How did Senidah prepare for the exclusive dinner dedicated to the I Rise We Rise campaign

In Lombardy this weekend, time is measured differently. What for the rest of the year is just a “small town near Milan” becomes the epicenter of speed that the whole world is watching – the Italian Grand Prix begins. What is officially called the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, and what most know as the “Temple of Speed,” turns for two days into a theater for a cultural event that each autumn rewrites the rules of how a (sporting) spectacle is built; a stage of perfect precision and passion. The tifosi flood the streets, the smell of espresso drifts from every corner, and the roar of engines blends with the chatter of cafés and the screech of wheels, as if the entire city syncs itself with the rhythm of the track. In a hotel overlooking a city bracing itself for a weekend at full speed, Senidah opens the door to her room. “Come with me, let’s get ready for a sweet little dinner,” she says with a laugh.

Dušan Petrović

Starting the engines, the night before

The night before the Italian Grand Prix, the whole city vibrates with a different energy, filled with impatience, tension, and a subtle excitement. Senidah welcomed us with a ready playlist, an outfit carefully laid out on the bed, and in the corner, a personalized bottle of Chivas Regal—a discreet nod to the evening’s host and the partnership that brought the singer to Monza in the first week of September. The music sets the pace, and that’s no coincidence. “I usually get ready with music, or I put on a series I know by heart; that way I feel safe.”

Confidence, which she has always paired effortlessly with a smile, has been Senidah’s trademark since the very start of her career, on stage or off. Curious about the secret ingredient that gives her that final touch—the courage to always show up authentically wherever she goes—we asked her to reveal it. “Final touch? What matters is that I feel good, so it can be anything. Sometimes it’s a small accessory that elevates the whole outfit, sometimes makeup. It can be something tiny, but it puts the finishing touch on everything.”

In the studio and on the track – team work makes the dream work

This is the perfect introduction to an evening that celebrates the idea that great results happen through a series of small successes. As we leave the hotel, the city pulses to a rhythm that will peak the next day on the track. We accompany Senidah to the exclusive dinner organized by Chivas Regal, which, as a team partner of Scuderia Ferrari HP, brings together guests from around the world in Monza. On this occasion, the renowned whisky brand highlighted that every second on the track is the result of hundreds of synchronized actions behind the scenes, those rarely applauded—yes, you guessed it, the pit crew. During the dinner, the I Rise We Rise campaign was launched, with its central moment being the premiere of the film A Tribute to the Scuderia Ferrari HP Pit Crew, narrated by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with text by George the Poet, as a poetic homage to the people whose work is measured in hundredths of a second and in silence.

Chivas Regal and Scuderia Ferrari HP in Monza are jointly putting the spotlight on Formula 1’s unsung heroes. The message they send is clear: success is a team sport, on the track and off it. Senidah sees her own story reflected in that philosophy.

“Success is the result of a process,” Senidah tells us, “and the process is shared. I’m proud of my whole career. The beginning was with Slađana—that was real teamwork.” In one sentence, the singer sums up everything Monza symbolizes: preparation, rhythm, team. Her story naturally aligns with the message of the I Rise We Rise platform, so what she tells us sounds more like a continuation of the campaign than a quote: “When the right team comes together and does the job properly, everything else falls into place.” Just like in Monza, every highlight moment is the result of synchronized work behind the scenes, and what comes after preparation, effort, and teamwork are always the victories.

Fotografije: Dušan Petrović

This article was created in collaboration with the brand Chivas Regal.