The tifosi, a fiery symbol of the Italian Grand Prix

Let's take a look at the overwhelming passion of the Italian fans present every year at Monza: the fans, often blindly crazy about Ferrari.

Published on 31/08/2018 à 10:34

⁰ View comments)

The tifosi, a fiery symbol of the Italian Grand Prix

The Italian Grand Prix is known by fans of Formula 1 to be the fastest round on the calendar. In 2017, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) had won with an average speed of 243,627 km/h ! But the other unique aspect of this transalpine meeting is the fervor of the supporters, called there the tifosi.

The typical tifoso portrait
A fan is passionate, no, rather a Formula 1 madman. For him, the discipline is only worth looking at for the two red single-seaters tirelessly present since 1950: the Ferrari. Impossible for him to go to the Monza circuit without a cap or a t-shirt bearing the Prancing Horse logo. The must-have for the tifoso, however, remains the red flag, waved from Friday to Sunday, if possible as close as possible to the podium after the race.

Nice coloring! © DPPI

But be careful, the tifoso is sectarian! Sebastian Vettel, leader of the Scuderia, had the curious experience of this at the start of his career in F1. “It all depends on the color of the car or the name of the engine you have. (During his first Grand Prix victory at Monza, in 2008), I thought the public was happy because it was me who won”, remembers the German. At the time he was running for the Italian team Toro Rosso (ex-Minardi), equipped with a Ferrari V8 engine. An ideal combination!

“But three years later, I won the race in different colors (those of Red Bull) et they were more upset ! I wondered what was going on, because I hadn't done anything wrong, it was actually quite the opposite.", analyzes the four-time world champion.

Fernando Alonso can also testify, he who was whistled during his years Renault, but who became the star of an entire brotherhood from 2010 to 2014, when he played… for Ferrari.

Conclusion

A fan does not support a driver, but rather a team, his national team. Sebastian Vettel was jeered at on the podium for having the audacity to win on Ferrari grounds at the wheel of an opposing brand. But since his arrival at the Reds in 2015, he has been seen as the savior of a Scuderia that has become ultra-competitive again. Just compare the 2013 (Red Bull) and 2016 (Ferrari) podiums and listen to the public's reaction...