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Ferrari and Red Bull went blow for blow in Free Practice 2, just to end Friday on a positive note, with a slight psychological advantage. The leading quartet moved for an hour, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, for the Scuderia, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, for Red Bull Racing, ensuring a colorful spectacle, without sparing their efforts. At the end of this first street brawl, a perfect teaser for a fierce weekend, the local hero, Monegasque Charles Leclerc, finished at the top of the time sheet, same as in FP1 earlier in the afternoon, with a time of 1:12.656, just ahead of his Spanish teammate and both Red Bull drivers in an unusual order, with the Mexican ahead of the Dutchman.
Behind the four untouchables, the places of honor were also hotly contested, between five different teams: McLaren, with Lando Norris (5th) all alone following Daniel Ricciardo’s big crash at the Swimming Pool, which caused a red flag to be deployed for several minutes, Mercedes with George Russell (6th), AlphaTauri thanks to Pierre Gasly (7th), Alpine represented by Fernando Alonso (8th) and Aston Martin, with Sebastian Vettel (9th) in the Top 10. So that Saturday promises to be thrilling with a qualifying session where no expert can reasonably predict a detailed result. It will happen Saturday from 4 pm in the streets of Monaco. And it will be hot.
Photo : © Philippe Magoni
He is eagerly awaited this weekend and has every intention of making a faultless run until Sunday. It’s off to a good start, with the best time in Free Practice 1 on Friday afternoon for Charles Leclerc, in his Ferrari, in 1:14.531, with a tiny margin ahead of Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull (1:14.570) and on Carlos Sainz’s other Ferrari (1:14.601). A fourth driver fell below the 1:15 lap mark, world champion Max Verstappen, 4th fastest in this inaugural session where he tried to find the limit and went straight at Sainte-Dévote, without damaging his Red Bull carrying number 1.
The good surprise came from McLaren who set the 5th (Lando Norris) and 7th times (Daniel Ricciardo). Between the two drivers of the English team, the best Frenchman of this FP1, Pierre Gasly, took 6th in his AlphaTauri. Even if we cannot rely on a first session to draw hasty conclusions, it is already clear that the Scuderia has prepared this meeting in Monaco well and that Mercedes, despite obvious progress in recent weeks, is not yet back at the top of the F1 hierarchy: George Russell (8th) edged out Lewis Hamilton (10th) and another world champion, Sebastian Vettel (9th), pointed his Aston Martin’s nose in the Top 10.
The good news is that we won’t have to wait too long, only for Friday’s FP2 session at 5:00 pm, to find out if these trends are confirmed…
It’s a battle royale that promises to take place in the streets of the Principality for the 79th edition of Monaco F1 Grand Prix, with four ace drivers spread in three top teams: Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and new leader of the 2022 World Championship, at Red Bull Racing, Charles Leclerc, the local hero, in his Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for Mercedes.
One cannot expect any other driver to bother these top drivers who have accumulated 131 wins in F1, including 103 alone for the seven-time British world champion, 24 for the Flying Dutchman and 4 for the Monégasque. This 79th edition is more enticing than ever, between Sir Lewis and three spearheads of the new generation. Only Russell has never won in F1 but he has just finished in the Top 5 six times in a row this year, although he did not drive, by some length, the best single-seater on the grid.
To decide between the stars of modern F1, a little more eco-responsible and much less expensive for the teams, with a capped budget, a new format has been set up this year in Monaco: three days of F1, all inclusive, counting Friday morning for media duties and Friday afternoon for two free practice sessions, crucial to prepare for qualifying on Saturday afternoon.
It is indeed an extraordinary 79th Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco that is scheduled, in front of fully booked grandstands and VIP boxes, after two years of coronavirus, masks and sanitary constraints. It is also the beginning of a new era for Formula 1, in Monaco and elsewhere, around Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell, but also Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo in their McLarens, and two former world champions who could reconnect any time with their past glory, Fernando Alonso (Alpine) and Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), thanks to their huge experience: 340 Grands Prix contested (32 wins) for the popular Spaniard, crowned in 2005 and 2006, 283 GPs (and 53 wins) for the German four-time world champion.
On the French side, Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) will again be on the lookout if an opportunity arises, as in Monza or Hungary during their one and only success in F1, to date. The first two wins for a French driver in F1 since Olivier Panis in 1996… in Monaco!
On Sunday, talent, strategy and a bit of luck, an essential ingredient in the Principality, will determine the name of the winner. It will be much the same recipe for the supporting races, with a particularly exciting menu: the future champions of Formula 2, the young wolves of the Formula Regional Europe by Alpine and the overpowered coupes of the Porsche Supercup, ready to delight, one more time, lovers of old-fashioned thrills.
In this new-format Monaco Grand Prix, support races will be the only stars on track on Thursday. With a handful of famous surnames for young drivers who want to make a name for themselves: Enzo Fittipaldi, Eduardo Barrichello, Sebastian Montoya, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson, Marino Sato. One thing is certain, even if the format has changed, it will still be very hot on track, all along this very special weekend, in the streets of the Principality!
The demonstration was announced in the program of the 13th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, but the content of the event had been kept secret.
Jacky Ickx‘s presence in the paddock throughout the weekend, as well as the visit of Charles Leclerc planned for this Sunday, should have served as clues for the spectators. To the delight of enthusiasts, both drivers, the Belgian with an XXL résumé, and the Monégasque from the Scuderia, offered a real journey through time, for a few minutes, at midday, as the sun shone again over the port of Monaco.
Leclerc took charge of the Ferrari 312B3 (ex-Niki Lauda) entered in the E Series for Claudia Hürtgen by the Methusalem team. In 1974, this single-seater triumphed in Spain and the Netherlands, allowing the Austrian to claim his first two F1 wins, then Clay Regazzoni won in Germany and the Scuderia finished second in the Constructors’ World Championship, behind McLaren.
“When I was four, we were playing with toy cars in a friend’s apartment, that’s my first memory of Monaco Grand Prix,” Charles Leclerc said after this very special parade lap. “I took these streets on a bus to go to school when I was a kid and I always dreamt of winning this race. It’s really exceptional to see all these old cars today, at Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, it’s fun and it’s beautiful to see“, the Scuderia driver added.
For his part, Ickx recalled some good memories at the wheel of his 312B2, registered in the D Series and entrusted this weekend to Jürgen Boden. With this car, the Belgian was on the second step of the podium in the Principality in 1971, before winning in the Netherlands and Germany later in the season.
The demonstration lasted about ten minutes, the Ferrari engines roared and many spectators were moved. Then Leclerc and Ickx posed for the official photo on the starting grid. A snapshot for history, with Charles and Jacky, worthy representatives of two generations of drivers, to the delight of many photographers.
In order to pay tribute to Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus, 40 years after his passing in 1982, the organizers of Grand Prix de Monaco Historique launched 34 cars of the legendary brand entered in this 13th edition, on Saturday, for a memorable lap of honour, after a photo shoot around Clive Chapman, Colin’s son, and several heirs of the most brilliant engineer in the history of F1.
It was a moment of grace, one more, on this circuit of Monaco where Lotus has so often triumphed: 7 wins in the most glamorous GP on the calendar, between the two initial successes of Stirling Moss (1960, 1961) and the ultimate triumph, achieved by the incomparable Ayrton Senna in 1987, with a Renault engine in his back. “It’s great to see how the Automobile Club of Monaco wishes to honor the memory of my father“, said Clive Chapman Friday in the paddock, in front of the tent sheltering his Lotus Classic Cars team.
MONACO. 30 March 2022 – Formula E, the FIA and the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) today revealed the track layout for the 2022 Monaco E-Prix, Round 6 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The 19-turn, 3.337 km track will see the all-electric cars climb the hill at Sainte Dévote and travel through the iconic Place du Casino, Mirabeau, Grand Hotel Hairpin and Portier sector.
DS TECHEETAH’s Antonio Felix Da Costa claimed victory last season in one of the most exciting races in the history of Formula E with an audacious overtake at the exit of the tunnel on the final lap of the race.
The 2021 edition marked the inaugural outing on the full Circuit de Monaco for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. A race that recorded 28 overtakes between the top six runners alone. The 2021 track incorporated a modified chicane at the T11, which will disappear this year to make way for the traditional track when it comes to the best of motorsport.
This change of layout to align with the highest standards of motorsport shows once again how Formula E continues to progress.
Frederic Espinos, Sporting Director, Formula E: “The 2021 Monaco E-Prix remains one of the finest races in Formula E history with an unprecedented number of overtakes. Our drivers love driving in street circuits which is why Monaco, one of the most iconic circuits in the world that all drivers know inside out, is particularly suitable to showcase the unique style of Formula E motorsport. We can’t wait to see the 2022 race and the drama that will unfold on the streets of Monaco.”
Javier Maffioli, Formula E Head of Event Operations at the FIA: ”Using the full Monaco track layout successfully last year was a major step forward for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This year, we are taking the final step, removing the minor modifications that were made for Formula E, so that we can to see our drivers and cars performing on the historical layout. This is another major achievement for our discipline and we look forward to another exciting race on the streets of Monaco.”
Christian Tornatore, General Commissioner, ACM: ” I hope that on the occasion of this 5th Monaco E-Prix, television viewers and spectators will be able to attend a race just as competitive as last year’s, which to this day remains and will remain in the annals of international motorsport.”
Since February 25th, the Principality’s nights have been punctuated by the repair of the asphalt on the roads used by the Monaco Circuit.
In 2022, many sectors are concerned : Pitlane, Avenue d’Ostende, Boulevard Albert 1er, Avenue des Spélugues, Tunnel Louis II, Darse Nord / Route de la Piscine, Rascasse and Antony Noghès Corners.
In total, almost 2/3 of the circuit will be equipped with new asphalt. In figures, this represents more than 2754 tonnes of asphalt laid.
The objective is to give a new tarmac to the streets and the track, to offer a surface in line with international standards, with the particular challenge to use roads exposed to the Principality’s traffic all year round.
At least 2 nights are necessary per sector. Carried out by teams from the Direction de l’Urbanisme and SIVIA’M, the work is divided into 2 phases: planning of the upper part of the asphalt, and application of the new asphalt the following night.
This work is necessary in order to be in time for the Spring events (Monaco E-Prix, Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, F1 Grand Prix de Monaco). End of the work scheduled for March 16th.
Let’s have a look on the pictures of the asphalt repair work on the Monaco Circuit.
Copyrights : Direction de la Communication – Michael Alesi
In the context of the 5th Monaco E-Prix (30 April 2022), 13th Monaco Historic Grand Prix (13 to 15 May 2022) and 79th Monaco Grand Prix (26 to 29 May 2022), the Automobile Club de Monaco would like to inform you of the Opening of the “Resident Access” Office, located in Square Gastaud, from Monday 7 March 2022.
The office will be open to residents, companies and VTCs from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, for the issue of passes only.
Contact : +377 97 77 95 70 – [email protected]
Contact : +377 97 77 30 14 – [email protected]
Formula E and the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) announce today the ticket launch for the 2022 Monaco E-Prix scheduled for April 30.
The 19-turn, 3.337 km track will see the all-electric cars climb the hill at Sainte Dévote and travel through the iconic Place du Casino, Mirabeau, Grand Hotel Hairpin and Portier sector.
DS TECHEETAH’s Antonio Felix Da Costa claimed victory last season in one of the most exciting races in the history of Formula E with an audacious overtake at the exit of the tunnel on the final lap of the race.
The 2021 edition marked the inaugural outing on the full Circuit de Monaco for Formula E. A race that recorded 28 overtakes between the top six runners alone.
Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to fill the grandstands in the Principality with the Allianz E-village being hosted on the Quai Antoine 1er and offering the opportunity for fans to see and learn more about the latest prototypes and the cars of tomorrow, take on the challenge and compete on racing simulators to set the best lap on the simulators in the Gaming Arena and watch the racing action live on the giant screens.
Tickets for children under 16 accompanied by an adult are completely free. Access to the Allianz E-Village remains free for all. A single price of €30 is applied for grandstand entry via www.fiaformulae.com or www.monaco-eprix.com
Alberto Longo, Formula E Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer: “The 2021 Monaco E-Prix was one of the most dramatic Formula E races we’ve ever seen and proved our cars can light up Monte Carlo. To be able to go to this legendary motorsport circuit is a privilege and to witness a thrilling and action-packed race is a chance not to be missed. Monaco’s hometeam, ROKiT Venturi Racing, are looking incredibly strong this season and I invite all motorsport lovers, families and residents alike to join us and potentially see a home win!”
Jérôme D’Ambrosio, Team Principal, ROKiT Venturi Racing: “The Monaco E-Prix has become a natural highlight on the motorsport calendar and, with the ROKiT Venturi Racing HQ just a few minutes walk from the iconic track, it is a home race for us in the truest sense. With 150 position changes during the Monaco E-Prix last year we had another reminder of the highly competitive and action-packed nature of Formula E racing that motorsport fans love. As proud flag-bearers for the Principality we definitely feel the benefit of the local supporters so it’s great news for us that they can attend this years race in full force. We will be preparing for the race as we do for any other race on the calendar with our sights firmly set on a consistent performance with a fight for the podium in our sights.”
Christian Tornatore, ACM General Commissioner : “ Being able to welcome the public again is a first satisfaction for all the teams of the Automobile Club de Monaco who, this year again, are organizing 3 international events in 5 weeks. I hope that on the occasion of this 5th Monaco E-Prix, television viewers and spectators will be able to attend a race just as competitive as last year’s, which to this day remains and will remain in the annals of international motorsport …”
Tune-in to the Monaco E-Prix via L’Equipe and Eurosport on April 30, 2022.
CODE 00 & 0
Safety, a necessity rule for the smooth running of the event, has its guardian angels! 2 crews who pass before the competitors, between 1 hour and 30 minutes before the first car.
On this Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique, the role of the two teams, composed respectively by Jean-Luc Vieilleville / Romain Pugliese (Car 00) and Jean-Michel Matas / Jérémy Joffre (Car 0) is to check that the various devices are in setting up on the ground (CH Departure, Secret Points and Stop Points in particular) and to ensure that the regularity stages can be used by all the competitors, without danger… 
