Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula 1 automobile race that takes place on the streets of the principality of Monaco every year. It is considered one of the world’s three top motor races, ranked alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans events. The first race took place in 1929 and became an annual event for the next nine years. From 1938 to 1954, the Monaco Grand Prix did not take place because of world events and financial reasons. From 1955 forward it was again an annual event drawing spectators to the principality.

Background

Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world. It is located on the French Riviera, partly bordered by the Mediterranean. Monaco is about the size of Central Park in New York City, with an area of 0.78 square miles (2 square kilometers), and is the world’s most densely populated country, with a population of about 37,000. Many wealthy people choose Monaco for its banking advantages, as its citizens do not pay income tax. The independent state relies heavily on tourism; many visitors flock to its casino and the Monaco Grand Prix is a major tourist draw. Visitors view the race from stands, luxury hotels, and yachts moored directly beside portions of the road.

The Monaco Grand Prix has its roots in bicycle racing, specifically Monaco’s bicycling clubs. As motor vehicles became popular in the early twentieth century, these clubs expanded to include motor car enthusiasts. From there, individuals and groups in Monaco began trying to bring a major automobile race to the principality.

In 1911, Alexandre Noghes tried to organize a rally, or race, in Monaco. He was a wealthy cigarette manufacturer and close friend of the royal family, but with all his connections, he was unable to succeed. Eighteen years later, his son, Anthony Noghes, and the Automobile Club de Monaco organized the first race. The 1929 event, which was won by British driver William Grover-Williams driving a Bugatti, was part of the European Championship. From 1950 forward, the race was included in the Formula One World Championship.

The circuit’s unique placement along the coast caused a pileup in 1950. A wave from the harbor splashed on the road, which caused a crash. Multiple cars were caught in the pileup. Another memorable race took place in 1996. A field of twenty-two cars fell to twenty-one when a car broke down during the final warmup on the wet circuit. Three others were out before they passed the first corner. One by one, cars crashed. After five laps, only thirteen were still in the running, and another dropped out on the tenth lap. After crashes and breakdowns, only four cars were still in the race when it hit the two-hour limit, and only three of them crossed the finish line. The driver in fourth place pulled into the pits instead. The event was also notable because it is the only race French driver Olivier Panis won in his ten-season Formula One career.

Overview

It was Anthony Noghes’s idea to run it through the streets of Monte Carlo, and the course circuit he suggested remains in use in modern times. The Monaco Grand Prix course consists of seventy-eight laps of a 2-mile (3.3-kilometer) circuit. The full length of the race is 161.8 miles (260.52 kilometers).

Drivers leave the start/finish line travelling northeast, following a relatively straight portion of the road before they reach a right turn called the Sainte Devote curve, a place known for many crashes. Another relatively straight section passes through Beau Rivage before reaching Massenet, a gradual left-leaning curve. The next section consists of multiple curves and sharp turns. From there the course doubles back along the coastline and passes through a tunnel before emerging near Nouvelle Chicane. After a left turn, the course follows a center portion of the port area before turning sharply right, passing the large general admission grandstand. After a final turn named for Anthony Noghes, it resumes a fairly straight line back to the start/finish line. In addition to the general admission seating, grandstands are located at various locations along the circuit, including the casino and pool areas. Visitors also pay for the privilege of watching from terraces atop many of the hotels that rim the port, and from private yachts anchored just yards from the road.

Over the years, various portions of the circuit have been modified for the race. New baffles have been installed and portions of the road have been widened. In 2003, the road around the swimming pool was moved and redrawn, and new baffles were installed on the turns.

The Monaco Grand Prix circuit provides many challenges for drivers, and is known for its many turns. It includes the slowest corner in Formula 1 racing, requiring a sedate 31 mph (50 km/h), and the fastest at 162 mph (260 km/h). Drivers must contend with little space to move as they are close to the barriers throughout the circuit. The skill of the driver is more important in this race than in most other Formula 1 races because the course is so narrow and it is virtually impossible to overtake and pass another car. Only turn 1, Sainte Devote, provides any opportunity to pass another car. For this reason, drivers must qualify in a good position near the front. Only in ten races since 1950 have drivers who started lower than third won the race. The French driver Panis pulled off a rare feat in 1996 when he started from fourteenth position and won in the famed three-car finish race.

Because the race is much slower than other Formula One events, drivers do not need to be too concerned with running out of fuel. In 1997, Mika Salo did not make any pit stops and finished fifth. The Monaco Grand Prix is the longest race in terms of time and in wet weather may last two hours. Lewis Hamilton set a new race lap record in 2021 with a time of 1:12.909. In 2019, Hamilton also set a fast qualifying lap with a time of 1:10.166. Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna holds the record for the most Monaco wins. Senna, who died in an accident in 1994, won six times, including five races in a row beginning in 1989. Ferrari racers have won eleven times, while McLaren racers have won fifteen times.

Bibliography

Arora, Jaskirat. “1996 Monaco GP: The Race with the Least Finishers.” Essentially Sports, 24 Dec. 2018, www.essentiallysports.com/1996-monaco-gp-race-least-finishers/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Baldwin, Alan. “Motor Racing: Statistics for the Monaco Grand Prix.” Reuters, 22 May 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-motor-f1-monaco-statistics/motor-racing-statistics-for-the-monaco-grand-prix-idUSKCN1SS12E. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

“Circuit of the Monaco Historicc GP.” Grand Prix de Monaco, 2025, www.monacograndprixticket.com/grand-prix-historic/the-circuit-of-monaco. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Danner, Christian. “Circuit de Monaco—Monaco Grand Prix 2019.” F1Mix, 2019, www.f1mix.com/circuits/circuit-de-monaco.asp. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

“Formula One Statistics for the Monaco Grand Prix.” Rueters, 23 May 2024, www.reuters.com/sports/formula1/formula-one-statistics-monaco-grand-prix-2024-05-23/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Medland, Chris. “Why We Love…the Monaco Grand Prix.” Formula 1, 19 May 2019, www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.why-we-love-the-monaco-grand-prix.244YJBZ9V9vUs43WOauguf.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

“Monaco Grand Prix: Everything You Need to Know about the 70th Edition.” ESPN, 23 May 2024, www.espn.com/f1/story/‗/id/40204980/all-need-know-monaco-grand-prix. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Walthert, Matthew. “Why the Monaco Grand Prix Is Formula 1’s Most Interesting Race.” Bleacher Report, 20 May 2014, bleacherreport.com/articles/2069950-why-the-monaco-grand-prix-is-formula-1s-most-interesting-race#slide0. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.

Wilson, James. “History of the Monaco Grand Prix.” Enter F1, 2019, www.enterf1.com/monaco-grand-prix/gp-history-and-memorable-moments. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.