Monaco Grand Prix

Despite its importance, the Hamilton went on to claim his third Grand Prix hasn’t always world title. The last winner of the proved decisive in the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix to be crowned season. Just ask German driver Formula 1 champion in the same , who’s won the race season? That was , every year since 2013 but has Rosberg’s fellow countryman, ➤ yet to win the championship. With victory in 2015, Rosberg emulated Above: A unique view of the legendary drivers , race Left: Red Bull enjoyed and to three successive victories in become just the fourth person to Monaco between 2010 and win in Monaco in three successive 2012 Below: Ferrari has won years, but then had to watch the race nine times – McLaren as Mercedes team-mate Lewis lead the way with 15 victories

Put simply, no occasion in world The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix Although the 3.337km circuit has sport compares to the Monaco was won by British driver William undergone a few small changes Grand Prix. The race is invariably an Grover-Williams, two years before down the years, its shape has exhilarating spectacle – but, more became the first and remained broadly unchanged Formula fun than that, the weekend itself is an so far only native of the principality since 1929. There are iconic spots Few sporting events can match the glitz and glamour of the unmissable date on the calendars of to win on home turf. galore: Casino Square, the highest Monaco Grand Prix, writes Isaac Davis the global elite. Models, movie stars Of course, the Grand Prix’s point on the course; the Fairmont and music icons are among the defining characteristic is its famous Hairpin, the tightest corner in A-listers who pack the paddock each race circuit, which runs entirely Formula 1 racing; the tunnel, couple of racetracks may Tucked away on the , year to soak up the race-day aura around the streets of Monaco. You which presents a unique challenge present tougher challenges Monaco covers an area of just of this dazzlingly exclusive event. can watch proceedings from a for drivers thanks to the instant A for the world-class drivers 2.02km2 (0.78 sq mi). By area, it’s Although the Monaco Grand grandstand or a hospitality box, of switch from daylight to near- who tear around them. Other races the world’s second smallest country; Prix is now the undisputed highlight course, but Monaco’s tightly packed darkness and back again; and La may have a greater impact on the only Vatican City covers less real of the season, the race actually streets offer a wealth of exclusive Rascasse, another tricky corner season-long tussle for the Formula estate. Monaco’s population is a predates the establishment of and unusual vantage points – from that arrives shortly before the end 1 world drivers’ championship. But meagre 38,000 – but on Grand Prix Formula 1. The world’s best drivers balconies overlooking the action, of each lap. On Sunday night, after no event on the motor-racing circuit, weekends, as many as 200,000 first raced around the streets of such as the world-famous terrace in the race has finished, the track and arguably no event on the global people descend on this tiny the principality back in 1929, the penthouse suite of the Ermanno is opened to the public, who can sporting calendar, carries with it the principality, arriving by road, rail, air some 21 years before the first Palace, to super-yachts moored in walk the same tarmac on which prestige, glamour and excitement of and water for the sporting and social official Formula 1 world drivers’ the Mediterranean harbour. It’s like the world’s best drivers have been the Monaco Grand Prix. experience of a lifetime. championship was held in 1950. nowhere else in world racing. racing only hours earlier.

24 Upward Curve April-June 2016 April-June 2016 Upward Curve 25 Above: is the defending world champion, but his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg has triumphed in Monaco in each of the last three years Below: The race attracts an array of A-list fans, such as One Direction star Liam Payne (top), while few locations in sport can match the glamour of Monaco (bottom) who won both the race and With or without the racing, then, the overall title back in 2010. there’s always somewhere to be The race programme in and people to see at this ultra- Monaco begins this year on glamorous weekend. Monaco Thursday 26 May with opening during the grand prix is a must- practice. Two days later, at 2pm see sight on the European social on Saturday 28 May, it’s time circuit, with only the losing drivers for the all-important qualifying leaving disappointed. ■ session. And then, exactly 24 hours later, the Grand Prix itself finally gets under way before For more information, visit an expectant global audience, the official website of the race with defending world champion organisers, Automobile Club Hamilton looking to win the race de Monaco (www.acm.mc) for the first time since 2008. But, of course, the Monaco Grand Prix isn’t just about the racing. The scene that surrounds it is extraordinary, and delivers a rarefied atmosphere quite unique in global sport. Many A-list stars arrive in Monaco fresh from the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place 55km down the Mediterranean coast just a week earlier, but the weekend isn’t just about movie stars. The run-up to the Sunday race is packed with exclusive events including yacht parties and cocktail evenings, fashion shows and charity balls. And that’s before you’ve even got on to the dizzying array of top-notch restaurants in the principality.

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