Monaco Grand Prix in Stats

Circuit Name	Circuit de Monaco
Country	Monaco
City	Monte Carlo
Circuit Type	Street
Capacity	120,000
Designer	Anthony Noghès (idealist)
First Race Held	1950
Number of Races Held	59
Number of Laps	78
Circuit Direction	Clockwise
Total Number of Corners	18
Number of Right Hand Corners	10
Number of Left Hand Corners	8
Maximum G-Force	3.7 G
Circuit length	3.340 km (2.075 mi)
Race length	260.52km (161.88mi)
Pit Lane Length	310m
Longest Stretch at Full Throttle	8 seconds
Time Spent At Full Throttle	44%
Number of Gear Changes	62
Most Successful Team	McLaren, 15 wins
Most Successful Driver	Ayrton Senna, 6 wins
Lap Record	1:14.439 - Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004
Lap Record Average Speed	162kph, 100mph
Top Speed Recorded	285 km/h (177 mph)
Wins From Pole	26/44.07%
Time Zone	UTC +01:00
Coordinates	43°44?5?N 7°25?14?E
Average Temperature	19°C
Average Weather	Warm, Sunny

CIRCUIT INFO

Probably the most famous and recognizable circuit on the F1 calendar – and the last throwback to the era of street racing, the Monaco Grand Prix was first staged in 1929 and after being included in the first Formula One world championship season in 1950 and has been an ever-present feature on the calendar since 1955.

The race is considered as a ‘must win’ race for drivers, a combination of being technically difficult but also extremely glamorous and high profile. The circuit is one of the most demanding with no margin for error as the Armco barriers that line the track are at some points just inches from the cars. Triple world champion Nelson Piquet described it as similar to “trying to cycle round your living room”.

The circuit itself has remained virtually unchanged, the Rascasse turn was slightly altered for the 2003 race but the major change was in 2004 when the formerly cramped pit complex was replaced and spectator capacity was increased.

Prior to the race, construction of the circuit takes around six weeks, dismantling takes just three. Monaco is the only race on the calendar not to have a podium, the traditional winners’ celebration taking place on the steps of the royal box.

Despite the dangerous nature of the circuit and although there have been numerous serious accidents there has to date only been one death, in 1967 when Lorenzo Bandini died as result of burns. The most famous accident must be that of Alberto Ascari, one of only two people to end up in the harbour.

Graham Hill was often referred to as Mr Monaco as he won five races in the 1960s; this was surpassed by Ayrton Senna who holds the record of six Monaco wins.

NOTE:

At the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix Lorenzo Bandini lost control of his Ferrari after clipping a guardrail. The car overturned and hit a hay bale and caught fire. Bandini suffered horrendous burns and died of his injuries three days later.