Race Week in Monaco

It's Race Weekend in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Monaco GP History

Formula 1 is in Monaco, the second-smallest sovereign state in the world after Vatican City. The Monaco Grand Prix is held at the Circuit de Monaco, with the inaugural race taking place in 1929, organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco. The Grand Prix officially became part of the Formula 1 calendar in 1950 and is one of the oldest races in the history of F1.

McLaren is the most successful manufacturer in Monaco, with fifteen victories. The team had an impressive run during the 1980s and 1990s, winning 9 out of 10 races with drivers Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. Ayrton Senna holds the record for the most wins at Monaco, with six victories. Among active drivers, Lewis Hamilton leads with three wins, while Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen each have two wins at this prestigious event.

The Monaco Grand Prix is contracted to remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2031. Rich in history and set against breathtaking surroundings, it's a showcase of glitz and glamour—welcome to Formula 1 in Monte Carlo!

About the Track: The Circuit de Monaco. The track has remained substantially unchanged since its creation in 1929: as a city circuit, its configuration is closely linked to the Principality's road system. The circuit is truly a spectacle of racing nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the Alps mountains. The circuit is known for its super-narrow and unforgiving walls, requiring surgical-like precision throughout the weekend. Famous corners like La Rascasse, the Tunnel section, Casino Square, and the slowest corner on the F1 calendar, Mirabeau Superior. The Formula 1 circuit features 19 turns and spans  3.337 km (2.074 mi), and the race consists of 78 laps.

TOP TAKEAWAYS

MCLAREN: Until further notice, McLaren is still the favorite every weekend. Both drivers have secured podiums in Monaco: Lando in 2021 and Oscar in 2024. The odds are favoring Oscar now, and if Lando wants to make this driver's title a two-horse race, he needs to start finding that top spot on the podium again. McLaren has a commanding lead in the constructors’ title and needs to keep the pressure on the rest of the field.  

Mercedes: George's top 5 streak ended in Imola with a seventh-place finish, while teammate Antonelli had his first retirement from a GP with engine trouble. This will be Kimi's first time in an F1 car at Monaco. He is a quick learner, but Monaco is unforgiving, so staying clean on qualifying day is key. George has had three consecutive fifth-place finishes in Monaco with Mercedes: '22, '23, and '24, all fifth-place, which, mixed with George's top run this year, I think that is right around where he will be this year. The weather could play a part in Saturday's qualifying, so there may be an advantage to gain with a tricky qualifying.

Red Bull: Max put on a masterclass during the Imola GP, driving a perfect race from the start of the race until the checkered flag. Red Bull had a great weekend overall, despite Yuki's wild crash, which resulted in his starting from the pit lane and earning the last point. Yuki needs to settle in and get some good results, and everything will be forgotten. I expect Max to be competing for pole position on Saturday, and if Max wants to make a charge for the driver's title, it needs to start now.

Ferrari: Lewis walked away from Imola with a fourth-place finish, and Charles sixth after a double knockout in Q2.It was a great recovery race for the team, and vibes were high after the race with the Italian fans. Walking into Monaco as the defending race winner and hometown hero, we're on Charles's home turf. Ferrari can not afford a bad Saturday at a circuit where 2/3rds of the race winners start on the front row. Ferrari will need a little magic, but the celebration would be immaculate if lightning could strike. I don't know what I want to see more: Charles becoming the first back-to-back winner in a decade or Lewis's first Grand Prix win with Ferrari, which would bump him up to four total wins at Monaco.  

Williams: It was another great weekend for the Williams team. Towards the end of the race, it was even in play whether Albon would end up on the podium, finishing the race with his third top 5 of the season; Carlos Sainz finished eighth, the fourth double points race for Williams. I see no reason why the team cannot achieve another double-point finish in Monaco; Williams is currently riding a wave.

Haas: Haas started the season with a great points run but has been on the back foot the last few races. Haas needs a change. Monaco is one of those places; Esteban also has a podium in Monaco. Haas had the massive double-car pile-up with Sergio Perez's Red Bull. Haas would like to have a fresh start at Monaco. This would be a good time to strike some good luck.

Aston Martin: Aston Martin brought a boatload of updates to Imola, which clearly showed Alonso is starting in fifth and will Stroll in eighth. The team struggled to connect on points in the GP, marking the fifth consecutive pointless Grand Prix in a row. Adrian Newey will be on trackside with the team for the first time, and it feels like the team has been simmering all season. The updates worked; Aston Martin is due for a good showing, Alonso is a two-time winner, and Lance has been sneaky with the points all season.

VCARB: Isack has been driving incredibly well. He left Imola with a two-point ninth-place finish in the GP. This will be the first time for both Liam and Isack to race in Monaco in F1. It is a challenging track that can be very unforgiving. If the team can stay out of trouble, the car has the pace to pick up some points. Let's see how the weekend plays out. VCARB is a coin toss.

Alpine: Trying to find its footing after a recent shakeup with the team; the past few weeks have been hectic for Alpine, potentially serving as a distraction from its performance. This will be Franco's first time racing at Monaco in F1, so avoiding any mistakes that could alter his qualifying run will be crucial to his weekend. On the other hand, Pierre has an excellent history in Monaco, missing out on points only once in six races. With a best finish of fifth, I expect to see Pierre deep in the points. If Franco can walk away with a point in Monaco, that would be a massive success for him.

Kick-Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg almost walked away from Imola with a point. Nico has not scored a point at Monaco since 2018 but has multiple points finishes, including a top-5 finish in the Principality. Again, the drivers are making the most out of the cars, Gabi is showing great progress, and Nico is Mr. Consistent. The truth is, the team needs a big break to score points. Race day weather is predicted to be sunny, but qualifying could see some rain; let's see if something unexpected happens during qualifying.