The towering trees that used to push right up against the twin, quick right-handers early in the second sector have been dramatically thinned – the race missing an almost tunnel-like area where natural beauty met cutting-edge racing technology.
The area around the track’s second chicane – the Variante della Roggia – is also looking shockingly barren this year, including as it backs onto the long straight that leads up the Ascari chicane.
This is because just six weeks ago, this part of northern Italy was struck by a series of severe thunderstorms.
These were so ferocious that the wind felled approximately 10,000 trees in the former royal Monza park, as per information gathered by Autosport from event organisers.
Two storms in four days between 21-24 July did the real damage, with wind speeds clocked at over 60mph, well over gale-force level, and the trees, once many had been uprooted, fell in a domino-like effect as they hit others nearby.
The falling branches and trunks also badly damaged Monza’s track barriers and guardrails, although the circuit’s asphalt surface and its kerbs escaped harm.
Monza staff, working with employees from the local government, worked hard to clear the debris and repair the damage in the time that led up to this weekend’s event and it has resulted in no disruption.
Source: Autosport