Here is Monza. A more autumnal Monza than the dazzling ones of a Ferrari that illuminated everything with its escapes towards victory, towards the umpteenth victory. Towards the titles of the Schumacher era, replicated in bursts like mimeograph. All in all recent times; but how far away… The 2011 World Championship enters its last third and only mathematics keeps the Reds and their riders (Alonso, at least) still on the line for the World Championship. Abstruse accounts, however: with their load of illusion, almost of nostalgia. Because a Ferrari will also be able to blow up the Monza roulette wheel on Sunday around 3 in the afternoon. But the season that is approaching the grand finale is ineluctably branded with the Red Bull colors. Of that Sebastian Vettel who, right on the racetrack, three years ago, at the wheel of a Toro Rosso achieved that daring and flooded victory that projected him to Olympus as the youngest ever winner in a Grand Prix. Then came the 40 world title with Red Bull, tinging a new record of human precocity in world championship history with the iris.
So what is left of Italian, in this Monza that tastes so much of summer at the end of the credits? Ferrari remains, of course. A Ferrari that would be little without Formula 1. But perhaps even more than what Bernie Ecclestone's Circus would be without the Reds. A man, the little ras of the Grands Prix, for whom the saying value for money means everything. Or at least more than anything else. And given that it is no mystery that the Maranello team is the only one to enjoy economic privileges and a treatment that Ecclestone grants it beyond the traditional division of the (very rich) pie according to the ranking, here is the power equation between the Cavallino and Formula 1 takes on an obvious meaning.
In fact, it is no mystery that Formula 1 was born in England but grew up learning Italian. The first GP at Silverstone, in 1950, may also have been a coincidence. But the definitive sporting and image explosion decided, almost at the dawn of the 60s, by the technical vision of the small British teams was not. From those garage owners, according to the definition of Enzo Ferrari and car manufacturers such as Alfa and Mercedes, who were overwhelmed. More recent history reminds us of many other Ferrari comebacks. First against those who had anticipated it by introducing technical themes such as rear-engined single-seaters, immediately dominant. Then the turbo and ground effect revolutionary aerodynamics in the early 80s. Then the return to the naturally aspirated engine, the arrogance (not yet completed) of the electronics. Always the same story: someone, far from Italy, to invent something and make it successful. And in Maranello, an immediate reaction: starting to copy and then overtaking and taking flight.
All of this, in the wake of the Prancing Horse which has branded more world titles than any other symbol, has meant that Formula 1 is a particularly fascinating training ground for other symbols of our house. Historic brands such as Marelli and Brembo are now the cornerstones of what is the 62-year-old and highly structured Grand Prix castle. The return of Pirelli this year is further proof of this. The Milanese tire specialist had been missing since 1991. This year's return soon took on an innovative flavour. Innovative tires designed to give maximum performance immediately and for a short time – a real blasphemy in the tradition of the GPs – are offering exciting races and a return to the show that over a decade of electronic chloroform had made us forget. And in this orgy of Italian enthusiasm at 300 km/h, here is another Italian protagonist: Geox. Particular sponsor: shoes, and now also clothing, made around an ultra-innovative technological idea: fabrics and constructions capable of helping our skin breathe. An idea that has yielded and yielded to its master record sales to many zeros and winning landings on ever new markets. Geox's landing in F.1 should have taken place together with Ferrari. But sponsor Puma was already in Maranello, so nothing to do. The group from Veneto then turned to Red Bull, where it took the opportunity to kick off a collaboration destined to extend the streak of success well beyond this very successful season. And with lots of new things to come: because Geox is inserting its technology into the shoes and apparel of Red Bull drivers. Who, in addition to winning races, experiment and show their appreciation very much, so much so that this field too could soon adapt to new standards, with considerable advantages for the comfort and therefore the competitiveness of the drivers in the race.
There you have it: in this 2011 Monza which is a bit lacking in Ferrari, there is in any case all this other Italy. A lot of Italy. That doesn't give up. And that promises to write Grand Prix history for a long time to come. Perhaps together with Ferrari which in the meantime, it is certain, will meet again…
