The magic of Monte Carlo: Monaco Grand Prix preview
May 15, 2014
Set against the stunning backdrop of the picturesque Mediterranean, the Monaco Grand Prix is the jewel in the Formula 1 crown and the most prestigious of all Grands Prix. Along with the Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours, the race is considered part of motorsport’s triple crown. Graham Hill, the man known as “Mr Monaco” for his five victories in the event during the 1960s, is the only driver to have achieved the elite triple crown. The glamorous street circuit is the slowest and most difficult of all on the Formula 1 calendar, as it winds through the streets of Monaco, challenging drivers with hairpin turns, numerous elevation changes and tunnels. It is also the race that every driver wants to win.
Located near the southeast of France with the French Riviera to the west and the Italian Riviera to the east, the principality of Monaco is the second smallest country in the world (after Vatican City) and home to some of the wealthiest people in the world. world. With its casinos, high-end boutiques, and high-rise apartments with million-dollar views, this resplendent playground for the rich and famous is the perfect host for the world’s most heady motorsports event.
This year marks the 72nd edition of the Monaco Grand Prix and the illustrious race has a long and rich history. The first Formula 1 race here took place in 1929 and was won by William Grover-Williams, a special agent who worked for the Special Operations Executive in France during World War II. Driving a Bugatti 35B, Williams beat out highly favored Mercedes driver Rudolf Caracciola. In 1950, the event was included in the inaugural FIA World Championship for Drivers, one of six Grand Prix races that counted towards the Championship at the time.
The list of winners of this auspicious race reads like a Who’s Who of Formula 1 World Champions. The late Ayrton Senna holds the record with six victories, five of which were consecutive. Joining him on the champion’s multi-win honor roll are Michael Schumacher (5) Alain Prost (4), Jackie Stewart (3), Niki Lauda (2) and Fernando Alonso (2). Considered the ultimate test of a driver’s skills, the difficult circuit eluded triple world champion Nelson Piquet, who liked to maneuver through the narrow streets until he “flew a helicopter in his living room.” But it’s the famous tunnel section that causes the most difficulty for drivers; a rapid transition from light to dark and back to light.
Six from the current grid have tasted success in Monaco: Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. With the circuit favoring driver skill over power, the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix is a chance for anyone to win. The only certainty is that as the drivers make their way through the narrow and winding track, tackling the dangerous hairpin turns and treacherous tunnel, Formula 1 fans around the world will be treated to a spectacle that only Monaco can offer.