Monaco Prepares for the Formula 1 Grand Prix: Who Will Conquer the Principality?
On the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, the Monaco circuit prepares to host its 70th race. Of these, 37 have had different winners, with 32 victories from pole position. Will we see a new name at the top of the podium in 2025?
McLaren has dominated the start of the season, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has surprised with some victories. McLaren is the most successful team in Monaco with 15 victories, although their last one was in 2008 with Lewis Hamilton. In the 1990s, Ayrton Senna achieved five of his record six victories in the principality.
Verstappen, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are the only current drivers with victories here. The weather forecast promises sun, with temperatures up to 18°C and partial cloud cover from Friday until race day.
Is Max Verstappen a contender for the drivers’ championship after his victory in Imola and in Japan?
Latest news
McLaren has revealed a “retro livery upgrade” that will be used in the next two races in Monaco and Spain.
F1 analyst Laurence Edmondson analyzes Verstappen’s performance after his performance at Imola. Meanwhile, the Dutch driver regrets that the removal of Imola from the calendar is a “shame”.
Hamilton is optimistic for Ferrari after Imola, while Charles Leclerc shows Ferrari’s problems.
Listen to the race preview and the latest episode of ESPN’s F1 podcast, Unlapped, with Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Monaco.
Ayrton Senna in Monaco in 1991. Senna has the most victories in Monte Carlo with six, five of them with McLaren between 1989 and 1993.
Circuit Statistics and History
The Monaco Grand Prix is a “home race” for many drivers, who can sleep in their own beds and have a very short commute, especially for Monegasque Charles Leclerc, who learned to swim in the famous pool at the chicane of turns 14-15.
The race in Monte Carlo is often called “the jewel in the crown of F1”; the streets have a rich heritage and association with motorsport from the first race in 1929, to the Formula 1 championship in 1950, and today, 75 years later.
As cars have grown in size over the years, the streets of Monaco have remained the same, making overtaking almost impossible and notably, with very little margin for error on the tight corners. Therefore, the Saturday qualifying session is usually the most important hour of the weekend.
This year, to increase the excitement of Sunday’s race, F1 has introduced a mandatory two-pit-stop rule, which means that strategy should be as important as the drivers’ starting position on the grid.
Monaco Grand Prix
Circuit: Circuit de Monaco; Monaco
First F1 race: 1950
Lap record: 1:12.909, Lewis Hamilton (2021)
Laps: 78 laps of 3.3 km. Total distance 260 km
Most wins: Ayrton Senna with six (1987, 1989-1993). Winners from the current grid:
- Fernando Alonso (2006-2007)
- Hamilton (2008, 2016, 2019)
- Verstappen (2021, 2023)
- Leclerc (2024)
Most pole positions: Senna with five (1985, 1988-1991). Drivers who have achieved pole position on the current grid:
- Alonso (2006-2007)
- Hamilton (2015, 2019)
- Verstappen (2023)
- Leclerc (2021-2022, 2024)
Wins from pole: 32 of 37 winners. Monaco is tied with the German Grand Prix for the most wins from pole.
What makes it special? The enduring anachronism of F1 would never be approved as a new circuit today, but there is something very special about grand prix cars racing on the same route since 1929. It also offers the best qualifying session of the year, with drivers leaving Pirelli rubber on the barriers to get the best time.
It’s like riding a bicycle through your living room.
Nelson Piquet
Where to watch? The Swimming Pool. The fastest section of the circuit and one of the most iconic views of F1. Watch the drivers get within millimeters of the barriers while the superyachts sway in the harbor.
Monaco has a rich history with motorsport since the first race in 1929. Since 1950, Monaco has hosted 70 grand prix.
What Happened Last Year?
The Monaco Grand Prix last year was what many expected. Leclerc finally broke the Monaco curse and won his home race.
Born and raised in the principality of Monaco, Leclerc ended a long series of heartbreaking results at the famous Monte Carlo circuit with impeccable driving at the front, surpassing Oscar Piastri, who finished second.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s teammate, finished third.
Who Will Win?
The Monaco street circuit is an exception on the F1 calendar and has the potential to generate unpredictable results. Even so, the low-speed corners should play in McLaren’s favor, making Lando Norris or Piastri the favorites.
Piastri’s extra confidence in the car when it’s on the limit this year is well documented and, for that reason, he’s our bet to win from pole position this weekend.
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari celebrate in 2024.
This Is How the Championships Stand
The Imola result didn’t change much in the championship, with Piastri still in the lead, but his advantage has been reduced to 13 points from 16.
Verstappen, however, is catching up to Lando Norris, only nine points away in third place, so there is a lot at stake in the next races.
McLaren is asserting its dominance over the constructors’ championship, with a whopping 12 podiums and five victories, over Mercedes’ four podiums, which is in second place. The papaya team leads by 132 points.
Charles Leclerc is fifth in the drivers’ championship with only one podium so far in 2025.
How to Watch the GP
For fans in the United States, the race is broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+.
In the UK, live coverage is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live.
For news, analysis, and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN’s F1 team in Monaco and on social media.
Session times below in BST (British Summer Time). Local time (Central European Summer Time) + 1 hour.
Friday
First practice session: 12:30-13:30 BST
Second free practice: 16:00-17:00 BST
Saturday
Third free practice: 11:30-12:30 BST
Classification: 15:00-16:00 BST
Sunday
Race start: 14:00 BST (live text commentary from 12:45 BST on ESPN.co.uk).
– Standings | Schedule | Teams
– F1 2025 Circuits: Their history, stats and why they’re special
– Key facts about drivers, teams, venues, and more
– Reasons to support each F1 driver, questions for each team
– Meet the rookies: What to expect from the 2025 F1 Class
