Hushed discussions were taking place throughout the paddock, while Jaguar boss Niki Lauda just shrugged and smoked a cigarette! Nevertheless, the show went on and there was some F1 stories to report. Alex Yoong arrived at Minardi, the first ever Malaysian to take part in a Formula 1 race and Czech driver Tomas Enge took a seat at Prost, becoming the first ever driver from a former Communist country. I managed to talk with both of them.

Being Monza, I took the opportunity to dive into the mass of the tifosi just for the experience. It’s hard not to get swept up in the emotion as you stroll the paths around Parco di Monza or grab an espresso from a small bar. I also entered the circuit shop searching for some relics of the past. I love finding old postcards, signed magazines, original stickers featuring early F1 sponsors and names such as such as Regazzoni, Hunt, Andretti, Berger and others. A true goldmine for those who are interested in the history of F1 and Monza circuit itself.

As if the dark shadows of 9/11 were not enough, news of Alessandro Zanardi’s accident spread like fire through the paddock. The ex-Formula 1 driver and Indy Car star from Italy had sustained terrible injuries in an accident at the Lausitzring in Germany. As his former team Williams provided updates, it became clear that the Italian would lose both his legs, which didn’t help the mood in the paddock at all.