Monaco F1 track analysis: downforce and traction needed in Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo track is the shortest in F1 and also has the lowest average speed.

Following the thrilling Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola circuit last Sunday in front of the tifosi, Formula 1 immediately returns to action on the world’s most famous and distinctive street circuit for the Monaco Grand Prix. This event in the Principality, now in its seventieth edition within the F1 world championship, is a historic and prestigious race: winning here is likely the dream of every driver due to its legendary status and difficulty. Alongside victories at Le Mans and Indianapolis, it confers the so-called “Triple Crown” on a driver.

The Monte Carlo track is the shortest in the entire championship at 3.337 km and also has the lowest average speed due to its winding nature and particularly narrow road, characteristics that make this circuit unique.

Because of these unique characteristics, cars have specific aerodynamic solutions to achieve the high downforce required. Among other specific solutions, the increased steering radius is notable for better handling of extremely tight corners like the hairpin at Turn 6.

The temperature data does not show significant thermal stress on the tires due to the low average speed per lap. For the front tires, temperature peaks can be seen in Turn 1, Saint Devote; Turn 10, Nouvelle Chicane; and in Turn 15, in the swimming pool section. The rear tires, on the other hand, are more stressed on the exits of slow corners where high traction is needed. The brakes are also heavily stressed due to the large number of corners and the few straights.

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For this weekend, Pirelli has again chosen the softest set available: C3-C4-C5. This choice is related to the low abrasion of the circuit and the low tangential forces involved. The expected grip level will be very variable, as often happens on street circuits: low at the beginning of the weekend and gradually increasing in the subsequent sessions. The grip levels will also be helped by the junior categories’ races.

The Monaco track is not very aggressive on the tires with extremely low wear levels. Slightly higher wear levels are expected for the rear tires due to the high traction required on the exits of the numerous slow corners such as the hairpin at Turn 6, the chicane after the tunnel at Turn 9, and the chicanes in the swimming pool section.

Due to the near impossibility of overtaking, race strategies and, even more so, qualifying will be crucial. Therefore, a one-stop race is expected thanks to the low predicted wear and to minimize the number of pit stops.