Legends, chaos and curses: 6 highlights of the Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix returns this weekend for its 71st edition. This historic race, first held in 1929, even predates the creation of Formula 1. From Olivier Panis’ achievements to Ayrton Senna’s record victories, and including Charles Leclerc’s triumph in 2024, here are six key moments that have marked the history of this exceptional event.

1. A birth before Formula 1

On April 14, 1929, Antony Noghès organized the first Monaco Grand Prix through the streets of Monte Carlo. William Grover-Williams won at the wheel of his Bugatti on a 3.18-kilometer track. This victory inaugurated a competition that would exist for 21 years before the official creation of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1950.

The idea of Noghès, president of the Automobile Club de Monaco and son of a wealthy tobacco merchant, transforms the narrow streets of the principality into a race circuit. The concept immediately captivates and 16 drivers take off for this first edition which lays the foundations of the current track. This precedence grants the Monaco Grand Prix a special status, that of a historic event that has withstood the test of time.

2. Olivier Panis and the 1996 exploit

May 19, 1996, will be remembered as one of the most chaotic races in modern history. Starting 14th on the grid, Olivier Panis claimed his only Formula 1 victory at the end of a rain-soaked race that eliminated nearly the entire field.

Michael Schumacher, in pole position, exits in the first lap after being overtaken by Damon Hill at the start. The retirements follow one after another: Gerhard Berger, Jean Alesi, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Häkkinen each succumb in turn to the difficult conditions and mechanical issues. Panis, however, keeps his cool. He switches to slick tires at the right moment as the track dries and methodically climbs up the rankings.

When Hill retired on lap 40 due to an engine problem, and then Alesi on lap 60 due to a suspension failure, Panis found himself in the lead. He held off David Coulthard and won with only three cars classified at the finish due to the two-hour time limit. This victory remains the last for the Ligier team in Formula 1.

3. Ayrton Senna, the undisputed master

No driver has dominated Monaco like Ayrton Senna. His six victories (1987, then consecutively from 1989 to 1993) earned him the nickname King of Monaco. The Brazilian had a unique understanding of this circuit where the slightest mistake comes at a high price.

His series of five consecutive victories remains an absolute record. Senna pushes his race car to the limit on the 3.337-kilometer track, navigating between the safety rails with millimetric precision. His domination goes beyond statistics, as it reveals a driver capable of transcending technical constraints to perfectly adapt to the specific demands of Monte-Carlo.

Before him, Graham Hill held the record with five victories between 1963 and 1969, earning him the nickname Mr. Monaco. But Senna’s dominance remains unmatched to this day.

4. The decisive advantage of pole position

Monaco amplifies the importance of qualifying more than any other circuit. Since 2004, over 70% of the races have been won by the driver starting from pole position. This statistic is explained by the extreme difficulty of overtaking on this circuit lined with safety barriers.

The unique layout of the circuit, with its tight turns such as the Fairmont hairpin (the slowest in Formula 1) and the passage under the tunnel, drastically limits overtaking opportunities. Unlike other circuits where the race can upset the order established in qualifying, Monaco often locks in the hierarchy as early as Saturday.

Of the 70 Monaco Grand Prix held in Formula 1, 32 have been won by the poleman, which is a conversion rate of 45%. However, this average conceals the recent trend, as the modern era places even more emphasis on the first position on the grid.

5. Daniel Ricciardo and his 2018 revenge

Two years after being denied victory by a strategic error from Red Bull during the pit stops, Daniel Ricciardo takes his revenge in 2018. Starting from pole position, the Australian leads the race when a problem with the MGU-K (part of the energy recovery system) occurs, depriving him of two gears and significantly reducing his power.

Despite this significant handicap, Ricciardo manages to hold off Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari for more than half of the race. The Red Bull driver intelligently manages his lead, carefully measuring his efforts to maintain enough distance from his pursuers. He wins with a 7.3-second lead over Vettel, with Lewis Hamilton completing the podium.

This victory erases the frustration of 2016 when he had secured pole position, but a mistake by his team — who hadn’t prepared the tires in time during his stop — cost him a potential victory. This success by Ricciardo was the perfect example that in Monaco, knowing how to manage a technical issue can be more important than pure performance.

6. Charles Leclerc breaks the Monegasque curse

In 2024, Charles Leclerc puts an end to years of frustration by finally winning his national Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver, originally from Monaco, had several missed opportunities since his debut in Formula 1, falling victim to various misfortunes and strategic errors.

This time, starting from pole position, Leclerc manages his race perfectly despite a chaotic start that eliminates several competitors in the first lap. He becomes the first Monegasque driver to win at home since Louis Chiron in 1931, ending a 93-year wait.

The 2024 race presents a remarkable statistical peculiarity: the top ten drivers finish in the order of the starting grid, something never seen before in Formula 1. This situation is a typical example of the specific constraints of the Monaco circuit where race strategy often matters less than Saturday’s performance. However, the situation could change with the new rule making a minimum of two pit stops mandatory this year. But will that be enough to energize the race? The verdict will be delivered on the track on Sunday.

Since 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix has maintained its unique aura, oscillating between tradition and modernity, glamour, and danger. This weekend, the drivers of 2025 will try to add their names to this rich history. Who will join the pantheon of Monte-Carlo winners? Stay tuned until the end of the race!