Formula 1 held its annual race on the streets of Monte Carlo this past weekend. The event predates the sport—the first Monaco Grand Prix was held in 1929 on a layout that isn’t too different from the one used today.
Over the years, the buildings have changed, crash barriers appeared, the swimming pool section grew, and the cars eventually got too big and fast to race each other properly on the tight confines of a circuit that one world champion described as “riding a bicycle in your living room.” But nestled by the Mediterranean, surrounded by super yachts, F1’s least-good race is also its most famous and glamorous. After their home Grands Prix, it’s the one many drivers most want to win.
Overtaking here is virtually impossible; to see race cars do that around the principality, you’ll want to tune into Formula E’s visits there. So qualifying on Saturday, which sets the grid order for Sunday’s race, was more important than usual. Everyone expected pole to go to one of the two Ferraris. And for the first time this season, the cars wrecked completely flat-out; with no long straights and plenty of braking zones, the cars were not energy-limited for once this season.
