The Monza circuit has been the arena of many fatal accidents, especially in the early years of the Formula One world championship and has claimed the lives of 52 drivers and 35 spectators.

Track modifications have continuously occurred, to improve spectators safety and reduce curve speeds but it is still criticised by the current drivers for its lack of run-off areas, most notoriously at the chicane that cuts the Variante della Roggia.

Drivers are on full throttle for most of the lap down to its long straights and fast corners. This is usually the scenario in which the open-wheeled F1 cars show the raw speed they are capable of 231 mph during the mid-2000s.