2024 F1 Monaco Grand Prix Preview: Qualifying is everything

The 2024 F1 World Championship Round 8 will be held in southern France for the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix.

This race is the most famous on the calendar, a race that every driver wants to win at least once in his career. In 1929, the first race was held by Antony Noguez, whose name is listed on the last corner of the current circuit.

Monaco is also on the first F1 calendar in 1950 and has been a regular fixture since 1955. The 2.1-mile street circuit winding through Monte Carlo, officially the layout of the Circuit de Monaco, is the biggest update made in 2004 when the new pit complex was built.

Due to the narrow streets and tight turns of the circuit, only 34% of the laps are taken at full throttle and overtaking is also very difficult, so the qualifying will be more than any other round, with other Lau races lasting 78 laps, which is also more than any other round.

However, slow speeds do not mean that the driver can relax. In addition to constant gear changes each lap, a close wall means there is no margin for error. If the 7-foot braking is too slow, the whole weekend can be ruined. If the driver is lucky, they will get to the escape road. If not, the car will be wrecked.

The grip level is also low, and it is made up entirely of public roads that will be open to normal traffic in the evening after Friday's practice and Saturday's qualifying, meaning there will not be much rubber left on the surface by the time of Sunday's race. As a result, the car performs a special high downforce configuration in Monaco to maximize grip.

The combination of slippery surfaces and low speeds means minimal tire wear and degradation. As a result, Pirelli named its softest compounds, C3, C4, and C5. Virtually every team chooses a one-stop strategy, because overtaking is very difficult, because a good position on the field is everything.

Entering the weekend, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen continues to lead in the 2024 Drivers' Championship with 161 points. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is 113 points in 2nd place, while Red Bull's Sergio Perez is 107 points in 3rd place. In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull leads by 212 points against Ferrari's 154 and McLaren's 268. The winner in Monaco last year was Verstappen, who was driving for Red Bull.