{"id":713132,"date":"2026-06-03T21:55:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/713132\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T21:55:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:55:19","slug":"formula-one-preview-monaco-grand-prix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/713132\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula One Preview: Monaco Grand Prix"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

The Monaco Grand Prix circuit is arguably the sport\u2019s most iconic destination | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n

This week, Formula One heads to the glitziest and most glamorous venue of them all \u2014 the Principality of Monaco.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The circuit<\/p>\n

It is notoriously difficult to overtake around Monaco, with three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet once comparing driving the circuit to \u201criding a bicycle around your living room\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the racing leaves something to be desired, the track is truly special. Not only is the circuit the narrowest on the calendar, but also the shortest. It sits in rare company alongside fellow icons Suzuka, Silverstone, Spa, Monza and Interlagos in having named corners rather than numbered corners.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The pit straight in Monaco looks different outside of race weekends | Credit: Peter Johnson<\/p>\n

The main \u201cstraight\u201d is actually a rather aggressive curve to the right, with the sharp right-hander of Saint-D\u00e9vote the first of many pinch points around the 3.337 kilometre circuit.<\/p>\n

The slalom up Beau Rivage to Massenet can also deliver chaos at the race start, like the 2024 incident between Kevin Magnussen, Nico H\u00fclkenberg and Sergio P\u00e9rez that cost the latter driver\u2019s Red Bull team around \u00a32.5 million in damage.<\/p>\n

The right-hander of Casino Square and the aggressive crest over a road junction complete the first sector, and the fun is only just starting.<\/p>\n

Mirabeau is in fact a right-hander rather than a straight, and feeds the drivers into the slowest section of track on the entire F1 calendar. The cars drop to just 30mph while navigating the Fairmont Hairpin, which is so tight that teams bring a special steering rack just for this race.<\/p>\n

\"Sergio<\/p>\n

Sergio P\u00e9rez\u2019s first lap crash in 2024 cost Red Bull an estimated \u00a32.5 million according to Helmut Marko | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n

Portier follows and next up is the tunnel, which has seen its fair share of accidents and near misses over the years. No sooner have the drivers\u2019 eyes adapted to the relative darkness than they hit a blind right hander, just moments before being actually blinded by the sun and having to pick a braking point for the Nouvelle Chicane.<\/p>\n

Tabac and the swimming pool complex follow, with some of the greatest shots of F1 cars coming as they slalom through the pair of chicanes.<\/p>\n

The penultimate corner of the lap is the impossibly tight La Rascasse, where the necessity of braking in a straight line forces drivers to enter the corner sometimes at seemingly bizarre angles.<\/p>\n

The right-handed Anthony Noghes completes the lap, and depending on whether it\u2019s Saturday or Sunday you can either celebrate your work or look ahead to doing all of the above a further 77 times.<\/p>\n

Storylines<\/p>\n

Back to pure \u201cracing\u201d in Monte Carlo<\/p>\n

In the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, a red flag triggered by a Lap 1 pile-up involving Sergio P\u00e9rez and the two Haas cars opened up the opportunity for drivers to make their one mandatory pit stop at the end of the first lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The majority of the field neglected to stop again before the chequered flag, which did not contribute to the most thrilling spectacle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In order to change things for 2025, the FIA mandated a minimum of two stops per driver. While the move was commendable in its attempt to promote harder racing, it actually contributed the opposite effect, with Racing Bulls\u2019 Liam Lawson and Williams\u2019 Carlos Sainz both driving incredibly slowly to back the pack up and allow their teammates up the road two free stops.<\/p>\n

With one on-track overtake, the change, which was already widely perceived as a gimmick, was scrapped for this year. Therefore we\u2019ll see the usual racing – or lack thereof – in 2026.<\/p>\n

\"Lando<\/p>\n

Lando Norris led home Charles Leclerc in last year\u2019s Monaco Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n

With Mercedes having won all five of this year\u2019s Grands Prix from pole position, it is clear that the team has a fearsome car for every circuit. However, the unique demands of Monaco may prove to be a leveller.<\/p>\n

Ferrari have been able to go toe-to-toe with Mercedes at times this season, most notably in Australia and China, when the Silver Arrows\u2019 gains in a straight line were offset by the Scuderia\u2019s cornering ability.<\/p>\n

Mercedes\u2019 engine advantage, while not insignificant, will be more minimal than anywhere else on the calendar this weekend. Whether Ferrari are able to overturn an average qualifying deficit of over half a second remains to be seen, but the opportunity is there.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the Prancing Horse boasts the only team made up of two former Monaco Grand Prix winners. Lewis Hamilton has claimed victory three times at the circuit (2008, 2016, 2019), while Charles Leclerc finally overcame his home hoodoo to win in 2024.<\/p>\n

The pair are locked at 4-4 in all qualifying sessions this season, including sprints, so it is anyone\u2019s guess as to who will be the lead Ferrari.<\/p>\n

\"Charles<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc claimed an emotional home victory in 2024 | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n

Will we see a one-off winner?<\/p>\n

The stats suggest we could see an unusual winner in the Principality this weekend. No Grand Prix has crowned more different race winners than Monaco, with Lando Norris becoming the 38th victor in the 71st edition of the race last year.<\/p>\n

Several drivers over the years have claimed their one and only Grand Prix victory in Monaco. Jean-Pierre Beltoise in 1972, Olivier Panis in 1996 and Jarno Trulli in 2004 claimed both their sole wins on the famous streets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Moreover, we have seen seven different winners in the last eight Monaco Grands Prix, dating back to 2017, with Max Verstappen the only repeat victor. Among the top teams, neither Mercedes man has ever won here, nor has Oscar Piastri.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Of this year\u2019s field, Red Bull\u2019s Isack Hadjar is perhaps best placed to claim a maiden victory, but it wouldn\u2019t be unheard of to see somebody else further down the field spring an almighty surprise.<\/p>\n

McLaren marks 1000th Grand Prix<\/p>\n

Sixty years ago, Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon entered the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix for McLaren-Ford. It was the first time ever that a car had driven in F1 under the McLaren name.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was a weekend to forget in terms of results, with Amon withdrawing from the race before the start and McLaren retiring on the ninth lap of 100 with an oil leak. However, one of F1\u2019s most legendary teams was born.<\/p>\n

One thousand races, 13 drivers\u2019 titles and 13 constructors\u2019 titles later, McLaren returns to Monaco once more as holders of both championships. Across F1 history, only Ferrari can boast better numbers than those.<\/p>\n

The team has announced a special livery to mark the occasion.<\/p>\n

\"McLaren<\/p>\n

McLaren have revealed a one-off livery to mark the team\u2019s 1000th Grand Prix | Credit: Formula One<\/p>\n

Mercedes pull out of Alpine talks<\/p>\n

In more general F1 news, the biggest story to emerge since the Canadian Grand Prix is Mercedes\u2019 withdrawal from talks to buy a minority share in Alpine.<\/p>\n

Toto Wolff had agreed a deal in principle with Alpine owners Renault for the German car manufacturer to buy a 24% stake in the F1 team.<\/p>\n

However, investment group Otro Capital, who currently own the stake that Wolff is trying to purchase, demanded a fee of \u00a3536 million ($720 million), which would have valued the Alpine F1 Team at \u00a32.2 billion ($3 million).<\/p>\n

Mercedes felt that a valuation of around \u00a31.6 billion ($2.2 billion) would be a fair valuation for Alpine and it is understood that talks have ended as a result of this disagreement. Mercedes, for context, was valued at \u00a34.6 billion ($6 billion) as recently as last November.<\/p>\n

\"Ayrton<\/p>\n

Ayrton Senna on his way to victory in Monaco for McLaren in 1989 <\/p>\n

Past Monaco Grands Prix<\/p>\n

Ayrton Senna is the King of Monaco, winning the event six times in seven years between 1987 and 1993. Graham Hill won the race five times (1963-5, 1968, 1969), as did Michael Schumacher (1994-5, 1997, 1999, 2001). More recently, 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg was often the man to beat, winning three times in a row between 2013 and 2015.<\/p>\n

The key component of the Monaco Grand Prix, though, often comes on Saturday rather than Sunday. Given the astonishing sight of F1 drivers threading the needle through the Principality\u2019s narrow streets, and Monaco\u2019s status as the shortest circuit on the calendar, Qualifying generally delivers fireworks. You\u2019re never further than a few inches from a barrier or a rival car, with a driver\u2019s bravery and commitment often worth more in lap time than car performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While being visually stunning, Saturday\u2019s Qualifying hour is also one of the most crucial sessions of the season. In 71 previous Monaco Grands Prix, 33 have been won from pole position, including each of the last three races.<\/p>\n

If it doesn\u2019t go to plan on Saturday and you can keep your nose clean in the race, though, there may be an opportunity to pick up a decent result from further back on the grid. Just ask Olivier Panis, who took his only ever Formula One victory around Monaco in 1996, from 14th on the grid, but one of just three drivers to see the chequered flag.<\/p>\n

Such is the unpredictability of Monaco, you can have an accident and still claim victory, as Lewis Hamilton did for McLaren in 2008. The young Briton suffered a puncture following contact with the barriers on Lap 6, but still romped home to win.<\/p>\n

Despite these momentous feats, it does still very much pay to qualify near the front in the Principality. Since Panis\u2019 famous victory, every single winner in Monaco has started the race from inside the top three, while the race has been won from the front row 51 times.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Only three drivers have ever won having started outside of the top five. Meanwhile, the top three have finished in the order they started in each of the last three years.<\/p>\n

Of the current field, Hamilton has won three times in Monaco (2008, 2016, 2019), while Fernando Alonso (2006-07) and Verstappen (2021, 2023) have taken the chequered flag twice. Leclerc (2024) and Norris (2025) have also tasted victory in the Principality.<\/p>\n

\"Reigning<\/p>\n

Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen last won in Monaco in 2023 | Credit: Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n

Drivers to watch<\/p>\n

Kimi Antonelli<\/p>\n

It is hard to look past Mercedes\u2019 Kimi Antonelli as the favourite for this weekend\u2019s Grand Prix. The Italian has won each of the last four races, three of them from pole, and with no small amount of good fortune on his side leads George Russell by 43 points in the drivers\u2019 standings.<\/p>\n

A fourth pole position of the season would set Antonelli up beautifully for victory, but if he has another of his customary poor starts he will not necessarily reclaim his lost positions as easily as usual.<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc<\/p>\n

Until his victory in 2024, Leclerc famously suffered terrible luck whenever he returned to Monaco.<\/p>\n

In 2017, he did not complete either the Formula 2 Feature or Sprint Race. He then failed to finish his first two Monaco Grands Prix, while he didn\u2019t even start the race in 2021 despite claiming pole. Only in his fifth season in Formula One did he finally see the chequered flag in the Principality, bringing home a fourth-placed finish in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Things have looked better for Leclerc on home soil in recent years though, following his 2024 triumph with second place last season.<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton<\/p>\n

While still without a victory for Ferrari, it is an inescapable truth that Hamilton is in the best form we have seen from him for quite some time.<\/p>\n

Two podium finishes from five races this season leave the Brit just three points shy of teammate Leclerc, while he has matched the Mon\u00e9gasque over one lap too, with the pair tied at 4-4 in all qualifying sessions in 2026 (including sprints).<\/p>\n

No other current driver has tasted success as frequently in Monaco as Hamilton has, although there have been four different winners since his most recent triumph here seven years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That first victory in red is coming, and if Ferrari can indeed take the fight to Mercedes this weekend, the seven-time world champion is every bit as capable as Leclerc of taking full advantage.<\/p>\n

Session start times (BST)<\/p>\n

Practice 1: Fri 12:30-13:30<\/p>\n

Practice 2: Fri 16:00-17:00<\/p>\n

Practice 3: Sat 11:30-12:30<\/p>\n

Qualifying: Sat 15:00-16:00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Monaco Grand Prix circuit is arguably the sport\u2019s most iconic destination | Credit: Formula One This week,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":713133,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[49,48,578,576,577,82],"class_list":["post-713132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=713132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713132\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/713133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=713132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=713132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=713132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}