Recent Monaco Grand Prix Winners

2011 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2010: Mark Webber (Red Bull)
2009: Jensen Button (Brawn)
2008: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes)
2007: Fernando Alonso (McLaren Mercedes)
2006: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2005: Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren Mercedes)
2004: Jarno Trulli (Renault)

The Race

The initial Monaco Grand Prix (pre-Formula 1) took place in 1929. Anthony Noghès, through the Automobile Club de Monaco, organised this maiden event. William Grover-Williams won the race driving a Bugatti. This first race was part of the pre-Second World War European Championship.

In 1946, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) defined a new premier-racing category. This new racing category was Formula 1. A Monaco Grand Prix ran to this formula in 1948 and the popularity of the event was shown by a good number of Monaco Grand Prix tickets sold. Future world champion Nino Farina won this race in a Maserati 4CLT. Organisers cancelled the 1949 race because of the death of Prince Louis II.

The race received inclusion in the new Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship in 1950. The practice session for the race takes place on the Thursday preceding the race instead of Friday. This facilitates the streets opening to the public again on the Friday. Over the years, this race has proved a supreme test of driver's skill and daring. It remains the signature event of the Formula 1 racing season each year and an industry has built up around Monaco Grand Prix hospitality.

The Circuit

The Monaco F1 circuit consists of narrow streets, which climb, descend and require utmost driver accuracy. The course also has a tunnel that racers must enter, negotiate and exit; all the while adjusting their eyes to darkness and abruptly to daylight again.

Tight turns are the order of the day as well. The race is 78 laps on a course that is 3.340 kilometers or 2.075 miles in length. The race distance is 260.520 kilometers (roughly 157 miles). The circuit includes the city streets of Monte Carlo close to Casino Square and La Condamine, including the world-famous Monaco harbour

The Drivers

Drivers extraordinaire have graced the Monaco Grand Prix since its beginning. Monaco itself has produced three native Formula 1 drivers. These were Louis Chiron, André Testut, and Olivier Beretta.

Top winners at the Monaco F1 include Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna with six victories, British driver Graham Hill and German driver Michael Schumacher with five wins each. France's Alain Prost garnered four first-pace finishes. Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart of Britain secured three victories each.

McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus have the most Monaco F1 constructor wins, with 15, 9 and 7 respectively.

When

May 24 to 27, 2012
May 23 to 26, 2013
May 22 to 25, 2014

Did You Know?

That the best sections for viewing the race are A1, A4, V, Z1 and Z2, worth considering when ordering your tickets and Monaco Grand Prix hospitality packages.

That many residents rent out their terraces for the event to offer prime viewing spots for race fans? Your travel agent will have more information about this.

That hotel rooms are highly sought after for the Monaco F1. It's best to reserve well in advance, and if that is not feasible, plan to stay in Menton, Nice or other nearby towns. You can then take a train or a bus into Monaco for the race.

Several Grand Prix tour operators book reservations for the event? Check them out on the Web under Monaco Grand Prix hospitality packages.

If you're driving into Monaco during Grand Prix time it's a sure recipe for short tempers! Access is very restricted and parking is non-existent during the race weekend in Monaco. Alternative methods of transportation are necessary for having a stress-free time.

The average temperature in  May, when the race runs, is 68F, and the Principality has a mild climate, with over 300 days of sunshine per year.

Two drivers have crashed and ended up in the harbour? One of them, Alberto Ascari, in 1955, went into the harbour after missing a chicane.

When Graham Hill of Britain won the F1 race five times in the 1960s, he earned the nickname 'King of Monaco' and the number of tickets sold in the UK soared.

A day of premier racing in a royal setting is available for race aficionados and holidaymakers seeking a unique travel experience. The race is an event that appeals to both groups - it combines elegant social events with precision racing in a graceful manner befitting its setting, and several companies offer Monaco Grand Prix tickets.

Whether you're booking travel independently or using a company that offers hospitality, we hope you have a good time, and with demand high it’s worth getting your Monaco Grand Prix tickets well in advance.

BBC F1 Coverage

In the UK the live television rights for F1, including of course for the Monaco Grand Prix, has returned to the BBC after a few years at ITV.

Many F1 fans are delighted at the return, not only because the BBC F1 coverage is superior but because unlike ITV’s Formula 1 coverage there are no advertisement breaks during the race.

BBC F1 coverage is well promoted and a few years of declining television audiences the figures are up, and will bring renewed interest for the Monaco F1 with the BBC providing the live coverage.

Vettel Victory 2011

After a string of victories this year – interrupted only by a Lewis Hamilton win in China – Sebastian Vettel came to this year’s Monaco Grand Prix knowing that victory would virtually assure him of the Championship, despite the season not being even half way through.

And the 23 year old driver wasn’t to be disappointed, as he won the race in his Red Bull, with lady luck on his side after errors from his mechanics not realising at one pit-stop that he was coming in for a new set of tyres, but he still got to get first place on the podium.

The race itself was one of the most disappointing in years, with the last few laps bar three a procession led by the safety car after two other cars collided, leaving the track strewn with debris.

Disappointing too for those watching the BBC coverage in the UK was the commentary, with the two commentators shouting loud enough to drown out the sound of the cars for the first few laps, before calming down – but not before many had probably given up on the race out of frustration.

The commentary continued to be poor – with the race described at one stage as ‘complex’ and the normal high standards of the BBC slipping.

But for those lucky enough to have Monaco Grand Prix tickets and attend in person, if they can only hope that 2012 will be better than this year’s event.

Returning to this year, Fernando Alonso came second and Jensen Button third.

Asked after the race about his McLaren team’s tactics compared to Red Bull, Button wouldn’t attach any blame to the team, commenting that they did a great job this weekend, and that he was happy with their strategy.

The final top six positions were:

1st – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2nd – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

3rd- Jensen Button (McLaren)

4th – Mark Webber (Red Bull)

5th – Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber)

6th – Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)

We look forward to the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix. For tickets and other information for 2012 look for the details further up the page.

More information about Monaco is available with monacoproperty.net including Monaco property for sale and for those interested in the Principality's tax haven status details of the banks in Monaco

Canada

It was stop-start all the way, but it ended up a thrilling race for those who watched on television or bought tickets for this year’s Canadian GP. To read a report click here

Europe 2011

To read a report for Valencia click here

Silverstone

For a report on the British leg of the F1 calendar click here

Germany

Lewis Hamilton drove a fantastic race to win the sixteenth Grand Prix of his career at the Nurburgring. To read our own report click through to our Monaco Blog

Button Wins Hungary

Jenson Button won Sunday's F1 in Hungary - to read our report click through to our Monaco Blog

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