Monaco – World Sporting Legend
Posted on May 22, 2025 Tags: Monaco F!
Surrounded by Mystique
THERE’S NO QUESTION MONACO FORMULA ONE is among the premier highlights of the global sporting calendar and is always high on the list of any champion’s Grand Prix to win.
Without doubt the event ranks very high among the most iconic and prestigious events on the F1 calendar, not just for its long history, but simply because of the mystique that surrounds it.
In my early years living in Spain, I have fond memories of visits to Monaco, always in delightful company. Although I never did make it to the Grand Prix. Different interests (yachts, in case you’re wondering) in those days.
But it’s a magical event in magical surroundings, around the 3.337km circuit – an exceptionally tight layout where overtaking is a premium and qualifying high is paramount.
A Delightful Dip
Historically, starting from pole has led to victory in Monaco more often than at most other circuits.
Since 1950, the driver who started on Pole position has won the event an incredible 32 times.
Aussie Daniel Ricciardo always cherished his 2010 victory through the windy streets of Monte Carlo as close to the finest of his eight Formula One wins during his career.
It’s hard to forget Daniel’s swan dive into the pool after his 2018 Monte Carlo win from Pole in the Red Bull-Tag Heuer machine in the tidy time of 1:10.810. It was Daniel’s only win there, although he probably should have won in 2016.
Fellow countryman Mark Webber won Monaco twice, in 2010 and 2012, in his Red Bull-Renault.
Last year’s winner was a particular crowd favourite – Ferrari’s Monégasque citizen Charles Leclerc (pictured here with girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux, and the reigning champ will be hellbent on winning again this year!
The Track
First held in 1929, Monaco is one of the sport’s oldest races and it is also part of what’s known as motor racing’s Triple Crown, coupled with the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Indianapolis 500.
Narrow streets, tight turns, steep climbs and descents and the famous tunnel that leads onto the harbour are some of the defining characteristics that make Monaco a track like no other.
Winding its way through the streets of the Principality usually open to normal traffic, the track is tackled 78 times during Sunday’s race.
Very narrow with 19 corners – some of them very tight – there are virtually no run-off areas, and the barriers are so close that the drivers often brush against them, as they strive to use every available centimetre of road.
About half the track has been resurfaced since last year, specifically from turn 12 to turn 3, so that this section should now be as smooth as the rest of the circuit.
This type of surface does not promote tyre grip and Pirelli reckons it could lead to graining, especially in the first couple of practice sessions, improving then as the racing line gets rubbered-in.
Remember, the track is reopened to road traffic at the end of each day.
It’s a venue, according to the gurus at tyre maestros Pirelli, where precision is more important than power, with “virtually no room for mistakes”.
A unique social event
Apart from the actual racing, the Monaco Grand Prix is a unique social event, a mix of sport, elegance and glamour, generating an atmosphere all of its own in the tiny principality.
From a technical point of view, it is a very complicated race: the cars run with maximum aero downforce and with very limited overtaking opportunities, qualifying generally plays a key role in determining the winner.
Ultimately, Monaco is much more than just a race, it’s a symbolic celebration of the purest and most spectacular essence of Formula 1.
Denis’ Monaco tribute cap
Once again, the drivers who make it to the podium will wear a special edition of the classic Pirelli Podium Cap, designed by Denis Dekovic and featuring the colours of the Monegasque flag. (https://store.pirelli.com/).
The Compounds
For a second consecutive race, Pirelli has selected the three softest compounds from the 2025 range. As in Imola last week, the C4 is the Hard, the C5 the Medium and the C6 the Soft, with the first two being the mandatory compounds for the race.
This weekend will see an important change to the regulations, specifically for this event only. During the race, two pit stops are mandatory.
The aim of the FIA and F1 is to inject more excitement into a race that has often been very linear and predictable, as was very much the case last year (see specific section below).
In the Monaco Grand Prix drivers usually pit just once to change tyres, but last year, out of a theoretical field of 20, only six drivers made an actual in-race pit stop.
That was because the race was red flagged on the opening lap.
Two Stops a Real Test
As part of this rule change, each driver will also be allocated an additional set of Full Wets, on top of the usual two, so that the two-stop rule can be applied even if conditions require the use of extreme wet tyres.
It will be interesting to see how this affects teams’ race strategies. For example, with no clear pit-stop windows, it could present opportunities for drivers starting from further back to move up the order by making the most of running in clean air.
Having two stops should also rule out concerns about tyre degradation, even if it is in any case very low at this track.
It could even lead to the use of the Soft compound, especially for those making a late second stop or in the case of a Safety Car period in the closing stages.
Statistics
There have been 70 Monaco GP to date, and McLaren is the most successful team with 15 wins, followed by Ferrari on ten, with Lotus and Red Bull Racing joint third with seven.
Ferrari has the most poles (13), with McLaren second (11) and Lotus third (9). Ferrari also tops the table for podium finishes with 57, more than double the number of second placed McLaren on 28, with Lotus again third on 16.
RACE TIMES WA
MONACO GRAND PRIX
Circuit de Monaco I 23-25 May
P1 Friday 23rd May 19:30
P2 Friday 23rd May 23:00
P3 Saturday 24th May 18:30
Qualifying
Saturday 24th May 22:00
Race
Sunday 25th May
21:00
NEXT EVENT
SPANISH GRAND PRIX
Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluña I 30 May – 01 June
EDITED by AC
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