#F1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2023 Preview. #MonacoGP #Formula1
Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2022, Circuit De Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Image credit to Clive Mason/F1/Getty Images. 2023 Monaco GP Preview, F1 Monaco GP Preview. Formula 1 Monaco Preview.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – After Max Verstappen triumphed on the streets of Miami last time out and last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled due to wild weather, round six of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship returns this weekend to the most famous and historic street circuit of them all the Circuit de Monaco for the Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2023. This will be the 80th time that the Monaco Grand Prix has been held and the 69th time since it has been held as part of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious motor sporting events in the world alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Heures Du Mans which forms the Triple Crown of Motorsport. This weekend is now after Imola’s cancellation back-to-back with the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – A Look at the Circuit De Monaco
The Circuit De Monaco is a street circuit laid out on the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the principality of Monaco.
The idea for a Grand Prix around the streets of Monaco came from Antony Noghes, the president of the Monegasque car club and close friend of the ruling Grimaldi family. The inaugural race was held in 1929 and was won by Williams Grover-Williams in a Bugatti and the first Monaco Grand Prix as part of the FIA World Championship was held in 1950 won by Juan Manuel Fangio in the Alfa Romeo.
The circuit has many elevation shifts, tight corners, a tunnel and is very narrow. These features make it the most demanding track in Grand Prix racing. The circuit has relatively low average speeds.
Although the circuit has changed many times during its history, it is still considered the ultimate test of driving skills in Formula 1.
Due to the tight, twisty nature of the circuit it favours the skill of the drivers over power of the cars. However, there is very little overtaking as the track is so narrow and dangerous. It is the only Grand Prix on the F1 calendar that does not adhere to the FIA’s mandated 305km (190 mi) minimum race distance.
The circuit runs in a clockwise direction and is 3.337km (2.074 mi) in length with 19 corners.
Race distance is 260.286km (161.734 mi) with 78 laps.
Lewis Hamilton holds the fastest lap record from the 2021 event with a 1:12.909 set in his Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team F1 W12 E Performance racer.
The late great three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna holds the record for most victories at Monaco with six.
McLaren are the most successful constructor at the Circuit de Monaco winning the Monaco Grand Prix 15 times.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – Onboard Lap of the Circuit De Monaco
Here is the onboard pole position lap of the Circuit de Monaco from last year’s event, set by Charles Leclerc in his Scuderia Ferrari F1-75 racer. The Monegasque-driver posted a blistering 1:11.376. You can watch the footage right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtvjlOIRibM
2023 Monaco GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2022: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2020: Not held. 2019: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2018: Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing. 2017: Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – Tyres
Sole tyre-supplier Pirelli will be bringing with them to Monaco, the C3 white-marked Hards, the C4 yellow-branded Medium tyres and the C5 red-walled Soft rubber along with the green-marked Intermediate and blue-branded Full Wet tyres in case of rain.
All drivers will have eight sets of the softs, three sets of the mediums and two sets of the hards.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – DRS Zone
There will only be one DRS zone in Monaco, with the detection point located 80 metres after turn 16 and the activation point located 18 metres after the end of La Rascasse.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speeds will be 60km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Verstappen recovers from ninth to claim Miami GP victory
Max Verstappen recovered from ninth to clinch the Miami GP victory in a solid drive ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in a Red Bull one-two as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top three.
The Dutchman won from ninth after losing out in qualifying due to not posting a time and denied one final flyer due to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc’s shunt, which brought out the red flag.
Verstappen began the race on the C2 white harder compounds in an alternate strategy to pole-sitting Red Bull team-mate Perez, who started on the mediums, and the Mexican made sure to keep ahead of Alonso.
When the 57-lap Miami GP began, pole-sitter Perez made a great getaway ahead of Alonso with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly up into fourth making his way past Haas F1 Team’s Kevin Magnussen.
At the end of the opening tour, Perez held a 1.104 second gap in-front of Alonso with Sainz third, Gasly fourth, Mercedes’ George Russell fifth, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc sixth, Magnussen seventh and championship leader Max Verstappen who was down in ninth, found his way past Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas into eighth.
Race leader Perez made his way out of DRS range from Alonso with a 1.205 second gap on lap four, meanwhile his Red Bull team-mate Verstappen performed a spectacular double overtake on both Leclerc and Magnussen taking the inside line into turn one to grab sixth place as he continued his recovery drive.
On the beginning of lap seven, Perez held a 1.588 second gap over Alonso with Sainz in DRS range behind his fellow Spanish-compatriot in third, Gasly fourth, Russell fifth and Verstappen holding sixth with the fastest lap to his name.
On lap eight, Verstappen got in DRS range and made his way past Russell on the inside into turn 17 to take fifth place.
On lap nine, Verstappen also made the same identical move that he done on Russell to overtake Gasly into fourth place.
On the tenth lap, Perez increased his lead to 1.975 seconds over Alonso with Sainz third, Verstappen fourth place and flying on the C2 harder compounds as Russell completed the top five.
Lap 14 saw Verstappen make his past Sainz into third place with his mighty DRS advantage into turn 11.
On the 15th tour, Perez was comfortably ahead, but now has his team-mate Verstappen up into second place, after getting his way ahead of Alonso into turn 11 to take second place as Red Bull hold the top two positions.
On lap 18, Russell and Leclerc both pitted for a fresh set of hards whilst the latter emerged behind Magnussen again down in 15th.
The 19th tour saw Sainz getting close behind Alonso in the battle for third, but the Ferrari driver came in for a set of hards and came out crucially in-front of Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon in seventh.
On lap 20, Perez held a 1.413 second lead ahead of flying team-mate Verstappen with Alonso third, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (yet-to-pit) in fourth and Haas F1 Team’s Nico Hulkenberg in fifth.
On the 21st tour, Perez pitted from the lead for a set of hards as Verstappen claimed the lead off his Red Bull team-mate with the former emerging in fourth place behind Ocon.
Lap 22 saw Verstappen’s tyres appearing in bad shape, but the Dutchman was complaining on the team radio with the upshifts in his RB19 racer.
On lap 23, Perez overtook Ocon into third place meanwhile Sainz is under investigation for speeding in the pit-lane by the race stewards.
On the 25th lap tour, Verstappen was comfortably in the lead whilst Alonso pitted from second, taking on a set of hards and emerged behind Sainz in fourth. Sainz however, was hit with a five-second timed penalty for speeding in the pit-lane.
On lap 27, Verstappen yet-to-pit held a 16.477 gap to team-mate Perez who is second with the fastest lap to his name, with Ocon third, and Alonso made his way ahead of Sainz into fourth place after making the move stick into turn 11.
Lap 29 saw Alonso breeze his way ahead of Ocon on the inside of the Alpine into turn 11 to take third place.
The 30th tour saw Verstappen with a 15.596 second lead to team-mate Perez with Alonso third, Sainz taking fourth place over Ocon as both Mercedes of Hamilton and Russell were fifth and sixth respectively.
On the 36th lap, Verstappen grabbed the fastest lap and held a 15.951 second lead to team-mate Perez with Alonso a distant third, Sainz holding a five-second timed-penalty in fourth and Mercedes’ Russell completing the top five.
Lap 37 saw Russell overtake Sainz into fourth place with passing the Ferrari onto the inside of turn 11.
With 15 laps remaining, the yet-to-pit race leader Verstappen held an 18.197 gap to team-mate Perez with Alonso third, Russell fourth and Sainz rounding out the top five.
On lap 46, Verstappen pitted from the lead for a fresh set of mediums and emerges 1.366 seconds behind team-mate Perez, with Alonso third, Russell fourth and Sainz fifth.
On the 48th tour, Verstappen made his way around the outside of team-mate Perez into turn one to reclaim first place.
On lap 49, Alonso holds a decent gap to Russell in third, Sainz is comfortably fifth ahead of Gasly with Leclerc in-front of Hamilton seventh and Ocon eighth.
The 54th lap saw Verstappen increase to a 2.902 second lead over team-mate Perez with Alonso a distant third, Russell fourth and Sainz fifth as both Leclerc and Hamilton made their way past Gasly into sixth and seventh respectively.
With three tours remaining in the battle for sixth, Hamilton overtook Leclerc on the inside into turn 11 and made the move stick.
Verstappen crossed the line to clinch the Miami GP victory ahead of team-mate Perez by 5.384 seconds as Alonso finished third, Russell fourth and Sainz completing the top five.
Mercedes’ Hamilton was sixth and ahead of Leclerc who took seventh, with the two Alpine A523 entries of Gasly and Ocon in eighth and ninth respectively as Magnussen rounded out the top 10 for Haas.
Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda finished in 11th and in-front of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll who placed 12th and Alfa Romeo’s Bottas who ended the Grand Prix 13th.
Williams Racing’s Albon came 14th in the classification and ahead of Hulkenberg who was 15th and Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu who took 16th.
McLaren pairing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ended the race in a low 17th and 19th respectively as AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries split them in 18th and Williams Racing’s Logan Sargeant brought up the rear.
2023 Monaco GP Preview – The Situation
Following the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Formula 1 returns to the streets of Monte Carlo for the glamorous Monaco GP.
Initially the middle leg of a triple header, the Monaco Grand Prix – the “crown jewel” of Formula One – now kicks off back-to-back weekends with the Spanish Grand Prix.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in the principality and close up to World Driver’s Championship leading team-mate Max Verstappen.
Verstappen returns to Monaco sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship standings with 119 points and a 14-point advantage to Red Bull team-mate Perez who is second on 105 points, whilst Fernando Alonso is third and a further 44 points behind the Dutchman and on 75 points.
Oracle Red Bull Racing heads to Monte Carlo, on top of the World Constructors Championship standings with 224 points, with a 122-point lead over nearest rivals Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team who are second on 102 points, and Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team are a further 128-points behind the Milton Keynes based-outfit in third place on 96 points.
Could the unique characteristics of the famous Monaco street circuit possibly see Red Bull’s domination of the 2023 F1 season come to an end and see Aston Martin, the upgraded Mercedes or Ferrari snatch a victory from the Milton Keynes based-squad to score their maiden victory of the campaign?
2023 Monaco GP Preview – Two Headlines Of The Week
- Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team announced that it was entering into a works partnership with Honda from 2026 onwards. The Japanese manufacturer will supply power-trains to the Silverstone based-outfit for 2026, which are compliant with the new F1 power-unit regulations, which come into force that season. The new regulations will be a big increase in the deployment of electrical power and the use of 100 per cent sustainable fuel by Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team strategic partner Aramco. Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll explained: “I would like to welcome Honda and Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team. We share a mutual drive, determination, and relentless ambition to succeed on track. Honda is a global titan and its success in motorsport is longstanding and incredibly impressive. I would like to thank Mr Mibe and Mr Watanabe, and the whole team at HRC as we embark on this exciting future together from 2026.” Stroll concluded. Credit to Aston Martin Formula One Team for the quote.
- McLaren Formula 1 Team yesterday revealed a special Triple Crown livery, which will be adorned on their MCL60 racer at both this weekend’s Monaco GP and the Spanish Grand Prix a week later. The livery honours the Woking based-outfit’s Triple Crown achievements in winning the three most prestigious events in motorsport, which were – the 1974 Indianapolis 500 with Johnny Rutherford, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix with Alain Prost and the 1995 24 Heures Du Mans with JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya. Stunning papaya elements from McLaren’s maiden Indy 500 winning M16C/D, which covers the rear, before a sharp white centre taken from Prost’s 1984 Monaco GP winning MP4/2 whilst the front-end is finished in black as a tribute to the F1 GTR that won the 1995 24 Heures Du Mans on McLaren’s initial attempt. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown explained: “Having achieved the greatest accomplishment in motorsport by completing the Triple Crown, we are proud to celebrate the rich history of McLaren Racing with a special livery at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix. In line with our 60th anniversary celebrations and honouring the legacy of Bruce McLaren, the unique livery pays homage to the three victories which form the Triple Crown accolade.” Brown concluded. Credit to McLaren for the quote.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2023 weekend begins Friday May 26 with Free Practice 1 and 2. The action continues Saturday May 27 with Free Practice 3 and Qualifying followed by the 78 lap Race on Sunday May 28.
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