The specificities of the Monaco circuit

Ah, Monaco! Its glamour, its glitter, and its unique layout! And to say that the rise in power of F1 almost wiped this monument off the calendar. It was indeed necessary to wait until last September for the Grand Prix contested in the streets of Monte-Carlo to be officially extended until 2025, while rumors of disappearances were emerging.

In question, financial disagreements, while Monaco previously benefited from an advantageous price, due to its aura and its importance on the calendar, which F1 wanted to get rid of due to the new success of F1 and the requests of numerous country to host a Formula 1 race. 

In short, Monaco ended up comply with the requirements of the FOM, and is still there, that's all that matters. This legendary circuit, very little modified over time, is one of the most authentic on the calendar, an integral part for some of the famous triple crown, with the 24 hours of Le Mans and Indy 500, even if it seems that it is above all the world champion title which serves as the triple crown on the F1 side. McLaren, which offers a special Triple Crown livery, highlights Prost's victory in 1984 in Monaco. 

A first podium for Charles Leclerc at Monaco ? © Antonin Vincent / DPPI

This weekend, on the princely track, the drivers will once again have to face this very special track. Damon Hill also assures that Monaco is a circuit which distinguishes “men of kids”, while Nigel Mansell assures that riding in Monaco, “It’s like piloting a helicopter in your living room”. It must be said that the route is winding, and that the rails are close! 

First of all, the Monaco route is the shortest of the season by far, with a total length of 3,337 km. For comparison, the second shortest on the calendar is Zandvoort, measuring 4,259 km, or almost 1000 meters longer! Another particularity, Monaco is the Grand Prix with the most laps with a total of 78, and despite this, the GP does not adhere to the minimum distance normally required by the FIA ​​(305 km), since the Monaco race represents 260,286 km. 

Also, the route marks the shortest distance between the starting line and the braking point of the first turn, with a distance of only 114 meters, which leaves little room for the pack to go after the poleman. Note also that only 34% of the tour is covered completely. This is even lower than the second lowest total (Rodriguez brothers circuit, Mexico), which is covered with the right pedal pressed all the way to the stop for 43% of the lap. 

Also, Monaco has the slowest corner on the calendar, the famous hairpin which constitutes turn 6 of the circuit. The 180° turn requires a special steering rack from the teams to allow the drivers to benefit from more angle. Generally speaking, with its average of 160 km/h, the Grand Prix is ​​the slowest on the calendar, due in particular to the 19 turns on the route and the single straight line of 669 meters. 

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