Formula 1 races are normally full of glamour. From the sleek designs of the car to the remarkable paint job, down to the fancy driver’s suit. You do not get this flair from any other race. While this is true, the Monaco Grand Prix has always managed to take things to a different level. The Monaco GP has always been regarded as a jewel among racers and is one of the most famous tracks of motorsport and together with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans forms the Triple Crown.
So many things make the Monaco GP very popular. First is the fact that it is hosted on the picturesque city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine. The view alone is breathtaking and it continues to be a popular vacation spot for the wealthy. Another thing that contributes to the popularity of the GP is how challenging the circuit is. Circuit de Monaco is, perhaps, the narrowest racing circuit in Formula 1. It is so narrow that Nelson Piquet, three-time Formula One champion, described driving in the streets of Monaco “like trying to bicycle around your living room”. This demands drivers to be extra careful as there have been crashes in the past. What this means is that we might not get to witness much of the Hamilton-Verstappen rivalry we have become used to seeing this season. Besides the streets being narrow, they also feature a lot of twists and turns, highs and lows that just put everyone on edge.
One other thing that makes the race stand out is the glamour that is associated with it. Teams always like to shine best whenever the race comes to Monaco. Red Bull had their first Monaco GP victory in 2006, the year a special livery and Superman suits for the team. They also had characters from the Star Wars movie present at the 2005 race, together with a special livery. This year, team McLaren has unveiled their livery for the race, which has a special, retro look to it with bright orange colours.
The Monaco GP did not hold last year due to the coronavirus pandemic but would return this weekend on May 23.
Written by: Leon Osamor
