The Monaco Grand Prix: an insight.

The Monaco Grand Prix is arguably the most prestigious race in the world and one of the most awaited events in the motorsports world. It’s conducted annually in the Monte Carlo district of Monaco. What started as the Monte Carlo Rally in 1911 was later turned into the Monaco grand prix with a new circuit layout to adhere to international rules.

Due to Monaco being the second smallest country, making a race track there was a challenging task. Instead of making a new circuit due to the lack of space, the circuit layout was run through the streets of Monaco, making it unique and challenging for the drivers. In other circuits around the world, the drivers have much more straight tracks to perform overtakes and push the car to the limits. Meanwhile, the track layout of Monaco requires the drivers to push their skills to

the limit and get the most out of the extraordinary machinery.

Winning the Monaco Grand Prix is considered to be one of the most prestigious awards granted in the world of motorsports. The first race held in 1929 was a huge success and its popularity has been increasing ever since.

The Grand Prix has produced some of the most iconic events of the sport such as Ayrton Senna’s lap in 1988 which is widely regarded as the greatest and the most perfect lap (Fun fact: Ayrton Senna also happens to be known as the King of Monaco due to him winning the race for a record of 6 times!)

With its unique, tight, and twisty circuit layout, comes a set of new challenges. Unlike conventional race tracks where you have multiple opportunities to overtake, the narrow streets of Monaco don't allow that. To win here, a good qualifying session* as well as a good strategy is necessary. Along with that the unpredictable weather and unexpected spells of rain make things more interesting as the ability to drive at 300 Kmph is tested in the wet.

To win here one must have immense talent and know the limits of the car or as Ayrton Senna once said to become one with the car. All the multiple-time winners at Monaco were the greatest drivers to have ever blessed the sport ranging from age-old legends Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher to new talents like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

With all that information you may wonder where amongst the grandstands are there the best seats to watch the race; the answer is there aren't. The best viewing spots in Monaco are not present in the grandstands but are some of the most expensive hotels of the world alongside the streets of Monaco or in a millionaire’s yacht docked in the Monaco harbor. Funny, right? A race that’s not very exciting to watch from the grandstands that were built to watch the race.

The reason behind this, as talked about earlier, is the narrow streets of Monaco. While you’re sitting there waiting for a car to fly by, there isn’t any overtaking happening. The cars pass in the same order in front of you. So, seeing live-action is quite difficult.

What once was a very interesting race has now become a parade show for all the celebrities that attend it from around the world due to the cars that are twice as wide as before. A race once filled with battles and overtakes is now all about glitz and glamour. The FIA** has requested the local authorities to widen the roads and for now, that's the only hope to bring back its old glory (from the racing POV). Till then, head over to the website and look for the blogs that look for you!

*a qualifying session is held one day before the actual race to decide the order in which the drivers will start the race. For more information about the basics and structure of a Grand Prix, check out our article about Formula 1. https://prathameshkapse45.wixsite.com/the-random-blogpost/post/formula-1-the-pinnacle-of-motorsport

**FIA is the governing body for Formula 1 and other motorsports events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.