Monaco Grand Prix – The 7 key moments from the latest editions

1. The first Verstappen / Hamilton battle (2019)

Before becoming this year the intense battle for the world championship, it was indeed during the last edition of the Monaco Grand Prix that we witnessed the first real battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

In two different strategies, Hamilton found himself struggling with worn tires while Verstappen, who jumped Valtteri Bottas in the pit lane, was making a huge comeback with his fresh tires.

This is followed by a high-intensity end of the race until the last lap where the Dutchman attempts a maneuver at the Port chicane, without success. Hamilton wins ahead of Vettel and Bottas, Verstappen being penalized for his too aggressive pit lane exit on Bottas.

New game in perspective this year?

2. The disillusionment of Daniel Ricciardo (2016)

As we described in this article, Monaco is a land of disillusionment. And Daniel Ricciardo was the victim in 2016. Dominating the majority of the Grand Prix, the Australian made a stop at the pit to put on dry tires while the track was drying. He then had a lead of nearly 20 seconds over Hamilton, who was in second place.

But Red Bull is completely going to deprive its driver of victory by not preparing the tires on time and bringing out the “Honey Badger” behind the world champion’s Mercedes.

A bitter pill to swallow for the Australian who will bounce back in 2018 by finally winning on the streets of the Rock. It is still to this day the last victory of Ricciardo in Formula 1.

3. Jules Bianchi, anthology moment (2014)

How to forget it and especially how not to mention it? Jules Bianchi’s shattered destiny has made his Monégasque performance even more legendary.

Driving for Marussia, the worst team on the grid, Jules Bianchi achieves an unexpected Q2 on Saturday before delivering a race worthy of the greatest, culminating in his overtake on Kamui Kobayashi against the wall at Rascasse.

He then scored his team’s only two points in 9th place, the team’s first points since its creation in 2010. A moment that has gone down in history.

4. The 3 consecutive victories of Nico Rosberg (2014, 2015, 2016)

If Graham Hill was nicknamed “Mr. Monaco” with his 5 successes in the 60s, Nico Rosberg could have worn this nickname in the modern era. Already in contention for victory in 2012 where he finished 2nd behind Mark Webber, the German driver will win the Grand Prix for the first time in 2013, thirty years after his father Keke, a first in Formula 1.

Rosberg then went on to achieve two more victories in the following years in 2014 and 2015, making him the third driver to win three times in a row after Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. Quite impressive!

5. 6 drivers in less than 6 seconds for the win (2012)

One of the standout editions of recent seasons! Not so much for the on-track action, which was very challenging in Monaco, but especially for the intensity. As a reminder, Michael Schumacher secured pole position on Saturday but was penalized following an incident in the Spanish Grand Prix with Bruno Senna.

Webber was therefore on pole ahead of Rosberg and retains the advantage. A small group of 6 drivers will form at the front of the pack: in addition to the two mentioned first, the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso as well as Hamilton and Vettel are in the fight for victory.

The forecasted rain never came, the two safety cars restart the race each time and the 6 men are wheel to wheel. In the end, Webber wins for the second time in Monaco… 6 tenths ahead of Rosberg and 9 tenths ahead of Alonso.

Vettel, Hamilton and Massa complete the top 6, separated by 6 seconds, which is extremely rare in Monaco, considering that Paul Di Resta, in 7th place, finishes more than 40 seconds behind this group.

A historic 2012 season which saw 7 different winners in the first seven races. Memorable.

Find our best moments from the Monaco Grand Prix on our MI Radio Preview:

6. Kimi Räikkönen’s long-awaited pole position (2017)

Victorious in each edition since 2013, Mercedes was therefore the favorite before tackling the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix. However, Ferrari, back in business, did not see it that way and will demonstrate its superiority on this track that year.

While everyone was expecting Sebastian Vettel, a true specialist in timed exercises, the pleasant surprise from Monaco came out of nowhere: his teammate Kimi Räikkönen clinched the pole position!

Not really one of the best at this exercise, “Iceman” reminded everyone of his talents. His 17th pole position came more than 8 years after his last pole at the French Grand Prix in Magny Cours in 2008, a record in the category. Astonishing longevity!

7. The Verstappen / Grosjean crash (2015)

To conclude this top 7, the 2015 edition had to live up to expectations. For two very different events: the emergence of Max Verstappen’s talent in broad daylight and his dreadful end.

Qualified in the pack with his Toro Rosso, the Dutchman will shine with his daring overtaking moves (on Maldonado at Sainte-Dévote in particular) and with his racing intelligence at just 17 years old! Indeed, Mad Max will overtake two of his competitors by placing himself just behind Vettel, in third place, who was lapping his rivals, notably his then teammate, Carlos Sainz.

Unfortunately, the beautiful story is going to end badly with this major crash involving the French driver Romain Grosjean at Ste Devote corner, causing a safety car situation with heavy consequences for the leader, Lewis Hamilton.

Regardless, Formula 1 aficionados were able to measure Verstappen’s talent that day, who dreams of confirming it this Sunday!

And you, what are your highlights from the last 10 Monaco Grand Prix?