The Monaco Grand Prix joined the Formula 1 calendar in the championship’s inaugural season, but racing around the Monte Carlo streets had taken place way before 1950.
It has been a permanent fixture on the schedule since 1955 and has produced some of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history. Here are just a few.
Rindt emerges victorious
Jochen Rindt scored his first and only Monaco win in exceptional circumstances in 1970. The German-Austrian driver was putting race leader Jack Brabham under huge amounts of pressure on the final lap when the Aussie locked up and crashed at the final corner, handing the win to Rindt. Brabham, who sadly died on Monday (19th May 2014), reversed the car out of the barrier to finish second.
A dramatic conclusion
The final four laps of the 1982 Monaco Grand Prix were chaotic to say the least. Alain Prost led for much of the race but crashed on lap 73. Ricardo Patrese then moved to the front but he spun, leaving his car stranded across the circuit.
Didier Pironi took the lead but he ran out of fuel on the final tour, as did Andrea de Cesaris. Derek Daly had already hit the wall and was out of the running, but Patrese got his car going again to take the win from Pironi and de Cesaris (who were both stationary). What a crazy conclusion.
Senna the master of Monaco
Ayrton Senna is the most successful driver around the Circuit de Monaco. During his career, he won the race six times. However, one of his best races only yielded second place.
In his first season in the sport, driving for the lowly Toleman outfit, the Brazilian put in a stunning drive in torrential rain to take the runner-up spot in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. He had just passed the leader Alain Prost on lap 42 when it was red flagged, with the results being taken from the previous tour.
Four years later he completed arguably the best qualifying lap in F1 history. He was almost 1.5 seconds quicker than the second McLaren MP4/4 and dominated most of the race. However, a slip of concentration on lap 65 caused him to crash at Portier. He retired and immediately went back to his nearby apartment. Prost, who was then his team-mate, took the win and the team didn’t hear from Senna until the next day.
One of his best defensive drives also took place in Monaco. He looked set to finish second in 1992 to Nigel Mansell when the Brit pitted in the closing stages with a suspected puncture. He emerged behind the McLaren and despite having the slower car and worn tyres; Senna managed to keep the Williams driver behind him to score his fifth win at the track.
A record-breaking race
The 1996 Monaco Grand Prix broke the record for the fewest drivers running by the chequered flag. Olivier Panis won his first and only race for Ligier in wet conditions from David Coulthard and Johnny Herbert.
21 cars started the race but only three reached the finish line after crashes for the likes of Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, and reliability problems for Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, Gerhard Berger and several others.
Worth the wait
Jarno Trulli is another driver who scored his one and only F1 win in Monaco. The Italian driver, who was racing in his eighth season in the sport, took pole position on Saturday and just managed to fend off a charging Jenson Button to secure his maiden victory.
Fernando Alonso looked on course for a strong result in the second Renault but he crashed heavily in the tunnel after attempting to lap Ralf Schumacher. Michael Schumacher was dramatically eliminated following a collision with Juan Pablo Montoya under the second safety car period – the first was thanks to Giancarlo Fisichella flipping his Sauber after contact with David Coulthard.
For a preview of this year's race, go here. What is your favourite memory or moment from previous F1 races in Monaco? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
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| © Wikimedia Commons |
Rindt emerges victorious
Jochen Rindt scored his first and only Monaco win in exceptional circumstances in 1970. The German-Austrian driver was putting race leader Jack Brabham under huge amounts of pressure on the final lap when the Aussie locked up and crashed at the final corner, handing the win to Rindt. Brabham, who sadly died on Monday (19th May 2014), reversed the car out of the barrier to finish second.
A dramatic conclusion
The final four laps of the 1982 Monaco Grand Prix were chaotic to say the least. Alain Prost led for much of the race but crashed on lap 73. Ricardo Patrese then moved to the front but he spun, leaving his car stranded across the circuit.
Didier Pironi took the lead but he ran out of fuel on the final tour, as did Andrea de Cesaris. Derek Daly had already hit the wall and was out of the running, but Patrese got his car going again to take the win from Pironi and de Cesaris (who were both stationary). What a crazy conclusion.
Senna the master of Monaco
Ayrton Senna is the most successful driver around the Circuit de Monaco. During his career, he won the race six times. However, one of his best races only yielded second place.
In his first season in the sport, driving for the lowly Toleman outfit, the Brazilian put in a stunning drive in torrential rain to take the runner-up spot in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. He had just passed the leader Alain Prost on lap 42 when it was red flagged, with the results being taken from the previous tour.
Four years later he completed arguably the best qualifying lap in F1 history. He was almost 1.5 seconds quicker than the second McLaren MP4/4 and dominated most of the race. However, a slip of concentration on lap 65 caused him to crash at Portier. He retired and immediately went back to his nearby apartment. Prost, who was then his team-mate, took the win and the team didn’t hear from Senna until the next day.
One of his best defensive drives also took place in Monaco. He looked set to finish second in 1992 to Nigel Mansell when the Brit pitted in the closing stages with a suspected puncture. He emerged behind the McLaren and despite having the slower car and worn tyres; Senna managed to keep the Williams driver behind him to score his fifth win at the track.
A record-breaking race
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| © LAT |
The 1996 Monaco Grand Prix broke the record for the fewest drivers running by the chequered flag. Olivier Panis won his first and only race for Ligier in wet conditions from David Coulthard and Johnny Herbert.
21 cars started the race but only three reached the finish line after crashes for the likes of Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, and reliability problems for Damon Hill, Jean Alesi, Gerhard Berger and several others.
Worth the wait
Jarno Trulli is another driver who scored his one and only F1 win in Monaco. The Italian driver, who was racing in his eighth season in the sport, took pole position on Saturday and just managed to fend off a charging Jenson Button to secure his maiden victory.
Fernando Alonso looked on course for a strong result in the second Renault but he crashed heavily in the tunnel after attempting to lap Ralf Schumacher. Michael Schumacher was dramatically eliminated following a collision with Juan Pablo Montoya under the second safety car period – the first was thanks to Giancarlo Fisichella flipping his Sauber after contact with David Coulthard.
For a preview of this year's race, go here. What is your favourite memory or moment from previous F1 races in Monaco? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
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