Out of the 21 races that make up the FIA Formula One World Championship each year, the Monaco Grand Prix is easily the most renowned. Here's why the bucket-list sporting fixture is in such high demand across the planet.
A history spanning nearly 90 years, a demanding track and an exceptionally glamorous setting are all reasons why the Monaco Grand Prix has earned itself an almost mythical status among its fellow F1 fixtures.
This is the race all grand prix drivers want to win and contenders past and present, such as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, have even made Monaco their home. And if you're there to experience the enduring event and its glittering social scene firsthand, you'll be hooked too.
There is nothing quite like watching the Monaco Grand Prix in person. Spectators can feel the vibrations and hear the roar of engines as the motor cars zoom around the track, creating an electric atmosphere that surges across the grandstands and superyacht-packed marina.
Excitement soars as the final lap draws closer and the winner takes the chequered flag, setting off a cacophony of blaring foghorns from the water, which is just the start of the ensuing celebrations.
The Monaco Grand Prix will be the seventh Formula One fixture of the 2023 season, after Italy was cancelled last week. Stretching across four days, the race includes practice and qualifying sessions before concluding with the 78-lap main event.
Considered to be the ultimate test of driving skills in Formula 1, the circuit leaves absolutely no room for error and the slightest mistake can result in disastrous consequences.
Monaco Grand Prix 2023 race schedule:
- Friday 26 May: Practice 1 & 2: – 1.30pm - 2.30pm
- Saturday 24 May: Practice 3 – 12.30pm - 1.30pm and Qualifying – 4pm - 5pm
- Sunday 25 May: Race – 3pm
According to five-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, the Monaco Grand Prix is “the most technical and mentally challenging circuit of the whole season.”
Much of this is down to the narrow city streets that make up the circuit. Drivers are tasked with conquering sharp corners and elevation changes aplenty on a track where overtaking is extremely difficult – an element that makes the qualifying sessions the most competitive and crucial of the entire season.
When people think of Monaco's circuit, it’s usually the Grand Hotel hairpin turn that comes to mind. The corner is the slowest in F1 with drivers going just 30mph. Another iconic part is the Nouvelle Chicane where drivers have to descend a steep hill before breaking heavily ahead of the sharp corner.
Not only is this one of the few points on the circuit where overtaking is possible, but it is also one of the locations that can be seen by those viewing the race from a superyacht. For a turn-by-turn rundown of the circuit, view our Monaco Grand Prix track guide.
A dazzling social scene accompanies the on-track action over the grand prix weekend and is another reason why the Monaco fixture stands out among its counterparts.
Transforming from unrivalled viewing platforms to enviable party hubs, superyachts play host to many a shindig once the racing is over. High-profile yacht owners usually host the most exclusive soirées with the paparazzi out in force to snap the celebrity attendees on the VIP guest list arriving.
But the after-parties extend beyond the harbour. Bars and nightclubs across the principality rev up their celebratory vibes with special events and stellar DJ slots. The world’s best party brands as well as the official F1 touring nightclub also arrive in town and take over well-known venues with pop-up events.
Discover where the best places to party at the Monaco Grand Prix are in our dedicated article.
