Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco
22 - 25 May 2025
82nd edition
Upcoming Events
In one year, everything has changed. McLaren, the Constructors’ World Champion at the end of 2024, has become the team to beat, having won five of the first seven Grands Prix in 2025, four of them thanks to the sheer talent of championship leader Oscar Piastri. And Max Verstappen, the four-time reigning Drivers’ World Champion, is no more than an outsider… at a very high level, since he managed to win twice, in Japan and at Imola, in his Red Bull. The third winner at the start of the season was Lando Norris, in the other McLaren. All the others had to make do with crumbs…
As we come to the end of the Cannes Film Festival, a word about the supporting acts, this year Mercedes and Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton’s old and new team. At the Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco, their drivers will be doing everything in their power to upset the odds. And they can, on a circuit like no other, at a very special Grand Prix already won by just four of the 20 drivers on the 2025 grid: Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, the three World Champions, and of course Charles Leclerc, the local hero who finally won “his” Grand Prix last year, on his sixth attempt.
Beyond the expected duel between McLaren and Verstappen, the public at this 82nd edition will want to experience some surprises, and most spectators are hoping to see at least one Ferrari driver on the princely podium, like Charles last year on the highest step. Even if the start of the season hasn’t lived up to the huge buzz created by Sir Lewis’s arrival at Maranello, there are a few reasons for hope, both for the Italian tifosi and for the Principality’s fans. After all, Leclerc finished on the podium in Jeddah, and Hamilton has just finished at the foot of the podium in Imola, on Italian soil, after a “remontada” worthy of his best years as a young McLaren driver, from 12th to 4th place, last Sunday. He also won the Chinese Sprint Race in Shanghai on Saturday.
Three Frenchmen ready to pounce!
When it comes to predictions and possible bets for pole position and victory on Sunday, don’t forget the Mercedes drivers. Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli, 18 years old, still seems a little young to win on the streets of the Principality, but who knows? And the late Ayrton Senna, a little older at the time, left his mark on the 1984 edition, on his Monaco F1 debut (2nd behind Alain Prost in a rain-shortened race). As for George Russell, the new leader of the German team, he has shown a fine consistency since the season opener in Australia: four podiums in all, which puts him ahead of the two Ferrari drivers in the championship standings.
There’s no real favourite for this Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco, in fact, because this 2025 season is one of tightening performances, with minimal gaps in qualifying between single-seaters that are nearing the end of their development. Because next year, in 2026, new technical regulations will come into force for chassis and hybrid engines. As a direct consequence of this situation, we can even imagine a totally surprising result, like in 1996, just 30 years ago, when Olivier Panis won in a Ligier. Three French drivers are ready, in the event of extreme circumstances and multiple race incidents, to create a huge surprise: Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Esteban Ocon (Haas) and even the new kid on the block, Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), who amazes with every outing and continues to accumulate experience.
Two compulsory stops…
To muddy the waters, in addition to the highly uncertain weather in this stormy month of May, there’s also something new this year in the Principality: a minimum of two compulsory pit stops for all competitors, whereas in recent years some have tried a one-stop strategy. It remains to be seen whether, in addition to spicing up the race, this constraint will be more favourable to the top or the mid-table teams. As the English say, “wait and see”.
A few places left!
There are still seats available in the grandstands for Friday (F1 free practice, F2, F3 and Porsche Supercup qualifying). To find out more, visit www.monaco-grandprix.com as soon as possible, or visit the following ticketing outlets:
