LETTERS
I have followed Ferrari through thick and thin since 1976. Each year since 1995 I have travelled to Monza to join the tifosi at the ‘Temple of Speed’. Sadly, this year was an organisational disaster. It took us two hours to walk in through the gate, following which our supplies of (sealed) water and soft drinks were taken from us by some very rude officials.
The crowds were excessive and pathways so narrow people could not pass. Many fell over and were simply walked on. The catering was dire and extortionate, purchased by a silly token system. The old days saw a myriad of private vendors selling good products at reasonable prices. Now one can only use the F1 official vending stands, which charge the earth. I would describe it all as ‘industrial scale greed’.
Long queues, cramped conditions and full of Dutch drunks... welcome to Monza
Crowd control was dangerous, thousands of people walking against each other through gates not wide enough to cope. It was a free-for-all. Several fights broke out and crushing was narrowly avoided.
The marshals were clueless and ill-informed. Once we had found our seats it became apparent that many unauthorised people were present, causing annoyance and confrontation. People were climbing through stands to take peoples’ paid seating.
Finally the partisan crowd: the Dutch fans were drunk and abusive and quite threatening to anyone who did not support Red Bull or Max Verstappen, chanting “You’re shit and you know you are” at the Ferrari supporters, causing real animosity and potential violence. This is why many booed Verstappen on the podium. At least Lewis called his supporters to order! Why not Verstappen, from whom we heard nothing?
I will return; however I hope things improve, for if they don’t I do not know how much longer I want to pay.