A racing track is like a theatre where events that take place in a few minutes can define the history of an actor. When it is the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, things get even more thrilling because this is reputably the toughest circuit in the F1 calendar.
As the shortest track on the circuit with twists and turns all along the track, Monaco Grand Prix 2015 promises to offer unrivalled thrill. To appreciate the reason every F1 fan will head down to Monte Carlo from May 21st to 24th, check a few defining moments on this legendary track:
1. Albert Ascari goes swimming, 1955: Trust fate to test the best as it did in Monaco when Ascari drove to the harbor after misjudging his braking. Luckily the maestro was not hurt and swam to a nearby yacht.
2. Graham Hill takes Monaco King crown, 1969: There is no denying that winning at Monaco for the 1st time is a feat worth celebrating, but five times within 7 years is just terrific. Hill raced to victory to claim his fifth win on the streets after Stewart retired. The impressive thing about it was that all this was achieved in an uncompetitive car.
3. The amazing Stirling Moss, 1961: Ferrari was at the acme of perfection with its shark-nosed machines. However, Moss, with an uncompetitive Lotus 18, was unfazed and went on to win his most spectacular F1 race.
4. Lewis Hamilton’s rain soaked debut victory: Sizzling hot was all you could say about Hamilton back in 2008, but at a rain soaked circuit, he proved that his impressive run in 2007 was no fluke. The Brit overcame a puncture on lap six to win in what he still describes as his greatest victory.
5. The jinxed final laps, 1982: Ludicrous is the least you can say about the final four laps on Monte Carlo streets. Four leaders were caught in trouble – Alain Prost crashed, Riccardo Patrese spun wide, Didier Pironi had fuel problems and Derek Daly had a gear issue – and could not take the lead. Eventually, Patrese was able to restart his car and win the jinxed race.
6. Ayrton Senna arrives, 1984: Alain Prost knew the race was his for the taking, but he had not counted on the arrival of Senna and his crazy driving. Prost knew Senna would overtake as he did and as such, he waved frantically for the race to be stopped. Well, it was stopped and Prost won, though the Brazilian had passed the finish line first.
7. The greatest rivalry in F1 history Prost vs. Senna, 1984-1993: After Senna’s remarkable feat at Monaco in 1984, the most thrilling rivalry in Grand Prix was born. The Monte Carlo streets proved to be the arena for this fascinating rivalry. Senna won 6 times against Prost’s four on the Monte Carlo streets.
8. Schumacher the great arrives, 1994: Michael Schumacher recorded his first of five wins in Monaco. This also marked the entry of the German into the book of F1 records.
9. The scheming Schumacher revealed 2006: He might be the great of greats, but his deliberate ‘parking’ ploy at the Rascasse hairpin to prevent other drivers from taking pole position besmirched his reputation. The penalty came hitting hard and Alonso went on to win the race.
Will Monaco Grand Prix 2015 add to these spicy moments? May 21st-24 2015 will tell.
As the shortest track on the circuit with twists and turns all along the track, Monaco Grand Prix 2015 promises to offer unrivalled thrill. To appreciate the reason every F1 fan will head down to Monte Carlo from May 21st to 24th, check a few defining moments on this legendary track:
1. Albert Ascari goes swimming, 1955: Trust fate to test the best as it did in Monaco when Ascari drove to the harbor after misjudging his braking. Luckily the maestro was not hurt and swam to a nearby yacht.
2. Graham Hill takes Monaco King crown, 1969: There is no denying that winning at Monaco for the 1st time is a feat worth celebrating, but five times within 7 years is just terrific. Hill raced to victory to claim his fifth win on the streets after Stewart retired. The impressive thing about it was that all this was achieved in an uncompetitive car.
3. The amazing Stirling Moss, 1961: Ferrari was at the acme of perfection with its shark-nosed machines. However, Moss, with an uncompetitive Lotus 18, was unfazed and went on to win his most spectacular F1 race.
4. Lewis Hamilton’s rain soaked debut victory: Sizzling hot was all you could say about Hamilton back in 2008, but at a rain soaked circuit, he proved that his impressive run in 2007 was no fluke. The Brit overcame a puncture on lap six to win in what he still describes as his greatest victory.
5. The jinxed final laps, 1982: Ludicrous is the least you can say about the final four laps on Monte Carlo streets. Four leaders were caught in trouble – Alain Prost crashed, Riccardo Patrese spun wide, Didier Pironi had fuel problems and Derek Daly had a gear issue – and could not take the lead. Eventually, Patrese was able to restart his car and win the jinxed race.
6. Ayrton Senna arrives, 1984: Alain Prost knew the race was his for the taking, but he had not counted on the arrival of Senna and his crazy driving. Prost knew Senna would overtake as he did and as such, he waved frantically for the race to be stopped. Well, it was stopped and Prost won, though the Brazilian had passed the finish line first.
7. The greatest rivalry in F1 history Prost vs. Senna, 1984-1993: After Senna’s remarkable feat at Monaco in 1984, the most thrilling rivalry in Grand Prix was born. The Monte Carlo streets proved to be the arena for this fascinating rivalry. Senna won 6 times against Prost’s four on the Monte Carlo streets.
8. Schumacher the great arrives, 1994: Michael Schumacher recorded his first of five wins in Monaco. This also marked the entry of the German into the book of F1 records.
9. The scheming Schumacher revealed 2006: He might be the great of greats, but his deliberate ‘parking’ ploy at the Rascasse hairpin to prevent other drivers from taking pole position besmirched his reputation. The penalty came hitting hard and Alonso went on to win the race.
Will Monaco Grand Prix 2015 add to these spicy moments? May 21st-24 2015 will tell.