The 78th Monaco Grand Prix will take place on 23rd May. This iconic Formula One race is best known for its glitz and glamour. It also has quite an interesting history, making it one of the most well known Grand Prixs on the F1 calendar.
It might surprise fans to know that Monaco has not always been a pillar of motorsport. It all started when the Automobile Club of Monaco’s application to join what is now the FIA, was refused due to no organized events taking place in Monaco. After the refusal, Commissioner General Anthony Noghés dedicated himself to creating a race circuit in Monaco. Noghés idea was a success, and on April 14th, 1929, the first Grand Prix of Monaco began.
However this now iconic circuit took a while to establish itself. The second Grand Prix of Monaco took place in 1932. Then, from 1938 to 1947, the race was unable to take place due to the economic and social impacts of the Second World War. After nearly ten years, the Monaco Grand Prix returned in1948, only to be cancelled again the following year due a death of Prince Louis II. Then after another series of cancellations, following the 1950 Grand Prix, the race took place again on May 1st, 1955. Ever since then, Monaco has been a staple of the Formula One season.
Then in 2020, for the first time in 65 years, the Monaco Grand Prix did not take place due the COVID-19 pandemic. So, it is exciting to see the race return in 2021. What's even more exciting is that there will be some fans in attendance this year. A maximum of 7,500 spectators will be in attendance per day, and fans will have to take a PCR test for COVID-19 no more than three days before the event and provide proof of a negative test result. The atmosphere of this year’s Grand Prix may be different because of the limited capacity, but having some fans at such an iconic race weekend will be better than none.
One interesting aspect of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend is that unlike other races, free practices 1 and 2 are held on Thursday instead of Friday. In Monaco, no F1 action happens on track on Friday. This is because historically, the Monaco GP had been scheduled to coincide with Ascension Day, a Christian Festival and national holiday in Monaco. In the past, FP1 & 2 took place on Thursday to honour the holiday and to open the streets of Monaco to the public on Friday. In recent history, the Monaco GP has not been held on the weekend of Ascension Day, but for tradition’s sake, Friday remains somewhat of an off-day for the F1 paddock.
The circuit of the Monaco GP itself is known for its narrowness, tight corners, a tunnel, and elevation changes, all of which make it a difficult circuit to overtake on. Because it is so difficult to overtake, qualifying in Monaco is extremely important, meaning we’ll likely see drivers giving it their all on Saturday.
The Monaco Grand Prix is an iconic event with some great history, attracting the rich and famous to its grandstands. It's exciting to see the race back on the calendar this year.
Comments