Monaco Grand Prix: Preview

The Automobile Club de Monaco, having already founded a popular rally, opted to turn the prestigious streets of the Principality into a temporary race facility in 1929, at the wisdom of Antony Noghes. It quickly became a prominent fixture on the motor-racing scene, its status elevated by the challenging layout and desirable location, attracting the elite to the glamorous Riviera. It was included on the inaugural Formula 1 calendar in 1950 and was a permanent fixture from 1955 through 2019, not running in 2020 – its first absence in 65 years – due to the pandemic. 

The Circuit de Monaco is a stern test for all drivers given the perilously close nature of the barriers, the evolution of the tarmac across the course of the weekend, and the importance of hooking up a qualifying lap. Track position is of the utmost importance, given that passing is at a premium, while in terms of set-up teams favor mechanical grip. 

Gone are the days when hay bales, lamp posts and a sheer drop into the harbor would mark the circuit edge, but the layout itself remains largely recognizable when compared to the 1929 layout, taking competitors past iconic landmarks such as the Sainte-Dévote Chapel, Hotel de Paris and Casino de Monte-Carlo. While at 3.3km it is the shortest circuit on the calendar it is one of the busiest and most challenging for those behind the steering wheel. The margin between delight and despair can be measured in mere millimeters in Monaco. 

For Uralkali Haas F1 Team rookies Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher it will be their first experience of the Circuit de Monaco in Formula 1 machinery, though both have proper knowledge of the venue from 2019, when they competed in FIA Formula 2. Mazepin secured a top 10 finish in both races while Schumacher started third after a strong qualifying display. 

As per Monaco’s traditions free practice one and two will take place on Thursday, with Friday a rest day for Formula 1, ahead of the usual format for the remainder of the weekend.  

 

Guenther Steiner, Team Principal

While it’s early in their Formula 1 careers, what are your key observations regarding the progress made by both Nikita and Mick in bedding in with the team so far?

“At the moment we’re very happy with how they’re getting along with the team. You can always get better, but we’re at a very good point, and the relationships with the people they work directly with are improving – they’ve started off on a good foot and it’s just a work in progress. There are a lot of people working in a Formula 1 team and the drivers need to get to know them better, especially the people that work directly with them. Up to now though it’s been very positive progress.”

 

How big a challenge, in your opinion, is the Monaco Grand Prix for rookie drivers – not least as for Nikita and Mick it’s only their fifth career start in Formula 1? What are the specific briefings the team will give the drivers to prepare for their maiden Monte Carlo starts?

“Regarding the briefing – stay out of the walls and off the barriers. That’s what we’ll let them know. Once you’re in the barriers in Monaco, your session is lost. You cannot get the car back and it’s normally pretty damaged anyway. The challenge is big. It’s a very tight circuit, it’s obviously a street circuit, and you’ve got lots of people watching – everything you don’t want on a race like this. On the other side, you do want it though, that’s why we’re doing it. There should be little pressure on the drivers there as we know our performance. They should be looking at the race just to gain experience so when they return with a better car they’ll have learned how to deal with Monaco – which is obviously a very special race in the Formula 1 calendar.”

 

Having missed out on a Monaco Grand Prix last season, how good is it for the sport to be seen to returning to one of its marquee events and with the introduction of a limited number of fans each day?

“Going to Monaco is always fantastic. It’s a historic event – the most historic event in my opinion for Formula 1, and it’s good for Monte Carlo as well that we’re back there. It’s open for business again. As much as we deal with the challenges and issues of the limited space, all the logistics there and so on, to be back is fantastic. To have fans there, at least a small amount of them, it’s very good. We’re really looking forward to it.” 

 

Monaco was the scene of the team’s first-ever double points score in 2017 with Grosjean eighth and Magnussen 10th. As one of the early milestone moments in the team’s short history – how memorable was that result and did it have added significance coming on the hard-fought streets of Monte Carlo?

“This year we’ll be far off coming home eighth and 10th, we know that, and we can deal with that – we’re patient. Thinking back to 2017 though, it was very cool to have achieved that result in Monaco. It was another first for the team, and they kept coming at that time. We want to get back to that performance level. So, good memories, but we’re looking forward to the future of the team, to be able to do those things again and to be able to do it better.”