Formula 1: “Monaco is the Grand Prix of oddities”
Dand the legend of Formula 1, there is a Grand Prix apart. A unique race where thrills, speed and glamour. In Monaco, Formula 1 is changing in dimension and is no longer quite a sport. The stars rush there, the spectators look for a yacht or a palace in height to see the racing cars hurtling down the streets and the pilots seek to shine.
Mythical voice of Formula 1 and consultant for Canal+, which broadcasts all the races, Jean-Louis Moncet explains to the Indicate why this Grand Prix always fascinates, and distills some anecdotes.
Point : A month ago, Formula 1 was in Miami for a very glamorous and people Grand Prix. The new GPs also put on that show on and off the track. How does Monaco keep its special side?
Jean-Louis Moncet: The Monaco GP does not suffer from foreign competition, it created all of that. When we look at what Americans want to do in Miami or Las Vegas, we see that they are copying Monaco. Even Singapore was inspired by this Grand Prix. Monaco is the story of the prince and the princess, the yachts, the Mediterranean Sea, the palaces, the Cannes Film Festival at the same time… The glamor of Monaco, although in competition, no one can resist it. If there weren’t this glamorous or people context, the circuit itself would be anachronistic: the streets are narrow, there aren’t many possibilities for overtaking.
Senna hits the rail. He gives up. There is all of Monaco in the 1988 GP.
What is the most beautiful Monaco Grand Prix in history?
(Laughs.) That’s a very good question. In Monaco, there is no direct rivalry because of the overtaking difficulties. There will never be attacks between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc like in Miami or Bahrain. On the other hand, in Monaco, there are historical foundations. People who are 60-70 today will talk about Beltoise winning in the pouring rain in 1972; the Italians will retain Ferrari’s victories. In 1970, Jack Brabham leads the race from the 28e lap and, 400 meters from the finish, he shoots straight and Jochen Rindt wins. Same for Panis who overtook Irvine and rushed Coulthard to win in 1996. In 1965, Graham Hill shot straight out of the tunnel. He gets out of his car and puts it back in the direction of travel. He replaces and wins the race. Monaco is the Grand Prix of oddities. I also remember 1988. This year, Ayrton Senna starts in the lead, Prost is third. Alain managed to pass Berger. Ayrton is flying on the circuit, he is almost a lap ahead. We say to ourselves: “He’s going to take a trick on her, he’s going to humiliate her.” McLaren boss Ron Dennis asked him a few laps from the finish to slow down. Senna does not obey. After three or four messages, he obeys and slightly lowers the speed. Before the tunnel, he takes the bend as usual, except that he no longer has the same speed. It hits the rail. He gives up. There is all of Monaco in the 1988 GP.
There is an extra soul when it rains…
Rain is not the most practical thing in Monaco. As the circuit is in the city, the drainage of the streets is not chosen easy. There are puddles forming, and the danger is aquaplaning. You have to be careful at all times. In 1972, Jean-Pierre Beltoise got off to a good start and won after a daunting Grand Prix; he did not make a mistake, unlike Jackie Stewart. Monaco is a revealer. Fangio delivered his first GP in Monaco. He is in the lead. He arrives at the tobacco shop and notices that the spectators are not watching him arrive and are looking to the right; he slows down, he brakes and sees ten cars piled up. It can avoid the traffic jam. We said to ourselves “Fangio has the vista of racing”.
It’s an endurance race.
We are used to saying that in Monaco driving takes precedence over single-seaters. Or we see that it is always the leading manufacturers who win. There are few surprises.
I’m going to give you Alain Prost’s secret. He felt that it was the most tiring GP of the season because of the heat, the physique, the concentration… So he said to me: “In Monaco, I prefer to build myself a comfortable car, certainly less efficient over a lap for qualifying, but be more relaxed for the race. He has won the race four times. There are few surprises in Monaco, as it is an endurance race. For small stables, you have to know how to take your time. There will be withdrawals and we can pick up points. This year again, it will be played out between Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
There are curses in Monaco. Charles Leclerc never finished his Grand Prix, even during an exhibition during which he hit the wall…
He’s on a bad streak. On the historic GP, it’s the brake disc that breaks. He can do something very well in Monaco. We see that he makes demonstrations at each qualification. It’s impressive. And, in Monaco, whoever has pole position has every chance of winning the race. The car is excellent. I don’t believe in curses. Nico Rosberg, who lived in Monaco, said: “The GP, I did it on a moped at least a thousand times. And he won it three times.
After the madness of last year with this life-and-death struggle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, is this season keeping all its promises?
It’s been a fabulous season, even if the end result hasn’t lived up to Formula 1 standards. I think the way it ended was unfair to both Hamilton – he lost the title – and Verstappen – his crown is attached. This start to the season is fantastic with this battle between Red Bull and Ferrari. The rivalry between Max and Charles has nothing to envy to that between Max and Lewis in 2021. Will the Mercedes go up to the level of the other two? A third team that would join the fight for the title would be great.
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You have been following Formula 1 for many years. Do you still take as much pleasure in covering this discipline which seems to be in the midst of a renaissance?
” Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life said Confucius. When I started out, I experienced a certain golden age. We then had a rough time for ratings with a dominant Michael Schumacher, even though half the world loved him and half hated him. Afterwards, there was the Hamilton cycle, it was interesting to see him progress, but the interest was used because there was no adversity. For three years, the renewal is important and we take every weekend a crazy pleasure.