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#IAMSTORIES | Renée, Italy

As Formula One rounds off the triple-header at Monza, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team is shining a spotlight on its passionate fanbase once again.

Renée grew up with a love for Formula One, which she inherited from her father. As she gears up to watch the race from the grandstands this weekend, this is Renée's story, in her own words.

My dad is a mechanic and used to race as a hobby. He had a big love for Formula One, so my interest in it came very naturally from a very young age.

I can remember some of the races from the early 2000s. I used to be obsessed with the red car, and quickly became a massive fan of Michael Schumacher.

My favourite Formula One memory is the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. What Button did there was the perfect example of never giving up. It was a crazy race with lots of suspense and action.

It's very difficult to pin down my favourite Formula One driver. If we take ex-drivers into consideration, it has to be Schumacher. He was the first driver that I supported, and he will always hold a special place because of that.

If we are talking about current drivers I would have to go with Sebastian Vettel and Lando Norris. Sebastian has already achieved incredible milestones in his career, and I also really admire everything that he does off track.

Every time I think that I can't love him more, he does something like Hungary, when he showed up for two of his fans as they got engaged.

My favourite Sebastian moment so far this year was Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team's first podium. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was so chaotic and to end it with a podium was just amazing.

Race Preview

Italian Grand Prix

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, motorsport's Temple of Speed, is the fastest track on the Formula One calendar. As we gear up for round 14, find out all you need to know about the race ahead.

Get up to speed

When Sebastian became the youngest driver in history to win a Grand Prix in Monza, I remember thinking that he would go far, as cheesy as that sounds.

I remember seeing the happiness on his face, and what it meant to the entire team. It still gives me goosebumps. Looking back now, he is still achieving success: a true four-time World Champion.

Obviously the 2008 Italian Grand Prix is my favourite Italian race. Sebastian becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Italian race with Toro Rosso will forever be special.

It is a bit difficult to put into words, but as a fan looking in from the outside, the entire environment within the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team seems so good.

Everyone is working hard to do the historical name of the team justice, and it is inspiring to see. Also, I have to give a shoutout to the social media team, especially on Twitter.

The way they interact with fans on Twitter in such a fun way is so refreshing. It always brings a smile to my face.

This will be my first time watching a race live in Monza. For me, the circuit does not compare to others because of the pure speed. I mean, it is called the Temple of Speed for a reason right?

I / AM

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A mix of fast and long straights and slow chicanes makes it a challenging circuit. It is simply an iconic track that is a staple in a Formula One season.

I often do a lap of this track on the PlayStation, and I remember where I struggle the most: going down the long straight at high speed and going into the first two corners where you have to shift back to low gears. It's an interesting transition. I'm not a pro and the drivers do it way better than me!

You can make a visit to the Grand Prix into an entire holiday here in Italy. Milan is very close, making it a convenient and fun trip. After visiting just last week, I also highly recommend Bellagio and Como.

We spent a few days around Lake Como, having rented a car there and we explored the area. We then went to the very lively city of Milan, did a bit of shopping, did some more exploring and had good food.