We are offering Grand Prix Hospitality Packages to the Monaco GP in 2023. If you are interested in going and experiencing an event of a lifetime then please see our Monaco Grand Prix Packages page.

The Historic Monaco Grand Prix

How to describe Monaco…? Filmic, red carpet living; to know Monaco is to know what it is to truly play as an adult.

It is the second smallest independent state in the world after the Vatican, densely populated and driven by tourism. A major banking centre; it does not levy income tax on its residents. This makes it enormously attractive to the rich – hence 30% of its population are millionaires.

 

view of Monaco and a driver`s helmut

It is also beautiful. The climate is warm. Visitors come here to experience this paradise – to keep company with the glamourous – while enjoying the Place du Casino in Monte Carlo and the Grand Prix.

The race takes place around the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine, including the famous harbour – during the end of May (occasionally early June). Unusually for Formula One it has been held on the same circuit since its birth.

Playground for the Rich and Famous

Spectators congregate around the track, those who do not get as close can watch from the temporary grandstands in the harbour where the rich bring their boats in. Balconies, hotels and resident’s homes boast birds eye views.

It is considered to be one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. Part of the ‘Triple Crown’ of motorsport along with Indy 500 and the Le Mans 24hrs.

Monaco chooses to be different. It doesn’t need to conform. There is no podium, the prize-giving ceremony is held on the steps of the royal box. These trophies are handed out before the national anthems (as opposed to other GPs where they follow).

A Cut Above the Rest

Building the Circuit de Monaco takes 6 weeks. It’s removal takes 3 weeks. It is the only event to have practice day on a Thursday – to allow the public to use the roads on a Friday.

It is also the only GP that does not adhere to the FIA’s mandated 305 kilometres minimum race distance (3,367 km). The race nearly didn’t run in 1972, with the organisers (who traditionally decided on the amount of cars allowed to race) preferring to set the limit at 16 drivers. Bernie Ecclestone had been negotiating a deal whereby at least 18 cars were permitted to enter. 24 cars were eventually authorised – which on the narrow streets of Monaco seemed dangerous. By the early 1970s some events were cancelled due to issues highlighted by Jackie Stewart – who was already becoming an advocate for improving the safety of the sport. By 1974 the ACM managed to get the numbers back down to 18.

It is a thoroughly demanding track; narrow and tight, with many elevation changes. To win here requires meticulous driving, technical excellence and sheer fortitude. Brakes work hard. Overtaking is near hopeless in this restricted space – making qualifying all the more critical.

Portier corner is considered to be key to achieving a good lap time. It follows the Loews Hairpin (slowest corner in F1) and is followed by the tunnel (flat out section) – where drivers emerge blinking into the sunlight. Great names including Senna and Schumacher have ended some races here. A course as difficult as this would not be allowed to be added to the schedule today due to safety reasons.


Loews Hairpin Monaco GP

The fastest ever lap Kimi Raikkonen recorded here was in qualifying for 2006 GP and registered at 1m 13.532. There has currently only been one fatality – Lorenzo Bandini in 1967 – before tighter safety regulations were implemented.

Safety First

In 1969 Armco barriers were placed strategically on the circuit for the first time in its history. Before this – it was virtually identical to everyday use – except for the concession of the removal of parked cars. This immovable elegance – the track fitting around what was already there – rather than purpose built in a more convenient space adds to its charm. If a driver left the road during the race he would end up crashing into whatever was nearby – sometimes this was the mediterranean (Alberto Ascari and Paul Hawkins). By 1972 the track was almost completely lined with Armco. Safer but still unrelenting.

Nelson Piquet likened the experience to ‘riding a bicycle around your living room’ adding ‘A win here was worth two anywhere else’.

Moncao GP – History in the Making

The first Grand Prix race in Monaco took place at 1.30pm on 14th April 1929 and was won by William Grover Williams driving a dark green Bugatti Type 35B. It had been organised by Antony Noghes with the backing of Prince Louis II (the patronage of the royal family continues to this day) through the Automobile Club de Monaco. The first race was by ‘invitation only’. Mercedes Rudolf Caracciola drove a Mercedes SSK and came 2nd despite starting 15th in a race famed for few overtaking opportunities.

M.Louis Chiron, a high level driver in European GP racing, whose support assisted the creation of the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, was unable to compete in its debut because he was already committed to racing in the Indianapolis 500 (the two often clash – the distance making it impossible for drivers to compete in both). In 1931 he won – the only native of Monaco ever to have won. In 1955 he became the oldest driver to compete in a Grand Prix.

By 1933 Monaco was already ranked alongside the French, Belgian, Italian and Spanish GP – this was the first year where grid positions were decided by practice time, rather than the established method of balloting. 1950 was the first Formula One World Drivers Championship here – Juan Manuel Fangio taking first place.

Multiple wins in Monaco are reserved for the special few; Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart both achieved 3 wins, Alain Prost 4 wins, Graham Hill ‘Mr Monaco’ and Michael Schumacher have won 5 times. But the record is still held by Ayrton Senna with 6 wins (5 consecutive wins between 1989-93). Senna was extremely popular in Monaco – in 1987 the day after the race (the first time a GP was won by a car with active suspension) he was arrested for riding a motorcycle without a helmet and immediately released when they realised who he was. Like many Formula One drivers he also had a home here.


red bull f1 racing car with young coiuple
 

Grand Prix 2022 in Monaco

Starting in pole at the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the strongest race positions in Formula One – due to overtaking on this track being notoriously difficult.

Charles Leclerc started in pole today, with teammate Sainz Jr in 2nd place on the grid. But a series of strategical errors by Ferrari dropped the Monegasque driver to 4th – preventing him from achieving a home win here, delighting the crowd and improving his position in the championship. For more on the racing action from the Monaco GP 2022.

If you would like to go to Monaco for the Grand Prix in 2023 or 2024, then we are taking bookings and would love to hear from you and organise the most suitable hospitality package to suit your needs and budget.