Monaco Grand Prix: Track and Statistics

There is no stranger and more controversial stage on the calendar, but every racer dreams of winning Monaco. The smallest mistake leads to retirement, engine power and aerodynamic efficiency have almost no effect on the result, there is nowhere to overtake – a complete set of characteristics that are opposed to the demands of modern Formula 1.

The stage organizer is the Automobile Club of Monaco, now this is the only stage on the calendar that does not pay for the race, but this year Bernie Ecclestone’s contract expires, and the new one will certainly have to be paid for.

Formula 1 came to the land of the principality in the year of his birth. The 1950 round ended with the victory of Juan Manuel Fangio, who covered the distance of the race in 3 hours 13 minutes at an average speed of 98.7 km/h. Even then they said the track was too dangerous, in 1952 the Italian Luigi Fagioli died during practice, and the city circuit left the calendar for several years, but Formula 1 needed its own pearl, in 1955 the track returned to Monaco – and forever.

Many accidents have happened here for six decades, but only one pilot, Italian Lorenzo Bandini, died during the World Cup races and two more flew into the water. In fact, the Monaco Grand Prix is ​​one of the safest stages on the calendar.

This is the slowest track on the calendar, the difference between the best and the failed lap is very small – you have to take risks. In Monaco it is almost impossible to overtake, the outcome of the race depends largely on qualifying and the first corner.

A good starting position is very important on this track, it is often said that this race is won on Saturday.

Track features

A unique track requires a unique approach as teams adjust the suspension and aerodynamic settings to achieve maximum downforce and effective traction. Bumpy straights and tight corners require special chassis adjustments, and tight hairpin bends require a larger wheel angle.

The key is confidence in the car and the optimal pace of the lap, the teams try to give the riders maximum time on track during free practice and an accident during practice can seriously affect the course of the entire weekend. It’s a real challenge to do a clean lap in Monaco, it’s hard to avoid mistakes by collecting the best three sectors in qualifying in one lap.

The condition of the asphalt at the beginning of the weekend leaves something to be desired, then the situation gradually improves, but in the evening and at night the track is available to fans, so that in the morning of every day the asphalt does not look perfect after countless parties.

Sergio Perez: “I like everything in Monaco. This is my favorite track and one of the most important races of the season. I always try to enjoy the week before the Grand Prix, immerse myself in a special atmosphere and make the most of the opportunity to drive a car on this great track.

Why do I love Monaco so much? It’s not easy to race there, it’s a serious challenge. On every lap you feel pressure and there is no way to relax. It is necessary to gradually increase the speed, but not overdo it. If the car works great and you feel confident, that’s the best you can experience.

Qualifying in Monaco is the most important session of the year. I usually say qualifying this weekend is 99% success because it’s very difficult to overtake in a race unless it’s raining. So there is a lot of pressure on Saturday and it is not easy to avoid traffic in the first part of qualifying when all the cars are on track at the same time. The session can turn into a lottery. In such cases, you completely trust the team and hope that it will help you to find free space.

Weekend schedule

You can follow the progress of all Formula 1 sessions on our live streaming page. We have written instructions for watching live video broadcasts.

Tire sets given to teams for the weekend

For the first time in the season Pirelli will bring the softest compounds to the podium – C3, C4 and C5 marked as Hard, Medium and Soft.

A set of the softest tires must be kept for the qualifying final – after that those who raced in the final must return this set to Pirelli.

One set of medium and hard tires must be kept for the race – unless declared wet, riders must use at least one of these sets.

Performance of active riders in Monaco

Sebastian Vettel: “Monaco is one of my favorite circuits where you have to solve extremely difficult problems – you can’t afford a single mistake. You can only overtake at great risk. The best place to overtake is in front of the chicane at the exit of the tunnel, where we brake from a speed of 300 km/h to first gear.

In Monaco, a lot depends on the patience of the riders and the reliability of the equipment, the suspension on an uneven track with differences in height constantly works with the maximum load. Ideally, you should qualify well and start from pole position.”