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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 84 (from laksa138)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa084.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4553250/2025/05/22/monaco-circuit-track-f1/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4553250/2025/05/22/monaco-circuit-track-f1/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/4553250\/2025\/05\/22\/monaco-circuit-track-f1\/","crawl_time":1773681520,"first_indexed_time":1747945497,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,nytimes!www,\/athletic\/4553250\/2025\/05\/22\/monaco-circuit-track-f1\/ s443","src_root_hash":"4566504020376537684","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Monaco GP track breakdown: F1’s crown jewel of risk, precision and rich history - The Athletic","meta_descriptions":["Fans may dislike the difficulty of overtaking, but the narrow, twisting street track demands the absolute most from drivers."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"The\nMonaco Grand Prix\nis the\nepitome of Formula One.\nThe principality is known as a playground and a haven, attracting tourists and the rich and famous. It may be the world’s second smallest independent state (at 0.76 square miles, barely half the size of New York’s Central Park), but it’s packed with casinos, designer malls and clubs. Each year, when the grand prix rolls around, the harbor fills with yachts as fans prepare for the thrill on track and champagne moments afterward on the podium.\nMonaco’s street track was part of the calendar for F1’s inaugural season in 1950, and it’s kept that place every year since 1955, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.\nThe iconic circuit is narrow, requiring pinpoint accuracy because even being a millimeter off can be a costly error as the drivers navigate around famous buildings, a tight hairpin, and past a slew of yachts. Early races saw the occasional car end up in the harbor; now, fans see costly shunts into the barriers. Overtaking is incredibly difficult (the 2003 race saw zero on-track overtakes), and strategy is critical. Nelson Piquet once\nsaid\ndriving in\nMonaco\nis “like riding a bicycle around your living room.”\nAs the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix kicks off, here’s all you need to know about one of the jewels in F1’s crown.\nSomething of a squeeze\nThough they’ve fluctuated over time, Formula One cars have gotten longer, wider and heavier as the machinery continues to advance, particularly in recent years.\nThe cars’ width increased from approximately 5.9 feet in 2017 to a maximum of 2000mm (6.56 feet) last season. This is around two meters, not counting the tires, which have also widened.\nWhen it comes to tight tracks like Monaco, where the circuit’s space is dictated by its surroundings, the width can present unique challenges as drivers figure out how to navigate areas like the Turn 6 hairpin.\nPoints of interest (with a history lesson)\nThe Monaco GP is part of\nmotorsport’s Triple Crown\n(along with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans) for a reason. It’s 78 laps of pure adrenaline as drivers tackle the 19 turns in the heart of the principality, zipping past the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino, the yacht-filled harbor and more.\nTurn 1: Sainte Dévote\nThe track’s opening turn is a right-hander with a small chapel just beyond the barriers on the left. Expect to see lockups happen here, and cars go straight into the run-off. It’s one of the few places you could see a shuffle in the grid during the opening lap, depending on who gets a better start.\nThe Sainte Dévote Chapel dates to the 11th century and is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco.\nTurn 3: Massenet\nThe cars are at the top of the hill as they enter the tight, quick left-hand turn, one of the highest points of the circuit. This portion of the track runs in front of the opera house, named after French opera composer Jules Massenet.\nTurn 4: Casino Square\nThis is one of the most iconic and recognizable corners on the circuit that even non-motorsports fans may know — the 1995 James Bond film “Golden Eye” includes scenes filmed in the Monte-Carlo Casino. The right-hander takes drivers past the front of the establishment.\nAnother off-track fun fact: Gambling is illegal for Monaco residents. According to the\nBBC\n, Princess Caroline felt the revenue shouldn’t come from Monégasques instead from foreigners. Monaco citizens still get a good deal: they don’t pay income taxes.\nTurn 6: The Hairpin \nThis turn has had a couple of names over the years, including “Loews Hairpin” or the “Fairmont Hairpin,” the latter of which is the name of a famous hotel just outside the corner. Sandwiched between a pair of right-handers, it’s one of the slowest turns on F1’s calendar (think average car speed on a residential road type slow), and if the driver does not hit it correctly, they could turn the track\ninto a typical street with a traffic jam\n.\nTurn 8: Portier\nIt’s well recommended that drivers take the right-hander rather than heading off into the sea as the 20 cars barrel towards the tunnel. This corner is named after a nearby neighborhood, Le Portier.\nThere have been a few infamous crashes here, such as in 1988 when Ayrton Senna’s wreck led to his rival (and teammate) Alain Prost winning. Senna went straight to his Monaco apartment afterward and didn’t contact the team until later that evening. In 2017, Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a nasty-looking collision. Button was competing for McLaren in a one-off appearance and tried to make a move on the inside of Wehrlein’s Sauber. The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Wehrlein later said, per\nSky Sports\n, that his head touched the barrier.\nThen there’s the more recent moment that caused a stir during the 2022 season when Sergio Pérez lost the rear of his car during qualifying and crashed backward into the barrier at Portier.\nTurns 10 and 11: Nouvelle Chicane\nAfter going through the tunnel, drivers are met with a prime overtaking opportunity in front of the yachts. The chicane was reprofiled in the 1980s, changing the name from Chicane du Port to Nouvelle Chicane (which means “new” in French).\nTurn 12: Tabac\nA tobacco shop nestled outside the track gave this lefthander its name. During the 1950 grand prix, a wave crashed into this corner, causing a major pile-up that eliminated a chunk of the grid.\nTurns 13-16: The Swimming Pool section\nThis technical complex requires drivers to tackle two chicanes—the left-to-right Louis Chiron (named after a former Monégasque F1 driver) and a right-to-left sequence that takes them out of the swimming pool section. This latter sequence, Piscine, is a slower portion, as history has seen drivers clip part of the wall on Turn 15, which could break the suspension and\/or send drivers flying into the barriers outside Turn 16.\nMick Schumacher crashed in this section during the 2022 race,\nsplitting his car into two\nwhen he hit the barriers.\nRascasse\nThis reasonably narrow corner is named after a restaurant of the same name (which itself shares a name with the scorpionfish that’s an ingredient in bouillabaisse). The right-hander’s arguably most famous moment came during 2006 qualifying when Michael Schumacher caused a scandal of sorts. The stewards determined the Ferrari driver purposefully parked his car at Rascasse to prevent competitors from improving their times and sent him to the back of the grid for race day.\nVirage Antony Noghes\nFinally, we come to the portion named after the Monaco Grand Prix’s founder. It’s the rare point on the track where two cars can go side-by-side — and have before. In 2010, Michael Schumacher passed Fernando Alonso into this portion right as the safety car was leaving the track (and was subsequently dealt a penalty).\nThe mixed feelings about Monaco\nBut while Monaco is special, the racing product cannot be ignored. Multiple drivers criticized the race last year. Because teams are allowed to change tires during a red flag, most of the grid took the opportunity to make the swap, and the top 10 became a procession, those spots remaining unchanged from start to finish. At one point, Verstappen said over the radio, “F— me, this is boring. Should have brought my pillow.”\nThe 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was a tire management game, and changes have been made heading into this year’s race. There is a required two-stop minimum for Sunday’s race, in hopes of improving the racing product. Monaco’s tight confines mean it’s challenging to overtake, and strategy is important.\nThe World Motor Sport Council said in its February statement: “Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.”\nThough it may sound dramatic, getting through Monaco is a matter of survival. In a tweet last year, Mika Häkkinen, who won the F1 world championship in 1998 and 1999 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1998, acknowledged fans may feel the race is “too predictable” because of the overtaking difficulty. But he argued it’s still a noteworthy grand prix: “For me, it’s the challenge between the driver and the circuit, still unique in #F1.”\nThe current F1 drivers agree. “You need to really nail all of qualifying to get a lap together there, get the tires to work as well when it matters, it’s always very tricky,” Max Verstappen said. “Monaco is very special, I would say, in that sense.”\nhttps:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22085208\/Decades_flipBook_v2_2.mp4\nLando Norris agreed. “It’s a track where you want a good car, but you also just need to commit to everything,” he said. “It’s such a fast circuit. It’s not like you kind of just turn the wheel slowly. You have to commit. You have to judge how close you’re going to get to the apexes and that kind of thing. So there’s a big element of risk. And when that comes into play, it kind of spreads out things a little bit, too.”\nCharles Leclerc — a Monaco native who remembers watching Ferrari’s red car zipping past from his friend’s balcony growing up — detailed a particular approach to his home race. “Monaco is so specific that we need to start a little bit from a blank page. And yeah, free practice is super, super important to build the pace little by little. But I’m confident we’ll be strong. And as I’ve said many times, obviously, it’s the same roads that I took by bus to go to school when I was younger. Now it’s in a Formula One car. So that makes it extra special for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. To be in Monaco, a very special track I think for every driver because it’s a very challenging track and extra special for me, as it’s my home race.”\nMonaco balances risk versus reward — just how far do you push?\n“Most often, it’s just sheer luck,” Lewis Hamilton said last year. “Throw it into the corner and come out with your eyes open. And hopefully you’ve made it round.”\n(Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 —\nlearn more about “F1 25″\nhere\n.)\n(Lead image: Mark Thompson, Darren Health\/Getty Images\n; Design: Drew Jordan)","attrs_markdown":"[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Chelsea's Transfer Ban](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7081285\/2026\/03\/16\/chelsea-transfer-ban-premier-league\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Biggest Football Talking Points](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7120666\/2026\/03\/16\/liverpool-slot-late-goals-dowman-arsenal\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Pressure Mounts on Slot](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7120380\/2026\/03\/16\/arne-slot-liverpool-pressure-fans\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Tottenham's Path to Survival](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7120448\/2026\/03\/16\/tottenham-hotspur-premier-league-richarlison-tudor\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Premier League](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/premier-league\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Champions League](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/champions-league\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)2026 Men's World Cup](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/world-cup\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)F1](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/formula-1\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)Tennis](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/tennis\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=)FA 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Breakdown\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22003419\/0522_MONACO_Update_25-scaled.jpg?width=1920&quality=70&auto=webp)\n\n# Monaco GP track breakdown: F1’s crown jewel of risk, precision and rich history\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27\/%3e)![Madeline Coleman](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/02\/16143010\/Coleman-Madeline-Complete-scaled.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp) ![Madeline Coleman](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/02\/16143010\/Coleman-Madeline-Complete-scaled.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/author\/madeline-coleman\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27\/%3e)![Drew Jordan](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2025\/03\/12103915\/Jordan-Drew-Headshot-031125.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp) ![Drew Jordan](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2025\/03\/12103915\/Jordan-Drew-Headshot-031125.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/author\/drew-jordan\/)\n\nBy\n\n[Madeline Coleman](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/author\/madeline-coleman\/)\n\nand Drew Jordan\n\nMay 22, 2025Updated May 25, 2025\n\nShare full article\n\n78\n\nThe [Monaco Grand Prix](https:\/\/theathletic.com\/tag\/monaco-grand-prix) is the [epitome of Formula One.](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6381189\/2025\/05\/25\/monaco-grand-prix-2025-result-lando-norris-win-mercedes\/)\n\nThe principality is known as a playground and a haven, attracting tourists and the rich and famous. It may be the world’s second smallest independent state (at 0.76 square miles, barely half the size of New York’s Central Park), but it’s packed with casinos, designer malls and clubs. Each year, when the grand prix rolls around, the harbor fills with yachts as fans prepare for the thrill on track and champagne moments afterward on the podium.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nMonaco’s street track was part of the calendar for F1’s inaugural season in 1950, and it’s kept that place every year since 1955, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.\n\nThe iconic circuit is narrow, requiring pinpoint accuracy because even being a millimeter off can be a costly error as the drivers navigate around famous buildings, a tight hairpin, and past a slew of yachts. Early races saw the occasional car end up in the harbor; now, fans see costly shunts into the barriers. Overtaking is incredibly difficult (the 2003 race saw zero on-track overtakes), and strategy is critical. Nelson Piquet once [said](https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/racing\/2023\/Monaco\/Circuit.html) driving in [Monaco](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6379580\/2025\/05\/24\/monaco-gp-qualifying-2025-result\/) is “like riding a bicycle around your living room.”\n\nAs the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix kicks off, here’s all you need to know about one of the jewels in F1’s crown.\n\n[![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22003347\/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif)](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22003347\/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif)\n\n## Something of a squeeze\nThough they’ve fluctuated over time, Formula One cars have gotten longer, wider and heavier as the machinery continues to advance, particularly in recent years.\n\nThe cars’ width increased from approximately 5.9 feet in 2017 to a maximum of 2000mm (6.56 feet) last season. This is around two meters, not counting the tires, which have also widened.\n\nWhen it comes to tight tracks like Monaco, where the circuit’s space is dictated by its surroundings, the width can present unique challenges as drivers figure out how to navigate areas like the Turn 6 hairpin.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172745\/Monaco_circuit_width_v1.png)\n\n## Points of interest (with a history lesson)\nThe Monaco GP is part of [motorsport’s Triple Crown](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/4542786\/2023\/05\/23\/mclaren-triple-crown-livery-heritage-center\/) (along with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans) for a reason. It’s 78 laps of pure adrenaline as drivers tackle the 19 turns in the heart of the principality, zipping past the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino, the yacht-filled harbor and more.\n\n**Turn 1: Sainte Dévote**\n\nThe track’s opening turn is a right-hander with a small chapel just beyond the barriers on the left. Expect to see lockups happen here, and cars go straight into the run-off. It’s one of the few places you could see a shuffle in the grid during the opening lap, depending on who gets a better start.\n\nThe Sainte Dévote Chapel dates to the 11th century and is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172816\/Monaco-Zoom-3_4_v2.gif)\n\n**Turn 3: Massenet**\n\nThe cars are at the top of the hill as they enter the tight, quick left-hand turn, one of the highest points of the circuit. This portion of the track runs in front of the opera house, named after French opera composer Jules Massenet.\n\nAdvertisement\n\n**Turn 4: Casino Square**\n\nThis is one of the most iconic and recognizable corners on the circuit that even non-motorsports fans may know — the 1995 James Bond film “Golden Eye” includes scenes filmed in the Monte-Carlo Casino. The right-hander takes drivers past the front of the establishment.\n\nAnother off-track fun fact: Gambling is illegal for Monaco residents. According to the [BBC](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/article\/20130108-the-high-low-split-of-gambling-cities), Princess Caroline felt the revenue shouldn’t come from Monégasques instead from foreigners. Monaco citizens still get a good deal: they don’t pay income taxes.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172757\/Monaco-ZOOM-5-6-7_v2.gif)\n\n**Turn 6: The Hairpin**\n\nThis turn has had a couple of names over the years, including “Loews Hairpin” or the “Fairmont Hairpin,” the latter of which is the name of a famous hotel just outside the corner. Sandwiched between a pair of right-handers, it’s one of the slowest turns on F1’s calendar (think average car speed on a residential road type slow), and if the driver does not hit it correctly, they could turn the track into a typical street with a traffic jam.\n\n**Turn 8: Portier**\n\nIt’s well recommended that drivers take the right-hander rather than heading off into the sea as the 20 cars barrel towards the tunnel. This corner is named after a nearby neighborhood, Le Portier.\n\nThere have been a few infamous crashes here, such as in 1988 when Ayrton Senna’s wreck led to his rival (and teammate) Alain Prost winning. Senna went straight to his Monaco apartment afterward and didn’t contact the team until later that evening. In 2017, Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a nasty-looking collision. Button was competing for McLaren in a one-off appearance and tried to make a move on the inside of Wehrlein’s Sauber. The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Wehrlein later said, per [Sky Sports](https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/f1\/news\/24180\/10896151\/jenson-button-and-pascal-wehrleins-crash-at-the-monaco-gp), that his head touched the barrier.\n\nThen there’s the more recent moment that caused a stir during the 2022 season when Sergio Pérez lost the rear of his car during qualifying and crashed backward into the barrier at Portier.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172806\/Monaco-ZOOM-9-10-11_v2.gif)\n\n**Turns 10 and 11: Nouvelle Chicane**\n\nAfter going through the tunnel, drivers are met with a prime overtaking opportunity in front of the yachts. The chicane was reprofiled in the 1980s, changing the name from Chicane du Port to Nouvelle Chicane (which means “new” in French).\n\nAdvertisement\n\n**Turn 12: Tabac**\n\nA tobacco shop nestled outside the track gave this lefthander its name. During the 1950 grand prix, a wave crashed into this corner, causing a major pile-up that eliminated a chunk of the grid.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172739\/Monaco-ZOOM-13-16_v3.gif)\n\n**Turns 13-16: The Swimming Pool section**\n\nThis technical complex requires drivers to tackle two chicanes—the left-to-right Louis Chiron (named after a former Monégasque F1 driver) and a right-to-left sequence that takes them out of the swimming pool section. This latter sequence, Piscine, is a slower portion, as history has seen drivers clip part of the wall on Turn 15, which could break the suspension and\/or send drivers flying into the barriers outside Turn 16.\n\nMick Schumacher crashed in this section during the 2022 race, [splitting his car into two](https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/latest\/article.must-see-schumacher-walks-away-from-massive-piscine-crash.3iEvlv73FOsej6AyLot7y1.html) when he hit the barriers.\n\n**Rascasse**\n\nThis reasonably narrow corner is named after a restaurant of the same name (which itself shares a name with the scorpionfish that’s an ingredient in bouillabaisse). The right-hander’s arguably most famous moment came during 2006 qualifying when Michael Schumacher caused a scandal of sorts. The stewards determined the Ferrari driver purposefully parked his car at Rascasse to prevent competitors from improving their times and sent him to the back of the grid for race day.\n\n**Virage Antony Noghes**\n\nFinally, we come to the portion named after the Monaco Grand Prix’s founder. It’s the rare point on the track where two cars can go side-by-side — and have before. In 2010, Michael Schumacher passed Fernando Alonso into this portion right as the safety car was leaving the track (and was subsequently dealt a penalty).\n\n## The mixed feelings about Monaco\nBut while Monaco is special, the racing product cannot be ignored. Multiple drivers criticized the race last year. Because teams are allowed to change tires during a red flag, most of the grid took the opportunity to make the swap, and the top 10 became a procession, those spots remaining unchanged from start to finish. At one point, Verstappen said over the radio, “F— me, this is boring. Should have brought my pillow.”\n\nThe 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was a tire management game, and changes have been made heading into this year’s race. There is a required two-stop minimum for Sunday’s race, in hopes of improving the racing product. Monaco’s tight confines mean it’s challenging to overtake, and strategy is important.\n\nAdvertisement\n\nThe World Motor Sport Council said in its February statement: “Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.”\n\nThough it may sound dramatic, getting through Monaco is a matter of survival. In a tweet last year, Mika Häkkinen, who won the F1 world championship in 1998 and 1999 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1998, acknowledged fans may feel the race is “too predictable” because of the overtaking difficulty. But he argued it’s still a noteworthy grand prix: “For me, it’s the challenge between the driver and the circuit, still unique in \\#F1.”\n\nThe current F1 drivers agree. “You need to really nail all of qualifying to get a lap together there, get the tires to work as well when it matters, it’s always very tricky,” Max Verstappen said. “Monaco is very special, I would say, in that sense.”\n\n<https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22085208\/Decades_flipBook_v2_2.mp4>\n\nLando Norris agreed. “It’s a track where you want a good car, but you also just need to commit to everything,” he said. “It’s such a fast circuit. It’s not like you kind of just turn the wheel slowly. You have to commit. You have to judge how close you’re going to get to the apexes and that kind of thing. So there’s a big element of risk. And when that comes into play, it kind of spreads out things a little bit, too.”\n\nCharles Leclerc — a Monaco native who remembers watching Ferrari’s red car zipping past from his friend’s balcony growing up — detailed a particular approach to his home race. “Monaco is so specific that we need to start a little bit from a blank page. And yeah, free practice is super, super important to build the pace little by little. But I’m confident we’ll be strong. And as I’ve said many times, obviously, it’s the same roads that I took by bus to go to school when I was younger. Now it’s in a Formula One car. So that makes it extra special for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. To be in Monaco, a very special track I think for every driver because it’s a very challenging track and extra special for me, as it’s my home race.”\n\nMonaco balances risk versus reward — just how far do you push?\n\n“Most often, it’s just sheer luck,” Lewis Hamilton said last year. “Throw it into the corner and come out with your eyes open. And hopefully you’ve made it round.”\n\n*(Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 —* *learn more about “F1 25″ [here](https:\/\/www.ea.com\/games\/f1\/f1-25)**.)*\n\n*(Lead image: Mark Thompson, Darren Health\/Getty Images**; Design: Drew Jordan)*\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27\/%3e)![Madeline Coleman](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/02\/16143010\/Coleman-Madeline-Complete-scaled.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/author\/madeline-coleman\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27\/%3e)![Drew Jordan](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2025\/03\/12103915\/Jordan-Drew-Headshot-031125.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/author\/drew-jordan\/)\n\nBy\n\n[Madeline Coleman](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/author\/madeline-coleman\/)\n\nand Drew Jordan\n\nTagged To:\n\n[Monaco Grand Prix](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/tag\/monaco-grand-prix\/)\n\n[F1 track breakdown](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/tag\/f1-track-breakdown\/)\n\n[2023 Monaco Grand Prix](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/tag\/2023-monaco-grand-prix\/)\n\n[Formula 1](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/formula-1\/)\n\n[Motorsports](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/motorsports\/)\n\n\\+ more\n\nYour Next Read\n\n[F1 mailbag: Solving Monaco’s racing problem, and when Charles Leclerc might win again](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6383779\/2025\/05\/27\/f1-mailbag-tmonaco-gp-charles-leclerc\/)\n\n[Lando Norris won the Monaco GP with ‘cold blood’ to reignite his F1 title charge](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6381652\/2025\/05\/26\/lando-norris-monaco-gp-f1-championship\/)\n\n[Monaco’s F1 racing ‘fix’ missed the mark — and drivers say the real issues got louder](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6381491\/2025\/05\/25\/monaco-gp-driver-reactions-f1\/)\n\nLatest League Stories\n\n[Max Verstappen calls those enjoying F1's new racing style 'not real' fans](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7119613\/2026\/03\/15\/max-verstappen-f1-racing-2026-red-bull\/)\n\n[Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs canceled due to Middle East conflict](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7116058\/2026\/03\/14\/bahrain-saudi-grand-prix-canceled-f1\/)\n\n[Max Verstappen calls his 2026 F1 car 'undriveable' at the Chinese GP](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7117518\/2026\/03\/14\/max-verstappen-2026-f1-car-red-bull\/)\n\nLatest headlines\n\n[Chelsea handed suspended transfer ban, £10m fine for breaching PL rules](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7081285\/2026\/03\/16\/chelsea-transfer-ban-premier-league\/)\n\n[Arsenal's Odegaard could be available for Carabao Cup final, says Arteta](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7122579\/2026\/03\/16\/martin-odegaard-arsenal-carabao-cup-final\/)\n\n[Rosenior hints Chelsea will stop doing pre-game huddle over match ball](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7122334\/2026\/03\/16\/chelsea-huddle-ball-liam-rosenior\/)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNiIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxMCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDI0IDI0IiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPgo8cGF0aCBkPSJNMjQgMS45NTU1OUwxMC41MjQ3IDIxTDAgMTMuMjczTDEuOTYwMzEgMTAuNTUyTDkuNzY2NDggMTYuMjgzMUwyMS4yODc5IDBMMjQgMS45NTU1OVoiIGZpbGw9IiMwMDAwMDAiPjwvcGF0aD4KPC9zdmc+Cg==)\n\n![Connections: Sports Edition Logo](data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAASAAAAEgCAMAAAAjXV6yAAAA0lBMVEUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/v7+\/f39\/Pz8+\/v7+gw1qWt1WWt1SgoKCfn5+Mq0+Mqk+QkJCCn0qCn0mCnkqCnkl4kkSAgIBwcHBkejlkejhabjNabjJgYGBQYi1QYS1QUFBGVidGVShGVSc8SiI8SSJAQEAyPR0yPRwwMDAoMRceJRIeJREeJBEgICAUGQwUGQsUGAsQEBAKDQYKDAYKDAVRd1CXAAAAFXRSTlP\/ABAgMEBQYG9wgI+Qn6CvsL\/P3+959xIgAAAEn0lEQVR42u3c4VYaVxSG4e8wDlRlsHBGTUYb0qaJialoWtE6tRBR7v+WupbaOHuGwYRl4oLzvlcAz9r7\/NsjN6eotZn0fKrVzXe3NpqRm5NcTY048QoknzS\/FSjeTBVUaRJ\/A1DcVYD1WjOB4HnIN78CKOoq4JLoMaCfUgWdb80FaiQKvs1GPVDUw0fyUR1Q5NGxQhZoLcXmLr9WAGJ+ZpRGD0D41G2ZBWrgY+o1SkCbqun6cvhDymU6OVokmcbDx\/o7v1ZNiQVqaWb5x9fZD+pQppfbiyTTMPuK3n7INbP1e6D6B+j6eC8zrQ6QrX88nvlQF4ASVTM8KwhkiVSt+wDUVKV\/3mTZigNZorEqxV+AvMr9uZcFAGT6a\/YIaeYLfZxlwQFlxyoX3wP1qj4hAlWFundAcWW\/sjCBqlsW3wIlso2zUIH2L2Vr3wKlsvWDBcreypY2nFyz8gCFC5QNKjum8oaN+yED7d\/IlDg5Xx6gcIGqI+SdItn6YQPtyxapKVOehQ2U5TK1tCHTh9CBPsrU1pZMv4cO1JcpUVfFbrLQgbIbFevJq1gO0KWKednOATpVsVS2IUAWSAABBBBAAAEEEEAAAQQQQAABBBBAAAEEEEAAAQQQQAABBBBAAAEEEEAAAQRQMEBX+XN1JdPF2SI9xZ+ZchNPREREREREy9X156VOpslokSaa1zBb6mQ62l6kI4AAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAPquQOfvljqZTl4u0hm370REREREREQrVX64SLmKTV4t0pFMg8PnKpft6b+TP9pepFcyvcueq1OAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAD6rkDTz4s0lRVapEn5hzxXU27fiYiIiIiIaLmanC3SSKZ8qRvL9vTfyb\/KlrpTgAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAggggAACCCCAAAIIIIAAAigYoBQg27lsXsUuAMpLPD0VmwB0o2JddWTaDR3oN5l+VlumX0MHOpRpQy2ZzkIHymVqKpJtJ2ygvmyRnJfpIGyggUzeyXVkmuyEDNS\/kilxcrFsByEDDWRrOrlGKtuLcIH6sqXOybm2bBc7wQJdyZbcAsUq9T5UoE8qFd8Cua5KHYQJNFCpnrsDilURChCo6qPWPVB1hPQ+OKC9Tyrn3f9AsSqNdsMCevOvKjW\/ALmuqh3shgO0N1C1xD0ARamqjQzRigFZnqmq+agA5NY1s7NfXqw60Os\/cs2s5YpArlN\/B31y9FgjFbsZLk+XU9XUdhao0eMmvphvlIBc5FExD1AZyEUpLsanDOTWmKH70jVngNiyyvwUgRAq1YtcHZBrtPHpNJwFsrW8gi5ddza5UlFHAdeNXAWoUtMHyxM7VwNka\/XgMUDV4k6qoErbhscA1dTseAWST+KGq0luTlFzY6u7ykyp7yXtVjTP4D\/6awC5wZMmhQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==)\n\n![Connections: Sports Edition Logo](data:image\/png;base64,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)\n\nMar 16, 2026\n\n## Connections: Sports Edition\nSpot the pattern. Connect the terms\n\nFind the hidden link between sports terms\n\nPlay today's puzzle\n\nCOMMENTS\n\n78\n\nS\n\nSaad K.\n\n· May 27, 2023\n\nFantastic piece! Enjoyed the interactive infographics - keep using them\\!\n***\n\nB\n\nBe R.\n\n· May 27, 2023\n\nThank you. Best article on Monaco this week. It really helps one appreciate the technical nature and challenges of navigating the many turns. Love that you've put them in their historical context as well. Monaco is all about qualifying and I do look forward to that.\n***\n\nM\n\nMarc A.\n\n· May 27, 2023\n\nQualifying is fun to watch, but everything after that is pointless...\n\nView all comments\n\nNational\n\n[Boxing](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/boxing\/)\n\n[Bundesliga](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/bundesliga\/)\n\n[Champions League](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/champions-league\/)\n\n[Championship](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/efl-championship\/)\n\n[College Football](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/college-football\/)\n\n[College Sports](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/college-sports\/)\n\n[Copa America](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/football\/copa-america\/)\n\n[Copa del 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![Facebook](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/fb-gray.png?width=48&quality=70&format=auto)](https:\/\/facebook.com\/TheAthleticFC)\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2718%27%20height=%2718%27\/%3e)![Instagram](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/ig-gray.png?width=48&quality=70&format=auto) ![Instagram](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/ig-gray.png?width=48&quality=70&format=auto)](https:\/\/instagram.com\/theathleticfc\/)\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27100%27%20height=%2730%27\/%3e)![Download on the App Store](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/appstore-ios.png?width=256&quality=70&format=auto) ![Download on the App Store](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/appstore-ios.png?width=256&quality=70&format=auto)](https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/the-athletic-sports-news\/id1135216317)\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27100%27%20height=%2730%27\/%3e)![Get it on Google Play](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/appstore-android.png?width=256&quality=70&format=auto) ![Get it on Google Play](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/logos\/team\/appstore-android.png?width=256&quality=70&format=auto)](https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.theathletic)","attrs_readable_markdown":"The [Monaco Grand Prix](https:\/\/theathletic.com\/tag\/monaco-grand-prix) is the [epitome of Formula One.](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6381189\/2025\/05\/25\/monaco-grand-prix-2025-result-lando-norris-win-mercedes\/)\n\nThe principality is known as a playground and a haven, attracting tourists and the rich and famous. It may be the world’s second smallest independent state (at 0.76 square miles, barely half the size of New York’s Central Park), but it’s packed with casinos, designer malls and clubs. Each year, when the grand prix rolls around, the harbor fills with yachts as fans prepare for the thrill on track and champagne moments afterward on the podium.\n\nMonaco’s street track was part of the calendar for F1’s inaugural season in 1950, and it’s kept that place every year since 1955, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.\n\nThe iconic circuit is narrow, requiring pinpoint accuracy because even being a millimeter off can be a costly error as the drivers navigate around famous buildings, a tight hairpin, and past a slew of yachts. Early races saw the occasional car end up in the harbor; now, fans see costly shunts into the barriers. Overtaking is incredibly difficult (the 2003 race saw zero on-track overtakes), and strategy is critical. Nelson Piquet once [said](https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/racing\/2023\/Monaco\/Circuit.html) driving in [Monaco](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6379580\/2025\/05\/24\/monaco-gp-qualifying-2025-result\/) is “like riding a bicycle around your living room.”\n\nAs the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix kicks off, here’s all you need to know about one of the jewels in F1’s crown.\n\n[![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22003347\/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif)](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22003347\/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif)\n\n## Something of a squeeze\nThough they’ve fluctuated over time, Formula One cars have gotten longer, wider and heavier as the machinery continues to advance, particularly in recent years.\n\nThe cars’ width increased from approximately 5.9 feet in 2017 to a maximum of 2000mm (6.56 feet) last season. This is around two meters, not counting the tires, which have also widened.\n\nWhen it comes to tight tracks like Monaco, where the circuit’s space is dictated by its surroundings, the width can present unique challenges as drivers figure out how to navigate areas like the Turn 6 hairpin.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172745\/Monaco_circuit_width_v1.png)\n\n## Points of interest (with a history lesson)\nThe Monaco GP is part of [motorsport’s Triple Crown](https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/4542786\/2023\/05\/23\/mclaren-triple-crown-livery-heritage-center\/) (along with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans) for a reason. It’s 78 laps of pure adrenaline as drivers tackle the 19 turns in the heart of the principality, zipping past the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino, the yacht-filled harbor and more.\n\n**Turn 1: Sainte Dévote**\n\nThe track’s opening turn is a right-hander with a small chapel just beyond the barriers on the left. Expect to see lockups happen here, and cars go straight into the run-off. It’s one of the few places you could see a shuffle in the grid during the opening lap, depending on who gets a better start.\n\nThe Sainte Dévote Chapel dates to the 11th century and is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172816\/Monaco-Zoom-3_4_v2.gif)\n\n**Turn 3: Massenet**\n\nThe cars are at the top of the hill as they enter the tight, quick left-hand turn, one of the highest points of the circuit. This portion of the track runs in front of the opera house, named after French opera composer Jules Massenet.\n\n**Turn 4: Casino Square**\n\nThis is one of the most iconic and recognizable corners on the circuit that even non-motorsports fans may know — the 1995 James Bond film “Golden Eye” includes scenes filmed in the Monte-Carlo Casino. The right-hander takes drivers past the front of the establishment.\n\nAnother off-track fun fact: Gambling is illegal for Monaco residents. According to the [BBC](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/article\/20130108-the-high-low-split-of-gambling-cities), Princess Caroline felt the revenue shouldn’t come from Monégasques instead from foreigners. Monaco citizens still get a good deal: they don’t pay income taxes.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172757\/Monaco-ZOOM-5-6-7_v2.gif)\n\n**Turn 6: The Hairpin**\n\nThis turn has had a couple of names over the years, including “Loews Hairpin” or the “Fairmont Hairpin,” the latter of which is the name of a famous hotel just outside the corner. Sandwiched between a pair of right-handers, it’s one of the slowest turns on F1’s calendar (think average car speed on a residential road type slow), and if the driver does not hit it correctly, they could turn the track into a typical street with a traffic jam.\n\n**Turn 8: Portier**\n\nIt’s well recommended that drivers take the right-hander rather than heading off into the sea as the 20 cars barrel towards the tunnel. This corner is named after a nearby neighborhood, Le Portier.\n\nThere have been a few infamous crashes here, such as in 1988 when Ayrton Senna’s wreck led to his rival (and teammate) Alain Prost winning. Senna went straight to his Monaco apartment afterward and didn’t contact the team until later that evening. In 2017, Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a nasty-looking collision. Button was competing for McLaren in a one-off appearance and tried to make a move on the inside of Wehrlein’s Sauber. The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Wehrlein later said, per [Sky Sports](https:\/\/www.skysports.com\/f1\/news\/24180\/10896151\/jenson-button-and-pascal-wehrleins-crash-at-the-monaco-gp), that his head touched the barrier.\n\nThen there’s the more recent moment that caused a stir during the 2022 season when Sergio Pérez lost the rear of his car during qualifying and crashed backward into the barrier at Portier.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172806\/Monaco-ZOOM-9-10-11_v2.gif)\n\n**Turns 10 and 11: Nouvelle Chicane**\n\nAfter going through the tunnel, drivers are met with a prime overtaking opportunity in front of the yachts. The chicane was reprofiled in the 1980s, changing the name from Chicane du Port to Nouvelle Chicane (which means “new” in French).\n\n**Turn 12: Tabac**\n\nA tobacco shop nestled outside the track gave this lefthander its name. During the 1950 grand prix, a wave crashed into this corner, causing a major pile-up that eliminated a chunk of the grid.\n\n![](https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2023\/05\/26172739\/Monaco-ZOOM-13-16_v3.gif)\n\n**Turns 13-16: The Swimming Pool section**\n\nThis technical complex requires drivers to tackle two chicanes—the left-to-right Louis Chiron (named after a former Monégasque F1 driver) and a right-to-left sequence that takes them out of the swimming pool section. This latter sequence, Piscine, is a slower portion, as history has seen drivers clip part of the wall on Turn 15, which could break the suspension and\/or send drivers flying into the barriers outside Turn 16.\n\nMick Schumacher crashed in this section during the 2022 race, [splitting his car into two](https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/latest\/article.must-see-schumacher-walks-away-from-massive-piscine-crash.3iEvlv73FOsej6AyLot7y1.html) when he hit the barriers.\n\n**Rascasse**\n\nThis reasonably narrow corner is named after a restaurant of the same name (which itself shares a name with the scorpionfish that’s an ingredient in bouillabaisse). The right-hander’s arguably most famous moment came during 2006 qualifying when Michael Schumacher caused a scandal of sorts. The stewards determined the Ferrari driver purposefully parked his car at Rascasse to prevent competitors from improving their times and sent him to the back of the grid for race day.\n\n**Virage Antony Noghes**\n\nFinally, we come to the portion named after the Monaco Grand Prix’s founder. It’s the rare point on the track where two cars can go side-by-side — and have before. In 2010, Michael Schumacher passed Fernando Alonso into this portion right as the safety car was leaving the track (and was subsequently dealt a penalty).\n\n## The mixed feelings about Monaco\nBut while Monaco is special, the racing product cannot be ignored. Multiple drivers criticized the race last year. Because teams are allowed to change tires during a red flag, most of the grid took the opportunity to make the swap, and the top 10 became a procession, those spots remaining unchanged from start to finish. At one point, Verstappen said over the radio, “F— me, this is boring. Should have brought my pillow.”\n\nThe 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was a tire management game, and changes have been made heading into this year’s race. There is a required two-stop minimum for Sunday’s race, in hopes of improving the racing product. Monaco’s tight confines mean it’s challenging to overtake, and strategy is important.\n\nThe World Motor Sport Council said in its February statement: “Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.”\n\nThough it may sound dramatic, getting through Monaco is a matter of survival. In a tweet last year, Mika Häkkinen, who won the F1 world championship in 1998 and 1999 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1998, acknowledged fans may feel the race is “too predictable” because of the overtaking difficulty. But he argued it’s still a noteworthy grand prix: “For me, it’s the challenge between the driver and the circuit, still unique in \\#F1.”\n\nThe current F1 drivers agree. “You need to really nail all of qualifying to get a lap together there, get the tires to work as well when it matters, it’s always very tricky,” Max Verstappen said. “Monaco is very special, I would say, in that sense.”\n\n<https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/05\/22085208\/Decades_flipBook_v2_2.mp4>\n\nLando Norris agreed. “It’s a track where you want a good car, but you also just need to commit to everything,” he said. “It’s such a fast circuit. It’s not like you kind of just turn the wheel slowly. You have to commit. You have to judge how close you’re going to get to the apexes and that kind of thing. So there’s a big element of risk. And when that comes into play, it kind of spreads out things a little bit, too.”\n\nCharles Leclerc — a Monaco native who remembers watching Ferrari’s red car zipping past from his friend’s balcony growing up — detailed a particular approach to his home race. “Monaco is so specific that we need to start a little bit from a blank page. And yeah, free practice is super, super important to build the pace little by little. But I’m confident we’ll be strong. And as I’ve said many times, obviously, it’s the same roads that I took by bus to go to school when I was younger. Now it’s in a Formula One car. So that makes it extra special for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. To be in Monaco, a very special track I think for every driver because it’s a very challenging track and extra special for me, as it’s my home race.”\n\nMonaco balances risk versus reward — just how far do you push?\n\n“Most often, it’s just sheer luck,” Lewis Hamilton said last year. “Throw it into the corner and come out with your eyes open. And hopefully you’ve made it round.”\n\n*(Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 —* *learn more about “F1 25″ [here](https:\/\/www.ea.com\/games\/f1\/f1-25)**.)*\n\n*(Lead image: Mark Thompson, Darren Health\/Getty Images**; Design: Drew Jordan)*","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Sports\":998,\"\/Sports\/Motor_Sports\":994,\"\/Sports\/Motor_Sports\/Auto_Racing\":987}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":999,\"\/Article\/Story\":430}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":1748201539,"attrs_original_publish_time":1747945497,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"2486","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"1751","body_ext_links_number":16,"body_int_links_number":196,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":1,"props_was_rendered":1,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":1377,"download_ttfb_msec":1301,"download_size":51816}

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Monaco GP track breakdown: F1’s crown jewel of risk, precision and rich history - The Athletic

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The Monaco Grand Prix is the epitome of Formula One. The principality is known as a playground and a haven, attracting tourists and the rich and famous. It may be the world’s second smallest independent state (at 0.76 square miles, barely half the size of New York’s Central Park), but it’s packed with casinos, designer malls and clubs. Each year, when the grand prix rolls around, the harbor fills with yachts as fans prepare for the thrill on track and champagne moments afterward on the podium. Monaco’s street track was part of the calendar for F1’s inaugural season in 1950, and it’s kept that place every year since 1955, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The iconic circuit is narrow, requiring pinpoint accuracy because even being a millimeter off can be a costly error as the drivers navigate around famous buildings, a tight hairpin, and past a slew of yachts. Early races saw the occasional car end up in the harbor; now, fans see costly shunts into the barriers. Overtaking is incredibly difficult (the 2003 race saw zero on-track overtakes), and strategy is critical. Nelson Piquet once said driving in Monaco is “like riding a bicycle around your living room.” As the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix kicks off, here’s all you need to know about one of the jewels in F1’s crown. Something of a squeeze Though they’ve fluctuated over time, Formula One cars have gotten longer, wider and heavier as the machinery continues to advance, particularly in recent years. The cars’ width increased from approximately 5.9 feet in 2017 to a maximum of 2000mm (6.56 feet) last season. This is around two meters, not counting the tires, which have also widened. When it comes to tight tracks like Monaco, where the circuit’s space is dictated by its surroundings, the width can present unique challenges as drivers figure out how to navigate areas like the Turn 6 hairpin. Points of interest (with a history lesson) The Monaco GP is part of motorsport’s Triple Crown (along with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans) for a reason. It’s 78 laps of pure adrenaline as drivers tackle the 19 turns in the heart of the principality, zipping past the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino, the yacht-filled harbor and more. Turn 1: Sainte Dévote The track’s opening turn is a right-hander with a small chapel just beyond the barriers on the left. Expect to see lockups happen here, and cars go straight into the run-off. It’s one of the few places you could see a shuffle in the grid during the opening lap, depending on who gets a better start. The Sainte Dévote Chapel dates to the 11th century and is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco. Turn 3: Massenet The cars are at the top of the hill as they enter the tight, quick left-hand turn, one of the highest points of the circuit. This portion of the track runs in front of the opera house, named after French opera composer Jules Massenet. Turn 4: Casino Square This is one of the most iconic and recognizable corners on the circuit that even non-motorsports fans may know — the 1995 James Bond film “Golden Eye” includes scenes filmed in the Monte-Carlo Casino. The right-hander takes drivers past the front of the establishment. Another off-track fun fact: Gambling is illegal for Monaco residents. According to the BBC , Princess Caroline felt the revenue shouldn’t come from Monégasques instead from foreigners. Monaco citizens still get a good deal: they don’t pay income taxes. Turn 6: The Hairpin This turn has had a couple of names over the years, including “Loews Hairpin” or the “Fairmont Hairpin,” the latter of which is the name of a famous hotel just outside the corner. Sandwiched between a pair of right-handers, it’s one of the slowest turns on F1’s calendar (think average car speed on a residential road type slow), and if the driver does not hit it correctly, they could turn the track into a typical street with a traffic jam . Turn 8: Portier It’s well recommended that drivers take the right-hander rather than heading off into the sea as the 20 cars barrel towards the tunnel. This corner is named after a nearby neighborhood, Le Portier. There have been a few infamous crashes here, such as in 1988 when Ayrton Senna’s wreck led to his rival (and teammate) Alain Prost winning. Senna went straight to his Monaco apartment afterward and didn’t contact the team until later that evening. In 2017, Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a nasty-looking collision. Button was competing for McLaren in a one-off appearance and tried to make a move on the inside of Wehrlein’s Sauber. The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Wehrlein later said, per Sky Sports , that his head touched the barrier. Then there’s the more recent moment that caused a stir during the 2022 season when Sergio Pérez lost the rear of his car during qualifying and crashed backward into the barrier at Portier. Turns 10 and 11: Nouvelle Chicane After going through the tunnel, drivers are met with a prime overtaking opportunity in front of the yachts. The chicane was reprofiled in the 1980s, changing the name from Chicane du Port to Nouvelle Chicane (which means “new” in French). Turn 12: Tabac A tobacco shop nestled outside the track gave this lefthander its name. During the 1950 grand prix, a wave crashed into this corner, causing a major pile-up that eliminated a chunk of the grid. Turns 13-16: The Swimming Pool section This technical complex requires drivers to tackle two chicanes—the left-to-right Louis Chiron (named after a former Monégasque F1 driver) and a right-to-left sequence that takes them out of the swimming pool section. This latter sequence, Piscine, is a slower portion, as history has seen drivers clip part of the wall on Turn 15, which could break the suspension and/or send drivers flying into the barriers outside Turn 16. Mick Schumacher crashed in this section during the 2022 race, splitting his car into two when he hit the barriers. Rascasse This reasonably narrow corner is named after a restaurant of the same name (which itself shares a name with the scorpionfish that’s an ingredient in bouillabaisse). The right-hander’s arguably most famous moment came during 2006 qualifying when Michael Schumacher caused a scandal of sorts. The stewards determined the Ferrari driver purposefully parked his car at Rascasse to prevent competitors from improving their times and sent him to the back of the grid for race day. Virage Antony Noghes Finally, we come to the portion named after the Monaco Grand Prix’s founder. It’s the rare point on the track where two cars can go side-by-side — and have before. In 2010, Michael Schumacher passed Fernando Alonso into this portion right as the safety car was leaving the track (and was subsequently dealt a penalty). The mixed feelings about Monaco But while Monaco is special, the racing product cannot be ignored. Multiple drivers criticized the race last year. Because teams are allowed to change tires during a red flag, most of the grid took the opportunity to make the swap, and the top 10 became a procession, those spots remaining unchanged from start to finish. At one point, Verstappen said over the radio, “F— me, this is boring. Should have brought my pillow.” The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was a tire management game, and changes have been made heading into this year’s race. There is a required two-stop minimum for Sunday’s race, in hopes of improving the racing product. Monaco’s tight confines mean it’s challenging to overtake, and strategy is important. The World Motor Sport Council said in its February statement: “Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.” Though it may sound dramatic, getting through Monaco is a matter of survival. In a tweet last year, Mika Häkkinen, who won the F1 world championship in 1998 and 1999 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1998, acknowledged fans may feel the race is “too predictable” because of the overtaking difficulty. But he argued it’s still a noteworthy grand prix: “For me, it’s the challenge between the driver and the circuit, still unique in #F1.” The current F1 drivers agree. “You need to really nail all of qualifying to get a lap together there, get the tires to work as well when it matters, it’s always very tricky,” Max Verstappen said. “Monaco is very special, I would say, in that sense.” https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22085208/Decades_flipBook_v2_2.mp4 Lando Norris agreed. “It’s a track where you want a good car, but you also just need to commit to everything,” he said. “It’s such a fast circuit. It’s not like you kind of just turn the wheel slowly. You have to commit. You have to judge how close you’re going to get to the apexes and that kind of thing. So there’s a big element of risk. And when that comes into play, it kind of spreads out things a little bit, too.” Charles Leclerc — a Monaco native who remembers watching Ferrari’s red car zipping past from his friend’s balcony growing up — detailed a particular approach to his home race. “Monaco is so specific that we need to start a little bit from a blank page. And yeah, free practice is super, super important to build the pace little by little. But I’m confident we’ll be strong. And as I’ve said many times, obviously, it’s the same roads that I took by bus to go to school when I was younger. Now it’s in a Formula One car. So that makes it extra special for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. To be in Monaco, a very special track I think for every driver because it’s a very challenging track and extra special for me, as it’s my home race.” Monaco balances risk versus reward — just how far do you push? “Most often, it’s just sheer luck,” Lewis Hamilton said last year. “Throw it into the corner and come out with your eyes open. And hopefully you’ve made it round.” (Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 — learn more about “F1 25″ here .) (Lead image: Mark Thompson, Darren Health/Getty Images ; Design: Drew Jordan)

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Continue F Monaco Grand Prix [Lando Norris Wins](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381189/2025/05/25/monaco-grand-prix-2025-result-lando-norris-win-mercedes/) [Reigniting a Title Charge](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381652/2025/05/26/lando-norris-monaco-gp-f1-championship/) [Monaco ‘Fix’ Missed the Mark](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381491/2025/05/25/monaco-gp-driver-reactions-f1/) Track Breakdown ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22003419/0522_MONACO_Update_25-scaled.jpg?width=1920&quality=70&auto=webp) # Monaco GP track breakdown: F1’s crown jewel of risk, precision and rich history [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27/%3e)![Madeline Coleman](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/02/16143010/Coleman-Madeline-Complete-scaled.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp) ![Madeline Coleman](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/02/16143010/Coleman-Madeline-Complete-scaled.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/madeline-coleman/) [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27/%3e)![Drew Jordan](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/03/12103915/Jordan-Drew-Headshot-031125.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp) ![Drew Jordan](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/03/12103915/Jordan-Drew-Headshot-031125.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/drew-jordan/) By [Madeline Coleman](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/madeline-coleman/) and Drew Jordan May 22, 2025Updated May 25, 2025 Share full article 78 The [Monaco Grand Prix](https://theathletic.com/tag/monaco-grand-prix) is the [epitome of Formula One.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381189/2025/05/25/monaco-grand-prix-2025-result-lando-norris-win-mercedes/) The principality is known as a playground and a haven, attracting tourists and the rich and famous. It may be the world’s second smallest independent state (at 0.76 square miles, barely half the size of New York’s Central Park), but it’s packed with casinos, designer malls and clubs. Each year, when the grand prix rolls around, the harbor fills with yachts as fans prepare for the thrill on track and champagne moments afterward on the podium. Advertisement Monaco’s street track was part of the calendar for F1’s inaugural season in 1950, and it’s kept that place every year since 1955, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The iconic circuit is narrow, requiring pinpoint accuracy because even being a millimeter off can be a costly error as the drivers navigate around famous buildings, a tight hairpin, and past a slew of yachts. Early races saw the occasional car end up in the harbor; now, fans see costly shunts into the barriers. Overtaking is incredibly difficult (the 2003 race saw zero on-track overtakes), and strategy is critical. Nelson Piquet once [said](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/Monaco/Circuit.html) driving in [Monaco](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6379580/2025/05/24/monaco-gp-qualifying-2025-result/) is “like riding a bicycle around your living room.” As the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix kicks off, here’s all you need to know about one of the jewels in F1’s crown. [![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22003347/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif)](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22003347/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif) ## Something of a squeeze Though they’ve fluctuated over time, Formula One cars have gotten longer, wider and heavier as the machinery continues to advance, particularly in recent years. The cars’ width increased from approximately 5.9 feet in 2017 to a maximum of 2000mm (6.56 feet) last season. This is around two meters, not counting the tires, which have also widened. When it comes to tight tracks like Monaco, where the circuit’s space is dictated by its surroundings, the width can present unique challenges as drivers figure out how to navigate areas like the Turn 6 hairpin. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172745/Monaco_circuit_width_v1.png) ## Points of interest (with a history lesson) The Monaco GP is part of [motorsport’s Triple Crown](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4542786/2023/05/23/mclaren-triple-crown-livery-heritage-center/) (along with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans) for a reason. It’s 78 laps of pure adrenaline as drivers tackle the 19 turns in the heart of the principality, zipping past the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino, the yacht-filled harbor and more. **Turn 1: Sainte Dévote** The track’s opening turn is a right-hander with a small chapel just beyond the barriers on the left. Expect to see lockups happen here, and cars go straight into the run-off. It’s one of the few places you could see a shuffle in the grid during the opening lap, depending on who gets a better start. The Sainte Dévote Chapel dates to the 11th century and is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172816/Monaco-Zoom-3_4_v2.gif) **Turn 3: Massenet** The cars are at the top of the hill as they enter the tight, quick left-hand turn, one of the highest points of the circuit. This portion of the track runs in front of the opera house, named after French opera composer Jules Massenet. Advertisement **Turn 4: Casino Square** This is one of the most iconic and recognizable corners on the circuit that even non-motorsports fans may know — the 1995 James Bond film “Golden Eye” includes scenes filmed in the Monte-Carlo Casino. The right-hander takes drivers past the front of the establishment. Another off-track fun fact: Gambling is illegal for Monaco residents. According to the [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20130108-the-high-low-split-of-gambling-cities), Princess Caroline felt the revenue shouldn’t come from Monégasques instead from foreigners. Monaco citizens still get a good deal: they don’t pay income taxes. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172757/Monaco-ZOOM-5-6-7_v2.gif) **Turn 6: The Hairpin** This turn has had a couple of names over the years, including “Loews Hairpin” or the “Fairmont Hairpin,” the latter of which is the name of a famous hotel just outside the corner. Sandwiched between a pair of right-handers, it’s one of the slowest turns on F1’s calendar (think average car speed on a residential road type slow), and if the driver does not hit it correctly, they could turn the track into a typical street with a traffic jam. **Turn 8: Portier** It’s well recommended that drivers take the right-hander rather than heading off into the sea as the 20 cars barrel towards the tunnel. This corner is named after a nearby neighborhood, Le Portier. There have been a few infamous crashes here, such as in 1988 when Ayrton Senna’s wreck led to his rival (and teammate) Alain Prost winning. Senna went straight to his Monaco apartment afterward and didn’t contact the team until later that evening. In 2017, Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a nasty-looking collision. Button was competing for McLaren in a one-off appearance and tried to make a move on the inside of Wehrlein’s Sauber. The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Wehrlein later said, per [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24180/10896151/jenson-button-and-pascal-wehrleins-crash-at-the-monaco-gp), that his head touched the barrier. Then there’s the more recent moment that caused a stir during the 2022 season when Sergio Pérez lost the rear of his car during qualifying and crashed backward into the barrier at Portier. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172806/Monaco-ZOOM-9-10-11_v2.gif) **Turns 10 and 11: Nouvelle Chicane** After going through the tunnel, drivers are met with a prime overtaking opportunity in front of the yachts. The chicane was reprofiled in the 1980s, changing the name from Chicane du Port to Nouvelle Chicane (which means “new” in French). Advertisement **Turn 12: Tabac** A tobacco shop nestled outside the track gave this lefthander its name. During the 1950 grand prix, a wave crashed into this corner, causing a major pile-up that eliminated a chunk of the grid. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172739/Monaco-ZOOM-13-16_v3.gif) **Turns 13-16: The Swimming Pool section** This technical complex requires drivers to tackle two chicanes—the left-to-right Louis Chiron (named after a former Monégasque F1 driver) and a right-to-left sequence that takes them out of the swimming pool section. This latter sequence, Piscine, is a slower portion, as history has seen drivers clip part of the wall on Turn 15, which could break the suspension and/or send drivers flying into the barriers outside Turn 16. Mick Schumacher crashed in this section during the 2022 race, [splitting his car into two](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-schumacher-walks-away-from-massive-piscine-crash.3iEvlv73FOsej6AyLot7y1.html) when he hit the barriers. **Rascasse** This reasonably narrow corner is named after a restaurant of the same name (which itself shares a name with the scorpionfish that’s an ingredient in bouillabaisse). The right-hander’s arguably most famous moment came during 2006 qualifying when Michael Schumacher caused a scandal of sorts. The stewards determined the Ferrari driver purposefully parked his car at Rascasse to prevent competitors from improving their times and sent him to the back of the grid for race day. **Virage Antony Noghes** Finally, we come to the portion named after the Monaco Grand Prix’s founder. It’s the rare point on the track where two cars can go side-by-side — and have before. In 2010, Michael Schumacher passed Fernando Alonso into this portion right as the safety car was leaving the track (and was subsequently dealt a penalty). ## The mixed feelings about Monaco But while Monaco is special, the racing product cannot be ignored. Multiple drivers criticized the race last year. Because teams are allowed to change tires during a red flag, most of the grid took the opportunity to make the swap, and the top 10 became a procession, those spots remaining unchanged from start to finish. At one point, Verstappen said over the radio, “F— me, this is boring. Should have brought my pillow.” The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was a tire management game, and changes have been made heading into this year’s race. There is a required two-stop minimum for Sunday’s race, in hopes of improving the racing product. Monaco’s tight confines mean it’s challenging to overtake, and strategy is important. Advertisement The World Motor Sport Council said in its February statement: “Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.” Though it may sound dramatic, getting through Monaco is a matter of survival. In a tweet last year, Mika Häkkinen, who won the F1 world championship in 1998 and 1999 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1998, acknowledged fans may feel the race is “too predictable” because of the overtaking difficulty. But he argued it’s still a noteworthy grand prix: “For me, it’s the challenge between the driver and the circuit, still unique in \#F1.” The current F1 drivers agree. “You need to really nail all of qualifying to get a lap together there, get the tires to work as well when it matters, it’s always very tricky,” Max Verstappen said. “Monaco is very special, I would say, in that sense.” <https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22085208/Decades_flipBook_v2_2.mp4> Lando Norris agreed. “It’s a track where you want a good car, but you also just need to commit to everything,” he said. “It’s such a fast circuit. It’s not like you kind of just turn the wheel slowly. You have to commit. You have to judge how close you’re going to get to the apexes and that kind of thing. So there’s a big element of risk. And when that comes into play, it kind of spreads out things a little bit, too.” Charles Leclerc — a Monaco native who remembers watching Ferrari’s red car zipping past from his friend’s balcony growing up — detailed a particular approach to his home race. “Monaco is so specific that we need to start a little bit from a blank page. And yeah, free practice is super, super important to build the pace little by little. But I’m confident we’ll be strong. And as I’ve said many times, obviously, it’s the same roads that I took by bus to go to school when I was younger. Now it’s in a Formula One car. So that makes it extra special for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. To be in Monaco, a very special track I think for every driver because it’s a very challenging track and extra special for me, as it’s my home race.” Monaco balances risk versus reward — just how far do you push? “Most often, it’s just sheer luck,” Lewis Hamilton said last year. “Throw it into the corner and come out with your eyes open. And hopefully you’ve made it round.” *(Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 —* *learn more about “F1 25″ [here](https://www.ea.com/games/f1/f1-25)**.)* *(Lead image: Mark Thompson, Darren Health/Getty Images**; Design: Drew Jordan)* [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27/%3e)![Madeline Coleman](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/02/16143010/Coleman-Madeline-Complete-scaled.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/madeline-coleman/) [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2740%27%20height=%2740%27/%3e)![Drew Jordan](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2025/03/12103915/Jordan-Drew-Headshot-031125.jpg?width=96&quality=70&auto=webp)](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/drew-jordan/) By [Madeline Coleman](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/madeline-coleman/) and Drew Jordan Tagged To: [Monaco Grand Prix](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/tag/monaco-grand-prix/) [F1 track breakdown](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/tag/f1-track-breakdown/) [2023 Monaco Grand Prix](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/tag/2023-monaco-grand-prix/) [Formula 1](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/formula-1/) [Motorsports](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/motorsports/) \+ more Your Next Read [F1 mailbag: Solving Monaco’s racing problem, and when Charles Leclerc might win again](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6383779/2025/05/27/f1-mailbag-tmonaco-gp-charles-leclerc/) [Lando Norris won the Monaco GP with ‘cold blood’ to reignite his F1 title charge](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381652/2025/05/26/lando-norris-monaco-gp-f1-championship/) [Monaco’s F1 racing ‘fix’ missed the mark — and drivers say the real issues got louder](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381491/2025/05/25/monaco-gp-driver-reactions-f1/) Latest League Stories [Max Verstappen calls those enjoying F1's new racing 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Mar 16, 2026 ## Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle COMMENTS 78 S Saad K. · May 27, 2023 Fantastic piece! Enjoyed the interactive infographics - keep using them\! *** B Be R. · May 27, 2023 Thank you. Best article on Monaco this week. It really helps one appreciate the technical nature and challenges of navigating the many turns. Love that you've put them in their historical context as well. Monaco is all about qualifying and I do look forward to that. *** M Marc A. · May 27, 2023 Qualifying is fun to watch, but everything after that is pointless... 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Readable Markdown

The [Monaco Grand Prix](https://theathletic.com/tag/monaco-grand-prix) is the [epitome of Formula One.](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6381189/2025/05/25/monaco-grand-prix-2025-result-lando-norris-win-mercedes/) The principality is known as a playground and a haven, attracting tourists and the rich and famous. It may be the world’s second smallest independent state (at 0.76 square miles, barely half the size of New York’s Central Park), but it’s packed with casinos, designer malls and clubs. Each year, when the grand prix rolls around, the harbor fills with yachts as fans prepare for the thrill on track and champagne moments afterward on the podium. Monaco’s street track was part of the calendar for F1’s inaugural season in 1950, and it’s kept that place every year since 1955, except for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The iconic circuit is narrow, requiring pinpoint accuracy because even being a millimeter off can be a costly error as the drivers navigate around famous buildings, a tight hairpin, and past a slew of yachts. Early races saw the occasional car end up in the harbor; now, fans see costly shunts into the barriers. Overtaking is incredibly difficult (the 2003 race saw zero on-track overtakes), and strategy is critical. Nelson Piquet once [said](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/Monaco/Circuit.html) driving in [Monaco](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6379580/2025/05/24/monaco-gp-qualifying-2025-result/) is “like riding a bicycle around your living room.” As the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix kicks off, here’s all you need to know about one of the jewels in F1’s crown. [![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22003347/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif)](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22003347/MAIN_MONACO_SPECS_UPDATE_2025-1.gif) ## Something of a squeeze Though they’ve fluctuated over time, Formula One cars have gotten longer, wider and heavier as the machinery continues to advance, particularly in recent years. The cars’ width increased from approximately 5.9 feet in 2017 to a maximum of 2000mm (6.56 feet) last season. This is around two meters, not counting the tires, which have also widened. When it comes to tight tracks like Monaco, where the circuit’s space is dictated by its surroundings, the width can present unique challenges as drivers figure out how to navigate areas like the Turn 6 hairpin. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172745/Monaco_circuit_width_v1.png) ## Points of interest (with a history lesson) The Monaco GP is part of [motorsport’s Triple Crown](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4542786/2023/05/23/mclaren-triple-crown-livery-heritage-center/) (along with the Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans) for a reason. It’s 78 laps of pure adrenaline as drivers tackle the 19 turns in the heart of the principality, zipping past the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino, the yacht-filled harbor and more. **Turn 1: Sainte Dévote** The track’s opening turn is a right-hander with a small chapel just beyond the barriers on the left. Expect to see lockups happen here, and cars go straight into the run-off. It’s one of the few places you could see a shuffle in the grid during the opening lap, depending on who gets a better start. The Sainte Dévote Chapel dates to the 11th century and is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172816/Monaco-Zoom-3_4_v2.gif) **Turn 3: Massenet** The cars are at the top of the hill as they enter the tight, quick left-hand turn, one of the highest points of the circuit. This portion of the track runs in front of the opera house, named after French opera composer Jules Massenet. **Turn 4: Casino Square** This is one of the most iconic and recognizable corners on the circuit that even non-motorsports fans may know — the 1995 James Bond film “Golden Eye” includes scenes filmed in the Monte-Carlo Casino. The right-hander takes drivers past the front of the establishment. Another off-track fun fact: Gambling is illegal for Monaco residents. According to the [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20130108-the-high-low-split-of-gambling-cities), Princess Caroline felt the revenue shouldn’t come from Monégasques instead from foreigners. Monaco citizens still get a good deal: they don’t pay income taxes. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172757/Monaco-ZOOM-5-6-7_v2.gif) **Turn 6: The Hairpin** This turn has had a couple of names over the years, including “Loews Hairpin” or the “Fairmont Hairpin,” the latter of which is the name of a famous hotel just outside the corner. Sandwiched between a pair of right-handers, it’s one of the slowest turns on F1’s calendar (think average car speed on a residential road type slow), and if the driver does not hit it correctly, they could turn the track into a typical street with a traffic jam. **Turn 8: Portier** It’s well recommended that drivers take the right-hander rather than heading off into the sea as the 20 cars barrel towards the tunnel. This corner is named after a nearby neighborhood, Le Portier. There have been a few infamous crashes here, such as in 1988 when Ayrton Senna’s wreck led to his rival (and teammate) Alain Prost winning. Senna went straight to his Monaco apartment afterward and didn’t contact the team until later that evening. In 2017, Jenson Button and Pascal Wehrlein were involved in a nasty-looking collision. Button was competing for McLaren in a one-off appearance and tried to make a move on the inside of Wehrlein’s Sauber. The gap closed, and Wehrlein’s car ended up sideways. Wehrlein later said, per [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24180/10896151/jenson-button-and-pascal-wehrleins-crash-at-the-monaco-gp), that his head touched the barrier. Then there’s the more recent moment that caused a stir during the 2022 season when Sergio Pérez lost the rear of his car during qualifying and crashed backward into the barrier at Portier. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172806/Monaco-ZOOM-9-10-11_v2.gif) **Turns 10 and 11: Nouvelle Chicane** After going through the tunnel, drivers are met with a prime overtaking opportunity in front of the yachts. The chicane was reprofiled in the 1980s, changing the name from Chicane du Port to Nouvelle Chicane (which means “new” in French). **Turn 12: Tabac** A tobacco shop nestled outside the track gave this lefthander its name. During the 1950 grand prix, a wave crashed into this corner, causing a major pile-up that eliminated a chunk of the grid. ![](https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2023/05/26172739/Monaco-ZOOM-13-16_v3.gif) **Turns 13-16: The Swimming Pool section** This technical complex requires drivers to tackle two chicanes—the left-to-right Louis Chiron (named after a former Monégasque F1 driver) and a right-to-left sequence that takes them out of the swimming pool section. This latter sequence, Piscine, is a slower portion, as history has seen drivers clip part of the wall on Turn 15, which could break the suspension and/or send drivers flying into the barriers outside Turn 16. Mick Schumacher crashed in this section during the 2022 race, [splitting his car into two](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-schumacher-walks-away-from-massive-piscine-crash.3iEvlv73FOsej6AyLot7y1.html) when he hit the barriers. **Rascasse** This reasonably narrow corner is named after a restaurant of the same name (which itself shares a name with the scorpionfish that’s an ingredient in bouillabaisse). The right-hander’s arguably most famous moment came during 2006 qualifying when Michael Schumacher caused a scandal of sorts. The stewards determined the Ferrari driver purposefully parked his car at Rascasse to prevent competitors from improving their times and sent him to the back of the grid for race day. **Virage Antony Noghes** Finally, we come to the portion named after the Monaco Grand Prix’s founder. It’s the rare point on the track where two cars can go side-by-side — and have before. In 2010, Michael Schumacher passed Fernando Alonso into this portion right as the safety car was leaving the track (and was subsequently dealt a penalty). ## The mixed feelings about Monaco But while Monaco is special, the racing product cannot be ignored. Multiple drivers criticized the race last year. Because teams are allowed to change tires during a red flag, most of the grid took the opportunity to make the swap, and the top 10 became a procession, those spots remaining unchanged from start to finish. At one point, Verstappen said over the radio, “F— me, this is boring. Should have brought my pillow.” The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix was a tire management game, and changes have been made heading into this year’s race. There is a required two-stop minimum for Sunday’s race, in hopes of improving the racing product. Monaco’s tight confines mean it’s challenging to overtake, and strategy is important. The World Motor Sport Council said in its February statement: “Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.” Though it may sound dramatic, getting through Monaco is a matter of survival. In a tweet last year, Mika Häkkinen, who won the F1 world championship in 1998 and 1999 and the Monaco Grand Prix in 1998, acknowledged fans may feel the race is “too predictable” because of the overtaking difficulty. But he argued it’s still a noteworthy grand prix: “For me, it’s the challenge between the driver and the circuit, still unique in \#F1.” The current F1 drivers agree. “You need to really nail all of qualifying to get a lap together there, get the tires to work as well when it matters, it’s always very tricky,” Max Verstappen said. “Monaco is very special, I would say, in that sense.” <https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2024/05/22085208/Decades_flipBook_v2_2.mp4> Lando Norris agreed. “It’s a track where you want a good car, but you also just need to commit to everything,” he said. “It’s such a fast circuit. It’s not like you kind of just turn the wheel slowly. You have to commit. You have to judge how close you’re going to get to the apexes and that kind of thing. So there’s a big element of risk. And when that comes into play, it kind of spreads out things a little bit, too.” Charles Leclerc — a Monaco native who remembers watching Ferrari’s red car zipping past from his friend’s balcony growing up — detailed a particular approach to his home race. “Monaco is so specific that we need to start a little bit from a blank page. And yeah, free practice is super, super important to build the pace little by little. But I’m confident we’ll be strong. And as I’ve said many times, obviously, it’s the same roads that I took by bus to go to school when I was younger. Now it’s in a Formula One car. So that makes it extra special for me. So I’m really looking forward to it. To be in Monaco, a very special track I think for every driver because it’s a very challenging track and extra special for me, as it’s my home race.” Monaco balances risk versus reward — just how far do you push? “Most often, it’s just sheer luck,” Lewis Hamilton said last year. “Throw it into the corner and come out with your eyes open. And hopefully you’ve made it round.” *(Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 —* *learn more about “F1 25″ [here](https://www.ea.com/games/f1/f1-25)**.)* *(Lead image: Mark Thompson, Darren Health/Getty Images**; Design: Drew Jordan)*

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