We have sailed into another race week and this time it comes with the glitz and glamour.
Monaco is a weekend all race drivers look forward to due to it’s history and the glory that can come with a win around the streets, but for F1 fans it’s not unless it’s a race full of overtaking action.
It was 1929 when racing engines first reverberated around the Principality, after cigarette manufacturer Antony Noghes decided to organise a race with his pals from the Automobile Club de Monaco.
The race was part of the calendar in the first year of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1950, and hasn’t been off it since 1955.
The Monaco GP is still one of the biggest tests an F1 driver will face over the season, once described as “like riding a bicycle around your living room,” by Nelson Piquet. It shows just how it feels for the drivers.
If fans want some added drama to the race it may come in the form of rain and thunderstorms – there is a 60% chance that it will rain in Monaco this Sunday.
Rain will add a different challenge to the already tough street race and it will allow drivers that can keep their pace in those conditions to lead the field.
Lewis Hamilton over the years has shown just how good he can be in the rain and is by some considered as one of the wet weather greats!
This being said there are 4 other drivers that have proven in recent seasons that rain has allowed their abilities to shine through on the dull days.
George Russell showed in qualifying at Spa putting his Williams in P2 he has the what it takes to push in the wet.
Lando Norris also showed at Spa just how quick he could be in the ran before his crash and his podium at Imola in the rain was a performance that provides he has what it takes when the track grips goes.
The other two driver are the ones currently battling it out for the lead of the Championship. Max Verstappen had three good performances in the races were weather came into effect and ended up with a DNF in the other after a four-car crash at turn one in Hungary.
Verstappen took the chequered flag last year at the Monaco GP and will be favourite to do the same again this year.
Qualifying at Monaco is the most important of the year, track position is king in this race as overtaking is not easy at all.
Charles Leclerc did manage to put in the fastest time and took pole last year but on his final run crashed causing a red flag that meant no one else could beat his best lap time.
This crash did however result in him not being able to start the races as issues came up on his warm up laps round to the start grid.
Speaking of issues for Charles at his home race, he is yet to finish a race around the streets of Monaco. He also ended up having a crash in historic 1974 Ferrari after suffering a brake failure while ion a demo run earlier in the year.
With Charles history’ and Max’s recent performances, this week seems like a week where Verstappen could be the main focus of your F1 Fantasy picks.
In terms of bonus points streaks, only one constructor that can take bonus race points and that is Mercedes. With their recent improvements and Russell’s consistent driving leads them to be a team that are worth considering bringing in.
There’s also only one driver who is in line for bonus points – Valtteri Bottas. After strong recent race performances Bottas will earn extra fantasy points should he manage to finish in the top 10 again.
I believe Alfa Romeo’s recent pace should translate well over to the Monaco GP as well.
So will we have an a historic Monaco GP for the new cars era? With lots of close battles expected throughout the field I believe we will see a Monaco GP to remember.
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