Formula 1 will be visiting Monaco again next weekend. The Grand Prix in the principality is not known for a lot of action in the race, but for a unique track, spectacular qualifying and – as always – a party atmosphere on the yachts surrounding the event. The glamorous GP in Monaco is controversial due to its hostility to overtaking, but is still a fixture in the calendar of the premier class. What stories could shape the coming weekend?
1. Focus: Will McLaren’s upward trend continue?
2nd place in China, victory in Miami, 2nd place in Imola. Lando Norris is currently on a very high note with McLaren. Especially since the upgrades that the team brought to the first USA race of the year, the MCL38 is in no way inferior to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. Quite the opposite: Norris’ racing trim in Miami was already well above the level of the RB20.
In Imola, Norris’ car seemed to offer the better performance both in qualifying and over the race distance. His incredible talent and a little slipstream help brought Verstappen to pole and victory. But what the Papaya Oranges have discovered in recent weeks is that their new car is not only strong in the fast corners, as it was last year. In 2025, it will also score points – or even above all – in the slow corners. A good recipe for the Monaco GP.
2. Focus: narrow streets, tight curves
Monaco is not the only street circuit on the Formula 1 calendar. It is also not the only route on the calendar where overtaking is extremely difficult and is no longer the only one that is located at the harbor or the only one around which stars and celebrities crowd. Nevertheless, Monaco is and remains something special.
Only a few tracks can boast that they have been part of Formula 1 continuously since the 1950s (with the exception of the Corona crisis) and that with minimal layout changes. No, actually no track can say that. Overtaking is almost impossible in Monaco, but when there are changes in position on the track, they are even more spectacular and always take place with a brute force.
The zero tire wear course and the enormous traffic jam effect also make the race a unique affair strategically, which often seems counterintuitive. Remember 2016 when Lewis Hamilton stayed on full wets despite the drying track as this allowed him to maintain the lead. Add to that one of the best qualifying sessions of the year. The pole isn’t everything in Monaco, but it is often crucial.
3. Focus: Will Alonso get back on track?
This gives cause for concern: Is the 42-year-old actually on the decline and slowly but surely too old for this sport or can he prove all the critics wrong again in Monaco? He would be capable of the latter. In 2023, the 2006 Monaco winner narrowly missed pole position in the principality and ultimately ended up in second place. It’s hard to expect such strong results this year, regardless of his own performance. Monte Carlo is good for a few surprises, but that Aston Martin is probably one of the outsiders here too.
4. Hot Spot: Logan Sargeant on the hit list
The driver market for 2025 is turning. But not only that, the carousel could also claim a victim in the current season. Namely Logan Sargeant. The American has not made any real steps forward in his second Formula 1 season, is clearly inferior to Alex Albon and miles away from points.
Williams is slowly losing patience with him. A separation during the current season is not only on the table, but is becoming increasingly likely. But there is no good alternative. Things became a bit quiet around Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli, as he apparently does not receive an exception for a super license and Williams does not necessarily want to take on the young driver, who will not turn 18 until the end of August, for 2025.
Because Valtteri Bottas is currently on the list for the second cockpit next to Albon next year. That could at least open a door for Mick Schumacher for six months, who already has two Formula 1 years for Haas under his belt and therefore has some experience. But names like Jack Doohan are also mentioned.
5. Focal point: Special route, special paint jobs
If McLaren does indeed compete at the front this weekend, they won’t be doing so in papaya orange. For Monaco, the Woking-based team is using a special livery, and not just any. Instead of giving sponsors an extra platform, as is often the case with special designs, the entire car was designed in reference to Ayrton Senna.
Yellow, green, blue. Just like the Brazilian national flag and the helmet of the Formula 1 legend, the MCL38 of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be painted in the city state on the Mediterranean. Norris promised his own helmet design in honor of Senna. But McLaren is not the only one to have come up with something special for Monaco.
Williams has also adapted its livery slightly for the race weekend. In her case, with a well-known ‘personality’, but only for sponsorship reasons. At the GP in Monte Carlo, the Duracell bunny appeared on the engine cover of the FW46 for the first time. The battery producer has been a partner of the Formula 1 team from Grove since 2022.