F1 Italian GP: how Ferrari team members live the emotions of their home race at Monza. Ferrari prepares for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Formula 1 is ready to return to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, where Ferrari will be welcomed by the Tifosi who hope to witness something special. The Monza round is the ultimate home race for the men and women of Maranello. Ahead of the Italian GP, Italian website F1inGenerale spoke with Francesco Cigarini, Ferrari mechatronics engineer from 1999 to 2021, who experienced the emotions of this weekend in Brianza for many years. The passion for the Italian team is not only directed at the drivers, but also at all the employees of Maranello, who in Monza especially feel the affection of the fans.

In just a few days, Formula 1 will once again return to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. From the perspective of a former Ferrari mechatronic engineer, how much does racing at home provide the right energy boost and how much does it risk overwhelming the team with the enthusiasm of the fans?

“The support of the Tifosi is always wonderful. Within the team there are those who endure it, those who embrace it and those who struggle to handle it, maybe out of shyness or for other reasons. There are people so eager to have a quick chat, fans who want a photo with you. I always stopped because, just as someone once transmitted passion to me when I was little, I enjoy doing the same, especially with kids and children, because that’s the most beautiful thing you can do. You feel the support of the fans everywhere, very strongly. The key is to channel it properly inside yourself, not to overload with pressure but to live it with the same joy they show, because despite the defeats their support always remains at the highest level. So you have to take that joy and turn it into positive energy to give your best.”

Speaking again about Monza, do you think the fans can hope for a back-to-back win after last year’s victory?

“The aerodynamic configuration at Monza is always unique, so if the team has found something, or if there is a carryover setup from last season that worked back then and still works this year, maybe they can be competitive. Monza is so particular that it reshuffles the cards. I can only wish for them to succeed in repeating the result, but it will be difficult.”