a fan and have been ever since. That was 12 years ago this past May.

When I moved to the UK in July from the States, I knew I wanted to attend one of the European s before the series went back overseas to the flyaway races. Spa is a circuit that all F1 fans should probably visit in their lifetime, but Monza is special for those of us that call ourselves tifosi.

The spiritual home of Ferrari and their fans, the tifosi, it is also the oldest active race track in Europe and one of the most scenic venues on the calendar. So when an opportunity presented itself to go to the Italian Grand Prix, It was something I couldn’t turn down.

I bought a three-day general admission pass, packed my bags and headed to Italy not knowing a word of Italian other than “ciao” and “grazie”.

Hello to Jarno

Jarno Trulli, Lotus, Monza, 2010

I arrived on Thursday and went straight to the track. My pass got me into the pit lane walkabout during the afternoon so I took advantage of it and enjoyed an afternoon wandering the pit lane.

While the rest of the fans were all huddled around the Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull garages, I wandered down to the other end of the pit lane where there was almost no one around.

I shook Heikki Kovalainen’s hand and wished Jarno Trulli good luck for the weekend. I got a few autographs, took photos and had an up close and personal meeting with some of the other drivers in the paddock. Meanwhile the rest of the fans were all clamouring for an all-too-brief glimpse of a superstar.

I headed home satisfied with the photos I had made, the autographs I had and my plan for the Friday practice sessions.

The perfect spot

Jenson Button, Monza, 2010

I stayed in the nearby town of Bergamo and a quick train ride on Friday morning had me at the race track in time to hear the Formula BMW engines warming up in the pit lane.

I quickly made my way under the circuit toward the F1 paddock entrance but not before feeling a hand on my back trying to push me out of the way. Quickly turning around to see who the guy was trying to move me aside, I was shocked and surprised to see the face of seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher riding a bike into the track.

A ballsy manoeuvre, considering the hundred of so fans waiting in front of him huddled around the entrance to the paddock. After my brush with greatness, I headed over the pedestrian walkway that crosses the back straight and made my way to Parabolica to watch the first Friday free practice.

For those who know the sound of a burping, gurgling and screaming F1 engine, it’s a sound you never forget. This was the fifth race I have attended and the sound of those engines still makes me smile.

Being a professional photographer, I had brought my camera and a selection of lenses to capture photos of racing and the atmosphere from the weekend. But I was hugely disappointed to see how high the catch fences at Monza are – 25 or 30 feet tall in places so that even from the top of the grandstands, it is impossible to shoot over them.

I knew I was going to have to work to get any kind of decent photos from the weekend. In search of better opportunities, I walked back over the pedestrian crossing and up toward the exit of the Ascari chicane and just enjoyed standing at the famous corner listening to the cars bounce and rumble over the curbs then scream by on their way toward Parabolica. There I stood for the rest of first practice just enjoying the morning sun and the scream of V8 engines.

With second practice set to go a little later on, I headed north, deep into the middle of the circuit in search of the Lesmo corners. In my meandering along the side of the track along one of the many paths that line the circuit, I happened upon the section of track where the cars pass underneath the old banking.

I immediately fell in love with the spot for two reasons. The first being it provided a clear shot onto the track which sits below and to the right of where I was standing and has very low catch making it a good place to take photos of the cars as they pass under you.

The second reason I fell in love with this spot was the noise. You’re very close to the cars as they accelerate downhill away from the second Lesmo and toward the entrance to Ascari.

The tunnel under the old banking creates a fantastic echo and as a result, the cars are beyond loud as they come by you. You don’t just hear the cars fly past, they’re so close and so loud that you feel them inside of you. Standing there, it feels almost like someone is trying to rip your shirt off and punch you in the stomach.

After spending an hour at this particular spot, I picked up and headed toward the second chicane where I sat and enjoyed a beer and some kind of local speciality sandwich that most of the vendors were selling. Whatever was in it, it was enjoyable and I just sat and enjoyed the remainder of my afternoon at Monza before heading back to Bergamo for the night.

Finding the banking

Banking, Monza, 2010

I made the mistake of thinking that it would be an easy walk to the circuit on Saturday morning. All of the websites I visited said it could be done, so I tried it out of impatience waiting for the free bus that took fans from the train station in Monza to the gate of the track.

The travel guides were right. It can be done… but it is no fun. Three miles later, I arrived at the circuit tired, blistered and sore and it was only half past eight. I headed back toward the old banking overpass to shoot final practice.

The morning sunlight reaching through the trees left beautiful pockets of light on the track so I took advantage of the clear view, low catch fencing and perfect sunlight to take as many photos as I could of as many cars as I could.

Standing there, I heard a familiar accent and got chatting with an F1 Fanatic reader, Chris and a friend of his from the UK. We had a laughs, talked photography and some F1 and went our separate ways following the end of final practice.

I headed back toward the front side of the track to the exit of Parabolica where the cars accelerate past toward the finish line. There was a TV monitor to watch qualifying from plus a clear view of the cars so I camped out with the tifosi and watched Fernando Alonso take pole position with a stunning lap. Cheers, high fives and air horns all around.

Following qualifying, I was wandering back toward the back side to watch GP2 action when I met Chris again. The three of us decided to go check out the old banking of the original autodromo. We left the circuit and headed toward the area Chris had accessed the banking earlier in the morning. We climbed a steep embankment and made our way through scrub brush before popping out onto the old banking.

Evidently the security on the banking on race weekend is very tight, sometimes guarded by armed officers with dogs. But the particular area we had headed to was covered only by a few young kids that looked no older then 18 or 19 who were more preoccupied with sun bathing and throwing a frisbee around than stopping us.

We ended up sitting on the old banking for over an hour taking photos, climbing the astonishingly steep incline and just enjoying the afternoon sun sitting on the crumbling concrete.

It is a beautiful piece of construction that means much to any racing fan. To enjoy it on a beautiful Italian afternoon with the sound of GP2 cars flying around the track nearby made for a perfect end to the day. I again headed back to Bergamo to get some sleep before a long day at the races Sunday.

Home win

Fernando Alonso, Monza, 2010

It is every Ferrari fan’s dream to go to Monza, but it is even more of a dream to go to Monza and celebrate a Ferrari win with the tifosi. With Alonso on pole, and Felipe Massa not far behind in third, it was shaping up to be a good chance to do just that.

With that in mind, I decided again to head back to my favourite spot at the old banking to watch the start of the race. I knew the noise levels there would be tremendous – which is why we really love going to F1 races isn’t it?

I arrived at half past seven on race day as I had heard that traffic and crowds can be unbearable on Sunday morning and I knew they would be particularly bad with the chance of a Ferrari win. There were a few hundred people near where I was sitting, but not the thousands I was expecting. After many hours of waiting the sound of engines warming up echoed through the trees of the park in which Monza sits.

It is a distinct sound that an F1 engine makes and cannot be mistaken for anything on this earth that I’ve ever heard. As the cars came by on the warm-up lap, barely on the throttle and mostly warming tyres, I decided that despite my usual ritual of keeping the ear protection off for the first lap, I was not going to be able to do so for this particular race. The noise just from the cars warming up was too much – and I’m no chicken when it comes to noise.

Finally, we heard the sound of the race start and 40 seconds or so later, we heard the sound of the field screaming toward us from the exit of second Lesmo and boy was I right. Even with the earmuffs on, the noise of 23 cars (Lewis Hamilton not having made it beyond the first Lesmo) was incredible. Indescribable, actually.

Much to the dismay of all the Ferrari fans in the area, we saw Alonso behind Button and not the other way around. Knowing I wanted to join in on the mele?â?® of the post-race celebrations, I walked along the inside of the circuit toward the second chicane where I watched Alonso’s continued assault on Button. I happened to be at a point where the cars passed directly parallel to me so I was clearly able to see how close Alonso was to the McLaren’s gearbox.

Every single fan in the area had some sort of Ferrari paraphernalia on and all of us were willing with all of our hearts for Alonso to try diving up the inside of Button. When he eventually did pass the McLaren, there were screams, cheers high fives, hugs and waving of flags to go around for everyone. It was like the entire track lit up with excitement.

With some 15 laps left in the race, I walked along the Curva Grande toward the first chicane where people were already lining up to run onto the track following the race. With a TV screen within view, I was able to watch Alonso fulfil all of our hopes and dreams to seal a Ferrari victory.

As soon as the last car had passed by us on the slow-down lap, the chain holding the gates closed was unlocked and a flood of people wearing red spilled onto the track. Me and thousands of others sprinted down the straight toward the podium. People in the stands to the right and left of us cheered and blew air horns as we continued running down the straight.

I eventually hit a wall of people shortly after the finish line and stopped to take a few photos of the ceremony. When Alonso lifted his trophy, the place went wild. Air horns blowing and cheers for Alonso filled the air. Despite common sense, I weaved my way through the thick crowd almost directly under the podium where people were still waving flags and chanting in many languages. It was a special feeling. After ten minutes of soaking in the atmosphere and joining in on the chants for Ferrari, I walked back toward the first chicane to walk the circuit.

The rubber was still hot and sticky as I walked the entire three-mile circuit enjoying every moment of my final hours at the historic circuit. I filled a water bottle full of gravel trap rocks from the second Lesmo, took some photos and finally made the long walk back to the bus where I hopped on that followed by a train back to Bergamo before leaving the following morning back to the UK.

Ferrari’s win made the weekend that much more special, but even had they not done as well as they had, it would have been a great weekend anyway. Monza is truly a special place and only reinforces my opinion that the older historic Grand PRix venues need to be saved and preserved if only to keep the sport firmly tied to its roots.

I’m tired of seeing Bernie Ecclestone threaten these classic racing venues and replace them with another soulles expanses of tarmac. At Monza, you can feel the history of Grand Prix racing.

Take a walk through the woods in the morning sun with the roar of cars echoing through the trees and it is not hard to imagine Mansell, Senna, Prost, Stewart, Ickx and all those other famous names that make the sport what it is screaming through the forest from the exit of the Lesmos, down the hill and back up again toward Ascari before making the long run to Parabolica. It is an amazing place that should be on the calendar as long as Formula One exists as a sport.

See more of Jamey’s photos on his website, you can also follow him on Twitter.

Are you going to next week’s race at Singapore? Join the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix discussion

Jamey’s pictures from Monza

From the stands

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32 comments on “Jamey Price watches the Italian Grand Prix at Monza”

  1. Great article Jamey! I enjoyed reading the article as it explained where it would be great to watch the race from and good spots to take photos.
    I had plans to attend this year’s race, but due to exams I had to cancel the trip,and boy I regret it! Nothing is compared to a home-win in Italy.

  2. Great article, and amazing pictures, love the ones of the cars coming out of the shadows.

    I havent been to an F1 race yet, but i am hoping to go to the British GP next year

  3. Awesome review Jamey! You really took us with you on the banking, I could just imagine how deafening the cars are! I absolutely agree with you on the noise of an F1 car, hearing it roar to life is just something you can never get bored of! Lol at your ritual of keeping the ear protection off for the first lap, that’s cool, although I’m a bit of a wuss don’t think I’ll be able to do that specially the start of the race is the loudest! They say the tunnel in Montecarlo is also very loud as the sound echos..

    I really enjoyed this race even though I’m a McLaren fan, and I couldn’t help not feeling happy for the tifosi. Seeing the sea of Ferrari red fans under the podium was a sight I’ll never forget. Being there must have felt extra special :)

    Lastly, I’d like to commend your talent in photography! The photos are so beautiful! I just got my first DSLR this year so I’m hoping to learn how to use in time for my next F1 race.

    Long live historic F1 venues!

  4. Maybe Keith will let me write an article on motorsport photography :)

    While I am by NO means the end all be all of photographers or even that experienced with motorsport photography. If you want inspiration, look to Cahier, Schlegelmilch, Darren Heath, Sutton, Peter J Fox, Steven Tee, Lorenzo Bellanca. Those guys are my heros. I respect them more than I do anyone driving any of the cars. Arguably, their job is harder to do as well. I aspire to be standing next to them at races.

    But I do love helping others. Photography is something everyone can do and learn to do well. You dont need an education in it to be successful. And success is your own definition, not someone else’s.

    1. Hey Jamey, sounds like a wonderful weekend. i’m hoping i’ll be able to head over to europe at some stage in the next few years to attend some historic grands prix.

      i’ve just sort of started getting into some photography and got some pretty decent photos at the gp in melbourne this year with a canon 500d and sigma 120-500mm. so many fences though which makes it difficult. how do you get the effect of your photo of the crowd? do you need a particular lens?

      hopefully in the next few years i can afford to purchase a better camera or lenses.

      an article on motorsport photography would be great!

    2. I’d love to get involved with that sort of thing when I am older. I don’t support Ferrari, but your article made me smile! I can imagine how amazing I would feel to be on the pit straight in Melbourne cheering Mark Webber as he sprayed the champagne. Brilliant article, you have described the exact emotions that Formula 1 generate.

      1. Jamie – Great article and pictures. Would LOVE one on photography :-)

  5. Monza sounds like a great experience. Even for someone who’s not much of a Ferrari fan (thats me).

    Thanks for the great pictures and story to go with it Jamey!

  6. Super Pictures! Sounds like you had a great time!

  7. Yes some very nice pictures i laughed at the future ferrari driver one.

    1. The lad may make it to Ferrari, but his engineer won’t. Look at the front end geometry! :)

  8. Thanks for this Jamie. A terrific review that gave a sense of really being there. I wish I had been. Evocative I think is the word. You’re a terrific journalist not just as a photographer.

  9. great photos thanks keith

  10. can you find ictures of old circiut anderstrop. andretti won 1 race 1978. i think that gp sweden never back in f1

  11. Great article and fantastic photos. I was thinking of writing a similar piece about my weekend at Monza but I guess you got in there before me.

    Just one point on the banking though; I went down there on the Thursday evening and there were no marshalls there, got to hang out there for a while and take some photos. In hindsight I should have gone walking around it while I was there. It is breathtaking though.

  12. Nice photos but you forgotten the best driver going and that my hero Michael Schumacher you should never forget him he might of had a bad season this year but he will be better in 2011.

  13. Great article! Thanks for the write-up. Hope to make it there myself someday.

  14. Great pictures and article, I enjoyed reading!

  15. Great stuff Jamey! One of the best submitted articles I’ve read on here. I’m an aspiring photographer myself so I found it especially interesting. I particularly like the two shots of the flags in the sun

  16. So when Schuey pushed you, was there a pitlane wall nearby ;)

    Great article & photographs, now I know where I will be sitting if and when I ever make it to Monza. PS, if you want the full F1 noise experience, go stand in the tunnel under the Bay grandstand in Singapore. Seriously, you will come out with your ears bleeding !

  17. Fantastic article mate, you really conveyed what it’s like to be in Monza – especially when you’re a proud tifiso. Incredible!

    I was there last year and I too remember what it’s like. Unfortunately, a Ferrari didn’t win but Kimi’s 3rd place wasn’t too bad considering Ferrari’s form last year. However when Hamilton crashed out about 30m from where I was standing, the cheers rivalled a Ferrari victory nonetheless.

    Still slightly jealous that I wasn’t there for a Ferrari victory, but I’m glad you were there to enjoy it!!

  18. Nicely written, I feel bad that I couldn’t make it but hope my luck changes sometimes in the future.

  19. Jamie I think it would be great to write such an article. I’m just an amateur photographer… but I know how difficult it is to get great shots in mixed light on fast moving subjects.

    I love the pic of Alonso going down the shaded part of the track… in between the shadows. the contrast between the Ferrari in the sunlight and the shade is fantastic.

    I’m an unabashed Ferrari fan as well. Great write up.

    Cheers, Alex

  20. Thank you Jamey, that was a very well written piece indeed.

  21. Good article and pics. Thanks Jamie

  22. Beautiful article Jamey and even more stunning photos (esp the first flag and the trees).

    You’ve actually made it feel like I was at Monza so thank you very much!

  23. Gpfan i laughed at your comment haha

  24. Great read jamie, I was there also on my first trip outside Europe from Australia and despite being a Red Bull fan, the sprint to the podium celebrations, and having a massive gang of Tifosi all yelling the Italian national anthem around you is unforgettable!

    glad you had as good a time as I did! well written!

  25. Wow amazing write up :) sounds like you had a magical time! Made even sweeter by a Ferrari win :) great pictures too, really lovely.

  26. Jamey,

    Was a pleasure to meet you…really great pics, wish I had picked your brain a bit more. Glad you enjoyed the old banking! ;) See ya in Texas 2012! (chris)- sennaboy3

    1. CHRIS! Shoot me an email or friend me on facebook. I have some shots of you!

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