Monza is to formally rename its famed Parabolica corner Curva Alboreto in honour of former Ferrari driver Michele Alboreto.
The long right-hander which leads onto the pit straight is one of motorsport’s most instantly recognisable turns, even if the installation of tarmac run-off a few years ago largely took away its challenge for the drivers.
As for Alboreto, he was a five-time Grand Prix winner, who started 194 races between 1981 and 1994. In that time, he raced for Ferrari, Tyrrell and Minardi among others, and would finish second in the Drivers’ Championship to Alain Prost in 1985.
April this year marked the 20th anniversary of the Italian’s death aged just 44 at the Lausitzring in Germany while testing for Audi ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
And on Saturday, family members, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and ACI president Angelo Sticchi Damiani will be present for an official ceremony to inaugurate the Curva Alboreto.
Of course, Parabolica is not the only corner to be named after an Italian racing legend, with the Ascari chicane named after Alberto Ascari, a two-time F1 champion who died during a test at Monza in 1955.