After the false glamour of Miami, race won by Max Verstappen, place, Sunday at 15:00, to the real circuit in town: Monaco. An urban, historic and specific Grand Prix that obeys five rules to hope to win.
To discover
- Formula 1: the calendar of the season
- Formula 1: manufacturers' classification
- Formula 1: drivers' standings
Don't miss out on qualifying
The real sinews of war. In the narrow streets of Monaco, overtaking is almost impossible. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, there is only one solution: get pole position. The "real" race is played on Saturday. A perfect lap allows a driver, even of a less powerful car, to hope for a good performance. However, it is necessary to gauge his risk-taking: hitting the wall during the qualif can ruin all hopes. In 2021, at the wheel of a capricious Ferrari, Charles Leclerc took pole position. Too confident, he set off once again to improve his time and embedded his car in the rail of the Pool. His dream of victory took on water. He was unable to start the next day because his car was too damaged.
Avoid the departure trap
This is the highlight of the race. At 15 p.m., the twenty cars set off and rushed towards Sainte-Dévote. If it is the occasion of some (rare) daring overtaking, this mythical bend is especially often the place of a traffic jam or a pile-up. Negotiating this first difficulty is essential to dream of a podium.
Managing the pit stop
In a GP where overtaking is very limited (the 2021 edition did not count any after the first lap!), strategy is the essential element of a good result in the principality. A poorly calibrated pit stop and victory can fly away. Last year, Ferrari ruined the race of Charles Leclerc, solid leader, by calling him too early to the pits: he finished fourth. Same misadventure in 2016 for Daniel Ricciardo. At the wheel of his Red Bull, the Australian had a dream weekend: pole position, fastest lap and race lead. He rushes into the pits. Patatras, the tires are not ready. Lewis Hamilton took the win.
Be patient
In Monaco, you have to keep your phlegm whatever the circumstances and seize the slightest opportunity without putting yourself in danger. Witness, the 2001 edition. David Coulthard fights Michael Schumacher for the world title. He took pole position in the Principality but could not start because of an electronic problem. Here he is at the bottom of the grid. His hell can begin: his rise is hindered by Enrique Bernoldi. The Scot was stuck for 33 laps behind the Arrows. He tries overtaking without success. He finished a distant fifth behind Schumacher who flew to the title.
Stay focused until the end
The drivers in Monaco are balancing acts. They must flirt with the rails, even kiss them, but never go to contact. The driver in the lead must be careful not to make any mistakes: the right braking at the right time, avoid the terrible bump between the Casino and Mirabeau, endure the changes in brightness in the tunnel and not be disturbed by the spectators. A piece of advice that Ayrton Senna did not follow. On May 15, 1988, the little prince of Monaco (6 victories) dominated the Grand Prix. He set lap records and had more than 50 seconds over his rival Alain Prost. His stable asks him to lever the foot. On lap 54, he hit the wall at the gatekeeper. Alain Prost wins. "I was so close to perfection this weekend that I relaxed. I invited the mistake, and that's the lesson I learned that day, "analyzes after the race, disappointed, the Brazilian.
