Few races inspire more passion than the Monaco Grand Prix. The street course is seen by many as the embodiment of Formula 1 racing; it’s certainly tough to argue that there is a more glamorous location for a race anywhere in the world. The tight, fast street course sends cars speeding past casinos, luxury hotels and million-dollar yachts. However, that doesn’t mean that Monaco is a pleasure cruise. Last season’s race was a prime example that the Monaco Grand Prix is often a dangerous spectacle.
Countdown for the Monaco Grand Prix
in 7 days, 21 hours, 52 minutes, 52 seconds
Two drivers were on the wrong end of crashes during the race weekend. Sergio Perez suffered a concussion and a bruised leg after a nasty crash while exiting the famed tunnel during qualifying. During the race, Vitaly Petrov made major contact with one of the barriers. The force of the crash trapped Petrov in his car, forcing a red flag for almost 30 minutes. Petrov’s injuries were minor but the accidents suffered by he and Perez were reminders of the dangers that Monaco provides.
One driver who had no issues at Monaco last season was Sebastian Vettel. In fact, the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix was a capsule version of his championship season. His Red Bull car was dominant from the first practice session through the final checkered flag. Vettel claimed the pole position for the race and led from the start. Only a miscommunication with his pit crew early in the race that saw him get the wrong tire compound would temporarily slow him down, but he was able to shake off the error and easily claim the victory.
The real race last year was for second, as Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button battled throughout the afternoon for the spot. Alonso was finally able to claim the runner-up spot after a late caution bunched up the top three drivers. One of the surprise finishes came from Kamui Kobayashi, who was fifth after qualifying 13th.
Will Red Bull Racing dominate this race? We won’t know without seeing how the first 4 races of the season start to see which drivers are the strongest.
Race happens May 27th, 2012
Circuit Information
Circuit de Monaco
Number of Laps: 78
Circuit Length: 3.340 km
Lap Record: 1:14.439 Michael Schumacher in 2004
Two recommended sportsbooks to bet on the Monaco Grand Prix
Intertops for residents in the United States
Bet365 for UK, Europe, Asia and rest of world
