Lewis Hamilton: 'Monza must stay in Formula 1'

Lewis Hamilton has urged Formula 1 bosses to do all that they can to keep the Italian Grand Prix on the calendar beyond the end of the season.

Reports have suggested that the famous race at Monza is under threat due to worries over financing the event, but Hamilton wants to keep racing at Monza long term.

The Mercedes driver is quoted by Crash.net as saying: "There's two sides to it. You've got the circuit, which holds great historic value to the sport and then you've got the fans, which ultimately make the weekend.

"You've got those few races through the year – the Silverstone grand prix, the Spanish Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix, the German Grand Prix – which, it feels to me, are the foundation to the sport, particularly as you've got so many fans there.

When you stand on the podium at the Italian grand Prix, the whole straight is filled, mostly with Ferrari fans, but fans, and you don't get to see that at other places, so I think it's important that we keep that. If you lose the Italian Grand Prix, you lose all those fans."

Earlier this year, the Lomardy regional government reportedly offered a rescue package for Monza.