A Procession? Or a Poker Game at 200mph? Welcome to Monaco

This weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix will no doubt lead to the now-annual wave of complaints from fans on social media. The tight street circuit around the Principality leaves little room for overtaking and can turn the race into more of a procession than a thrilling wheel-to-wheel battle. 

But this criticism fails to acknowledge the unique appeal of Monaco — an event widely regarded in Formula 1 circles as the most prestigious race on the calendar. We’re only four years away from celebrating the 100th anniversary of the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix. Over the decades the legends and the tragedies of Monte Carlo have become part of F1 folklore. 

Brazilian World Champion Nelson Piquet once famously described racing around Monaco as “like trying to ride your bicycle around your living room.” David Coulthard, who has twice conquered the Principality while racing for McLaren, argues that it’s a race defined not by overtaking, but by a relentless test of driver versus circuit. It’s about millimetre-perfect precision on a circuit lined with unforgiving Armco barriers — the ultimate 'drive to survive.' 

Despite the difficulties of modern cars — larger, heavier, and harder to hustle through narrow streets — Monaco has still delivered drama. Weather, race strategy, and inevitable accidents can turn the predictable into chaos. This is also a circuit where qualifying is of paramount importance. If you start from pole position, there’s a strong chance you’ll lead from lights to flag. 

Monaco may lie on the sun-soaked French Riviera, but the weather can be as unpredictable as the race. Rain-soaked weekends are not unheard of, with dense clouds rolling down from the hills behind the circuit. When visibility drops and the track turns treacherous, even the most powerful 1000bhp F1 cars can become near-impossible to control as they thread their way through the eye of the needle on Formula 1’s shortest circuit. 

Just this week, Formula 1’s official website recalled the dramatic victory of Frenchman Olivier Panis, who won the 1996 race for Ligier. Only three drivers made it to the finish line that day — the rest fell victim to atrocious conditions, struggling to keep their cars pointed in the right direction and away from the Armco barriers.  

We also think about the weekend in 2004, when Italian Jarno Trulli took a stunning pole position and followed it up with his only Formula 1 victory, driving for the Renault-powered team. The much missed Eddie Jordan placed a double bet on Trulli taking pole and the win that weekend, a double which netted Jordan a memorable pay day and secured Trulli an unexpected hug from his former team boss.  

Damon Hill’s father, Graham Hill — a two-time Formula 1 World Champion — won the Monaco Grand Prix on five occasions, earning him the nickname "Mr Monaco." He once said his motivation came in part from the opportunity to receive a kiss from Princess Grace, formerly Hollywood star Grace Kelly — and that, he said, seemed reason enough. 

Today, the allure of Monaco lies not in points alone, but in prestige. David Coulthard may never have clinched a world title, but his two wins in Monte Carlo remain among the proudest achievements of his career. The same goes for other Monaco masters, including the late, great Ayrton Senna. 

This weekend’s race may yet become the procession many expect — but all it takes is a rain shower, a car partially blocking the track after impact with the barrier or a split-second strategy change to shake things up and create an entirely unexpected outcome. 

It’s no surprise the Monaco Grand Prix was born as a marketing ploy for the famous casino — this is a race where every lap feels like a roll of the dice.