The jewel of the Formula One calendar returns this Sunday with the Monaco Grand Prix, round eight of the 24-race 2025 championship. From legendary hairpins to glitzy harbours, Monte Carlo offers more than just glamour — it’s a demanding test of precision, control, and courage.
This year marks the 71st world championship edition of the Monaco Grand Prix and the 82nd overall since 1929, with the tight and twisty 3.337km circuit once again setting the stage for high drama and racing heritage. Charles Leclerc, last year’s winner, made history in 2024 as the first Monegasque driver to win at home since the inception of the championship in 1950. His pole time of 1:10.270 and eventual triumph remain defining moments of his career.
Monaco remains the shortest and slowest circuit on the calendar but also the most demanding. With only 34% of the lap taken at full throttle and the iconic Turn 6 hairpin navigated at just 45kph, overtaking opportunities are minimal, putting a premium on qualifying. For 2025, in a bid to increase strategy variation, two mandatory pitstops have been introduced — a rare twist for a venue often dictated by track position.
Championship Picture: Piastri Leads the Pack
Heading into Monte Carlo, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri holds a 13-point lead over teammate Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen a further nine points back in third. McLaren are dominating both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, having opened up a 132-point gap to Mercedes and 148 to Red Bull.
Piastri has won four of the opening seven races, while Verstappen has taken two victories and Norris one. Despite Verstappen’s typically dominant performances, including two past Monaco wins (2021, 2023) where he led from start to finish, the Dutchman has found himself playing catch-up in 2025.
Records, Legends, and the Ones to Watch
This Sunday’s grid features four past Monaco winners:
- Fernando Alonso (2006, 2007)
- Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2016, 2019)
- Max Verstappen (2021, 2023)
- Charles Leclerc (2024)
McLaren are the most successful team in Monaco history with 15 wins, followed by Ferrari with 11. Legendary Brazilian Ayrton Senna remains the King of the Principality, with six victories, including five consecutive triumphs from 1989 to 1993.
Hamilton, who still holds the all-time record for wins (105) and poles (104), has yet to win a race in 2025 but recently bested Leclerc in Imola — the first time he’s done so in a regular grand prix since the Monegasque joined Ferrari.
Race Trends and Trivia
- Pole is crucial in Monaco: since 1950, only 10 winners have started lower than third, and none lower than 14th — a record set by Olivier Panis in 1996.
- A safety car is highly likely, often playing a pivotal role in strategy and results.
- Three Australians have won in Monaco: Jack Brabham, Mark Webber, and Daniel Ricciardo.
- Six British drivers have claimed victory since 1950 — the most of any nation.
As McLaren celebrate their resurgence and Red Bull mark their 400th Grand Prix, all eyes will be on whether Piastri can maintain his lead, Leclerc can repeat his historic home win, or Verstappen can reclaim control of the championship.
With Monaco’s tight walls and unpredictable nature, anything is possible — and history is always waiting to be made.
