F1 Event Guide: Round 7 Monaco Grand Prix
After Imola was washed away, Formula 1 returns on the grandest stage of all – Monaco.
Formula 1 is back on its most famous stretch of track, the streets of Monte Carlo. Monaco offers a challenge like no other – 3.3km of streets winding its way along the harbour. Each corner is iconic with a concrete wall waiting to punish the slightest mistake. Maximum precision is required to join the greats.
Download the full F1 Monaco Grand Prix event guide here with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus our extensive driver profiles.
The 20 best drivers in the world will chase the coveted glory of winning the 80th edition of the Monaco Grand Prix. Although the annual race around the Principality has its critics, it still captures the imagination like no other race can.
The sight of Formula 1 cars flying around the streets of Monte Carlo filled with yachts and skyscrapers never gets old as a callback to a bygone era.
Each corner from Sainte Devote to the Lowes Hairpin and Rascasse is truly iconic and full of stories. Saturday qualifying is one of the highlights of the season with drivers coming as close as they dare to disaster in search of the all important pole.
The man who has taken the last two poles on offer is hometown hero Charles Leclerc.
Leclerc has pushed his Ferrari to the maximum and even beyond to qualify P1 since racing returned to the Principality after COVID-19. However, a curse has hung over the #16 Ferrari with a driveshaft failure arriving before the start of the 2021 race and silly strategy dropped him from first to fourth last year.
Despite the SF-23 not having the outright speed, Leclerc will still give it everything to become just the second Monegasque after Louis Chiron in 1931 to win the famous race.
After another commanding performance in Miami, Red Bull is the one to beat as Max Verstappen looks to extend his championship lead and Sergio Perez hopes to become just the third driver since 1995 to record back-to-back Monaco triumphs.
One of those who did the double was Fernando Alonso, who fancies himself not only scoring another podium, but even challenging for victory in his Aston Martin.
Alonso can take inspiration from Ayrton Senna in 1992 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2018 that the underdog in a significantly slower car can fend off the favourite.
It will be interesting to see if a new upgrade package can bring Mercedes closer to the front, while Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will be happy to score points in their special “Triple Crown” livery celebrating McLaren’s 60th anniversary.
To add another layer of difficulty to the challenging streets of Monte Carlo, showers are forecast to wreak havoc on both Saturday and Sunday of the race weekend.
Last year’s race was also impacted by the weather starting under Safety Car before a red flag arrived, while just think back to 1996 to see how water can affect a Monaco Grand Prix.
Get ready for the 80th chapter of the Monaco Grand Prix fairytale!
Download the full F1 Monaco Grand Prix event guide here with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus our extensive driver profiles.
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