Formula 1 Grand Prix cars with turbo engines will be able to take part in the 15^th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique in April 2026. Changes to FIA regulations will enable the Organizing and Selection Committee at Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) to reserve a specific class for them, as originally planned for 2022, when the Race G was introduced, for F1 single-seaters that raced at Monaco Grand Prix from 1981 to 1985.

The stars, however, and to the delight of those nostalgic for F1’s golden age, are likely to remain the 3-liter-engined single-seaters. Generally equipped with Ford Cosworth DFV V8s, their advent in 1966 fundamentally changed the image and reputation of F1. An expected field of 80 to 100 cars in Race D to G, all generally in a state of perfect preservation, capable of racing faster than fifty years ago on the streets of Monaco, in much better grip conditions and in complete safety.

Keen to preserve the identity of the Grand Prix, the organizers decided to keep the Race A1, reserved exclusively for pre-war cars, considering that the Bugatti cars (35, 37 and 51) and the Maserati are the DNA of the Monaco Grand Prix.

For the rest, the Race A2 (post-war, front-engines) and the Race C (sportscars) will continue unchanged, as will the five other F1 grids, which will present the evolution of Grand Prix racing over almost 40 years (from 1946 to 1985). Several tributes and anniversaries are already planned, in the authentic and majestic setting of the Principality’s circuit, and several fine pages of motor racing history will be turned, with sound, vibrations and smells included, during this 15^th edition of Grand Prix Historique de Monaco:

100 years ago (1926), Maserati made its racing debut. In addition to their potential presence in the Race A1 (eligible models range type 26, 26B, 26C, 26M till 4CL passing through 8C, 4CM, V8RI, 8CM, 6C-34, 6CM and 8CTF), the beautiful and rebellious Italians involved in the Race A2 are, in addition to the 250F (Winners with Stirling Moss 70 years ago (1956) and with Juan-Manuel Fangio in 1957), the 4CL, 4CLT/48, A6GCM and A6GCM. In Race C, the ACM still hopes to count on the participation of 150S, 250S, and 300S.

80 years ago (1946), the first Gordini imagined by Amédée, the great French wizard of Italian descent, came out, and 70 years ago (1956), it was the last appearance, at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, of a Gordini in the championship. It wasn’t until Matra, in 1967 at Monaco, that a blue car appeared again in F1.

60 years ago (1966), new F1 engine regulations (3-liter, no turbo) came into force, allowing McLaren to make its Grand Prix debut. At the wheel was the brand’s founder, Bruce McLaren, winner of Monaco Grand Prix in 1962 in a Cooper-Climax that is now often entered in the historic version. Six decades later, the English team, now managed by Zak Brown, is at the forefront of modern F1 (Winner of the Constructors’ World Championship in 2024 for the first time since the late 90s). McLaren’s record in Monaco speaks for itself: 58 participations, with 15 wins, 11 pole positions and 28 podium finishes! However, the English brand’s last win in the Principality already dates back to 2008, thanks to a certain Lewis Hamilton.

It was also 60 years ago (1966), Guy Ligier made his debut in Formula One with a Cooper… powered by a Maserati V12 engine! 10 years later, 50 years ago (1976), Ligier made its F1 debut as Manufacturer at the Brazilian GP, with a Matra-powered JS5 driven by Jacques Laffite, which later became a JS7 in 1977. The car’s first claim to fame was a pole position in Italy, on the fast Monza track, thanks to the monstrous power of its French V12 engine. That same year, the young Alain Prost, future four-time F1 world champion, made his single-seater debut (and won the French Formula Renault Championship), following his victory in Volant Elf at Circuit Paul Ricard.

30 years ago (1996), Thanks to Olivier Panis, Ligier won its only Monaco Grand Prix, the only post-war victory for a French car. Above all, it was Ligier’s last F1 success (9 in all) before the French team was sold to Flavio Briatore, who then passed it on to Alain Prost.

Provisional programme

Eight races will take place, restricted to cars that took part in international races and which satisfy the regulations for the relevant period, as follows

RACE A1 – LOUIS CHIRON – Prewar Grand Prix cars and Voiturettes

Class 1 :  Grand Prix cars (over 1500cc)

Class 2 : Voiturettes (below 1500cc)

RACE A2 – JUAN MANUEL FANGIO – Front-engine Grand Prix cars built before 1961

Class 1 : Cars built between January 1, 1946 and December 31, 1953 fitted with a supercharged  engine of

               maximum capacity 1500cc or with non-supercharged engine of maximum capacity 4500cc

Class 2 : Formula 2 cars built before December 31, 1953, with non-supercharged engine and a maximum engine

               capacity of 2000cc

Class 3 : Formula 1 cars built between January 1, 1954 and December 31, 1960 with non-supercharged engines

               of a maximum capacity 2500cc, or supercharged engines of maximum capacity 750cc

Class 4 : Cars outside classes 1-2-3 but having a historical connection with those entered in the F1 World

               Championship between 1950 and 1960

RACE B – GRAHAM HILL – Rear-engine, 1500, F1 GP cars from 1961 to 1965 and F2 from 1956 to 1960

Class 1 : F2 built between January 1, 1956 and December 31, 1960

Class 2 : Cars equipped with a 4 or 6 cylinder engine

Class 3 : Cars equipped with a 8 or 12 cylinder engine

RACE C – VITTORIO MARZOTTO – Front-engine Sport Racing cars from 1952 to 1957

Class 1 : Cars with an engine capacity of less than to 2L

Class 2 : Cars with an engine capacity of more than 2L fitted with drum brake

Class 3 : Cars with an engine capacity of more than 2L fitted with disk brakes

RACE D – JACKIE STEWART – F1 Grand Prix cars 3L from 1966 to 1972

Class 1 : Cars built or raced in F1Grands Prix between January 1, 1966 and December 31, 1969

Class 2 : Cars built between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1972, equipped with a Ford-Cosworth DFV engine

Class 3 :Cars built between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1972, equipped with other engines

RACE E – NIKI LAUDA – F1 Grand Prix cars 3L from 1973 to 1976 

Class 1:  Cars equipped with a Ford-Cosworth DFV engine

Class 2 : Cars equipped with other engines

RACE F – GILLES VILLENEUVE – F1 Grand Prix cars 3L from 1977 to 1980 

Class 1 : Cars not designed to exploit the ground effect

Class 2 : Cars designed to exploit the ground effect, equipped with a Ford-Cosworth DFV engine

Class 3 : Cars designed to exploit the ground effect, equipped with other engines

RACE G – AYRTON SENNA – F1 Grand Prix cars from 1981 to 1985

Class 1 : Cars equipped with aspirated engine

Class 2 : Cars equipped with a Turbo engine