Liberty Media, the owner of the Formula 1 Circus, likes to present itself as a modern company, committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility. It promotes “green” campaigns, speaks about ecological transition, and highlights a low-emissions future for motorsport. Yet when it comes to preserving the Italian Grand Prix at the historic Temple of Speed in Monza, the reality looks very different: tens of thousands of cubic meters of reinforced concrete set to invade one of the oldest and most valuable parks in Europe.
Just a few days ago, the Monza City Council approved three “redevelopment” projects for the Autodromo Nazionale: a new media center, a new race control building near the pit lane, and the reconstruction of the top floor of the hospitality complex, which until now has only been covered by temporary structures. These are works that require exemptions from urban planning regulations and which, according to mayor Paolo Pilotto, would simply modernize existing facilities to make them safer and more compatible with the surrounding green environment.
The funding is entirely public: 32 million euros from the Lombardy Region and 44.5 million euros from the national government, for a total of 76.5 million euros of taxpayers’ money. All of this is intended to ensure that Monza remains on the Formula 1 calendar at least until 2031.
Environmental protests: 30,000 cubic meters of concrete in the park
Environmental groups united under the Coordination of Committees and Associations strongly oppose the project. They argue that behind the rhetoric of “redevelopment” lies a heavy and impactful intervention: approximately 30,000 cubic meters of concrete within the Monza Park, a historic 732-hectare area with more than 220 years of history, located within the Lambro Valley Regional Park.
According to these groups, the works cannot be described as simple maintenance. Instead, they respond to the demands of Liberty Media, which aims to transform the 200 hectares granted to the Automobile Club of Italy into a modern motorsport theme park, largely indifferent to the landscape and natural value of the area. Environmentalists also point out that the figure of 30,000 cubic meters has not been communicated transparently to the public.
Liberty Media: environmentalist in words, builder in practice
Liberty Media frequently presents itself as a champion of sustainability. It invests heavily in “green” communication, promotes synthetic fuels, and emphasizes efforts to reduce Formula 1’s environmental impact. However, when it comes to enforcing modern standards on historic circuits in order to keep them on the calendar, the message becomes clear: either you meet our requirements and bear the associated costs, or the Grand Prix will move elsewhere—perhaps to a brand-new circuit in the Middle East or Asia, purpose-built and free from restrictive environmental constraints.
At Monza, a historic park is effectively being bent to the needs of a billion-dollar business. Concrete is being added on top of existing structures within a protected area, bypassing or minimizing Environmental Impact Assessments and securing conditional approvals from heritage authorities. All of this happens while the narrative continues to insist that these are merely works to “upgrade outdated facilities.”
A “blackmail” that comes at a cost for citizens and the environment
Mayor Pilotto has defended the operation by highlighting the symbolic and sporting importance of the Autodromo for both Monza and Italy. No one denies the economic significance of the Italian Grand Prix. However, it is legitimate to ask why it should be the park—and not just the already developed areas—that pays the price for this modernization. Why should public funds be used to meet the demands of a private American company whose stated goal is to generate ever-increasing revenues from an expanding race calendar?
Environmental groups are right to denounce what they describe as a coercive imposition: either accept these works, along with the associated land consumption, or risk losing one of the most important events in global motorsport. This logic appears far removed from the protection of a shared public asset such as Monza Park.
Green image vs concrete reality
Liberty Media may continue to wave green flags and promote a sustainable future. In Monza, however, the reality is represented by 30,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete set to rise within a historic park. It is a clear demonstration that when economic interests are at stake, the environmentalism of many large corporations often remains little more than a marketing façade.
The “Temple of Speed” risks gradually transforming into a temple of concrete. Once again, the cost will be borne by the environment, the landscape, and the citizens, who are required to fund, with public money, an upgrade imposed from above. Monza deserves to retain its Grand Prix, but not at any cost—certainly not at the expense of sacrificing one of its most valuable natural assets.
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