The Circuit de Monaco, in the Principality of Monaco, is a street circuit that hosts the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix every year. It is considered the most glamorous event of the season.

This weekend’s event is considered the most prestigious of the year, with every corner having its own tale to tell. The race was first held in 1929 and the track layout has hardly changed to this day.

Modifications have been made solely on the grounds of safety or to fit in with changes to the local roads. Space is at a premium so pit facilities are on two floors, with the cars on the ground of course, while the engineers work above them. Cars will tackle the track with the lowest average speed and the slowest corners on the calendar.

Features of the Monaco F1 track

The track surface is slippery and there are plenty of traps to catch out the unwary – manhole covers, painted traffic lines and the bumps that all add to the challenge for man and machine. Teams will opt for a high downforce set-up, on a track where mechanical grip is the most important factor.

The Montecarlo Circuit is also the most demanding for the brakes: the heaviest braking point of the entire circuit is at Ste. Devote, the first right hander after the start. The drivers are subjected to a force in excess of 4.6 negative G, applying a force of 142 kg on the brake pedal to scrub off 220 km/h of speed. Turn 10 is also a tricky one, down hill and bumpy, where it’s easy to lose control of the car.