Monza Grand Prix 2023 travel review

Being a Ferrari fan, the Italian Grand Prix is always one of my favourite tours.

First few days…

Thursday morning we headed to Malpensa airport to await the first arrivals on the 4 night tour, allowing everyone to have a little longer in their city of choice, whether it be Milan, Bergamo or Como. Once everyone had arrived, the coaches headed off so that our guests could enjoy the first evening in one of these cities.

Friday was airport arrival again, this time at Linate for the 3-night tour. The flight arriving just after 9am, meaning the guests had most of the day to explore before Friday evening welcome drinks.

Based in Como, I hosted the Gullivers Welcome Drinks at the Hilton Como. A beautiful location for drinks on the rooftop terrace, overlooking the city of Como and the lake. Drinks are a great opportunity for clients to meet Gullivers staff and fellow guests all with a common interest in F1, along with enjoying the view and a couple of complimentary drinks!

Saturday saw us leave the hotel to head to Monza, excited with the prospect of Ferrari being fastest on Friday, could Ferrari take pole? We arrived at Monza, parking in the village for a 20-minute walk into the Royal Park with the tifosi. Arriving at Monza you can feel the history as you walk in through the tree lined avenue’s, knowing the circuit has been around since the twenties, and part of the championship since its first year in 1950. It’s great to have a chance to wander and see the banking used back in the late fifties and early sixties to soak up the history.

The race soon got underway with Carlos Sainz taking the lead in Q3, but then both Verstappen and Leclerc improved, meaning it was all down to the final run, with Sainz rising to the top and claiming pole by just over one hundredth of a second from Verstappen. The top three covered by less than a tenth of a second. The atmosphere amongst the Ferrari fans as we left the circuit was electric. With the prospect of a Ferrari win the following day, we boarded the coaches back to Como, to have dinner and prepare for the big day.

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Time for Race Day

An excited coach arrived at the circuit on Sunday in glorious sunshine, could Ferrari win in front of the thousands and thousands of tifosi sea of red, achieving the dream of a home win and stop the Red Bull season domination? We’d know by the end of the afternoon. But before the race, we had time to explore the fan-zone, enjoy the food and look at some great car displays including the Ferrari 499P which Ferrari took to victory in this years Le Mans 24hr race, the first win for them at the great race in 58 years.

But it was soon time to settle into position for the race. Carlos Sainz led away at the front followed by Verstappen and Leclerc. Sainz held on valiantly, defending for all his worth, but on lap 15 succumbed first to Verstappen then Perez, breaking the hearts of the tifosi. Towards the end of the race, Sainz came under pressure from team mate Leclerc for the final podium position, but like earlier in the race, he defended his position to claim third step on the podium, behind winner Verstappen and second place man Perez.

Heading back to Como, arriving before sunset, everyone headed off to have dinner with a glass of wine or an Aperol by the lake before heading home the following day.

A leisurely Monday morning in Como followed, where we had time to have one last drink and do a little last minute shopping before heading back to the airport and home.

by Adrian Newman, External Tour Manager