The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the world.
Created in 1929 by Antony Noghès, the Monaco circuit, laid out through the heart of the city, has retained almost its entire original layout — a narrow, winding track that makes it one of the most demanding circuits on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar. The Monaco circuit measures 3.367 km. The race starts at Port Hercule, then snakes through the streets of Monte-Carlo and La Condamine, chaining together tight corners flanked by barriers: the track is narrow and unforgiving, making overtaking extremely difficult.
After the start line, drivers climb Boulevard Albert Ier and rush into the first right-hand corner of "Sainte Dévote" — the scene of many first-lap collisions. They then tackle the steep climb of "Beau-Rivage" up to the tight left-right of the "Casino." From there, drivers descend to the right-hand corner of "Mirabeau," followed by the left-hand hairpin of "Grand Hôtel" — the slowest corner on the championship calendar. The "Portier" section then leads down to the sea, where drivers plunge into the tunnel before emerging at the chicane near the port. At the tunnel exit — the fastest section of the circuit — the cars brush close to 300 km/h. After a short straight along the Quai des États-Unis comes the left-hand "Bureau de Tabac" corner, the left-right "Swimming Pool" section, then a very demanding right-hand hairpin at "La Rascasse." Finally, drivers tackle the "Anthony Noghès" corner before the pit straight and the finish line.
This is without doubt one of the most demanding circuits on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar. It is the most glamorous, most prestigious, most popular Grand Prix — and above all, the one that every driver and every team wants to win!
