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About the location
Does the Monaco Grand Prix need an introduction? This race, also known as the crown jewel of the Formula 1 season, is known worldwide and also attracts a lot of celebrities every year. The Grand Prix is almost 100 years old and is part of the Formula 1 calendar for the 69th time in 74 seasons. This was not the case only between 1951 and 1954 and in the corona year 2020: very few races in F1 can present such a track record.
There are, of course, iconic images of Formula 1 cars passing through the tunnel, marina or hairpin bend at the Grand Hotel – the slowest corner of the entire season – but the race in the streets of Monte Carlo is, of course, best known for its characteristics off the job. Other (street) circuits nowadays have wide run-off zones, but that is not the case in Monaco: even the smallest mistake often means end of practice in this race.
© AP
The weather forecast
After the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna literally fell into the water last week, it is also likely that a few hundred kilometers away it will not stay completely dry. In general, dry weather is expected in Monaco from Friday to Sunday, but there is also a chance of showers for each of the three days. So it could just be a (partly) wet race, like last year.
The Formula 1 program (Belgian time)
Friday May 26
13.30 – 14.30: first free practice
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm: second free practice
Saturday May 27
12.30 – 13.30: third free practice
4 p.m.: Qualifying
Sunday May 28
3 p.m.: race
(Read more below the photo)
Last year, Sergio Pérez won the race in the small principality.
Our forecast
Just like last year, our Formula 1 watcher Gert Vermersch and reporter Sam Varewyck give their expected top three for each race. This year they will be joined by two voices from the PlaySportspodcast The Paddock: Dennis Xhaët and racing driver Sam Dejonghe will also take a chance this season.
Prognosis Gert Vermersch
1) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
3) George Russell (Mercedes)
Prognosis Sam Varewyck
1) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
2) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Prediction The Paddock-stem Dennis Xhaët
1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
3) George Russell (Mercedes)
That’s how it went last year
Last year, Monaco was hit by a heavy downpour during the starting procedure. The race therefore started with more than an hour delay. But once the red lights were extinguished, there was a spectacle to experience in the small principality. Charles Leclerc lost the victory after tactical blunders by Ferrari: it eventually went to Sergio Pérez, who remained cool in a tense final phase and was able to hold off the clearly faster Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen and Leclerc.
Nice to know
Charles Leclerc would like nothing more than to finally win his home race, but this race seems to have been a curse for him for years. In his first two attempts in 2018 and 2019, he failed to finish. In 2021, Leclerc took pole position on Saturday, but was unable to start the race after his Ferrari suffered damage in a crash at the end of qualifying – something that Leclerc and Ferrari only found out in the reconnaissance lap shortly before the race. Painful. (Read more below the photo)
Can Charles Leclerc finally win his home race this weekend? — © AP
Last year, Leclerc’s moment of glory finally seemed to come: he took pole position again – this time he was able to start the race – with Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz directly behind him. Nothing seemed to stand in the way of a victory for the very fast Monegask, until Ferrari started to blunder in the wet conditions – not the first time in recent years. Leclerc was twice brought to the pits at the wrong time for a tire change and paid a heavy toll for it: no first home win, not even a first home podium, but an ungrateful fourth place.