What makes Monaco so unique?

Monaco is a one-off on the calendar, with the historic race offering various unique challenges and individual nuances.

Find out below about the unique characteristics the Monaco Grand Prix race weekend has to offer.

Why does Free Practice 1 and 2 take place on Thursday?

Unlike all other Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar, the Monaco GP does not follow the regular Friday-Sunday schedule, instead Free Practice sessions 1 and 2 take place on the Thursday, rather than the Friday.

Monaco is a unique circuit in many ways and the fact that the layout is run around the streets of Monte Carlo, means it causes considerable disruption to the city.

Added to that, floods of racing fans descend on the Mediterranean harbour for one of the most famous events in world motorsport. The influx of visitors sees the principality’s population rise from just short of 40,000, to almost 200,000 over the weekend.

With all the additional visitors to the area, shops, restaurants and hotels all need to be re-stocked and having the race track open to the public for the majority of Friday allows for this. It also enables native Monegasques access to and from their houses during daytime hours.

The Monaco GP race weekend has a packed race schedule though, meaning it is necessary for some running to take place on the Friday morning. There may not be any Formula 1 sessions on the Friday, but the circuit still hosts qualifying for two support races as well as the Formula 2 feature race.

The Formula 1 free practice sessions take place in their usual time slots of 10am and 2pm on the Thursday instead, accompanied by Formula 2 and Porsche Supercup action on-track.

Where are support race garages located?

At most Grand Prix events, support races over the weekends are based in either a separate paddock, or if this is not available, temporary awning structures close to the main pit lane.

In Monaco, space is at a premium and there is barely enough space for the 10 Formula 1 teams in the pit lane. So instead of a nearby second paddock, support teams are based in a multi-story car park to the east of the city, nicknamed ‘Alcatraz’. The Monaco Tennis club has also been used as an additional location used for teams from the other series racing over the weekend.

How have Rich Energy Haas F1 Team performed at the Monaco GP?

Rich Energy Haas F1 Team has a mixed record in Monte Carlo. In 2016 Esteban Gutierrez was unlucky to miss out on the points, finishing 11^th, a couple of places in front of team-mate Romain Grosjean.

2017 was a stronger showing with both cars finishing in the top 10, yielding the first double-points score in team history. Grosjean took four points in eighth with Kevin Magnussen securing another one in 10^th.

Last year Magnussen ended the race in 13^th, with Grosjean 15^th.

Five facts about the Monaco GP

• The Monaco GP’s first appearance as a Formula 1 race was in 1950, and it has been ever-present on the calendar since 1955.
• In 1996, only three cars reached the checkered flag at the Monaco Grand Prix. That race holds the record for the highest number of retirements as a percentage – 85% (18/21 cars retired).
• Circuit de Monaco features the slowest corner in Formula 1. The Fairmont Hairpin (AKA The Grand Hotel Hairpin), is taken at around 31mph/50kph.
• Ayrton Senna has won more Monaco GPs than anyone else, winning six between 1987 and 1993. Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher have won five each.
• McLaren are the most successful team in Monaco, with 15 Grand Prix victories to their name. Senna (5) Prost (4), Coulthard (2) Häkkinen (1), Räikkönen (1), Alonso (1) and Hamilton (1).