Lewis Hamilton is 14 points ahead of Max Verstappen on his way to Monte Carlo for the legendary Monaco GP – the first time since 2019 after last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic – with the title fight on the streets of Principality to carry on.
While Mercedes appears to have gained the upper hand against Red Bull thanks to Hamilton’s three wins in the first four laps, the Milton Keynes-based squad will know Monaco is an ideal opportunity to hit back with the tight and twisty track traditionally used for the USA is suitable characteristics of the team car.
After a trio of third places, Valtteri Bottas also wants to take the lead after falling out of the pace – after scoring exactly half of Hamilton’s points so far.
In addition to the usual intense midfield battle, four F1 drivers will also make their GP debuts in Monaco. The trio of 2021 rookies in Yuki Tsunoda, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin and Nicholas Latifi from Williams, who missed the race last year.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
2021 schedules for the Formula 1 GP meeting in Monaco
F1 will continue their revised weekend schedule for 2021 with shorter training sessions on Thursday (for the Monaco GP only). Two free practice hours each lasting 60 minutes (instead of the previous 90-minute sessions) are followed by an additional practice hour, which also lasts one hour on Saturday morning.
The knockout qualifying format for Q1, Q2 and Q3 will also be maintained on Saturday afternoon to determine the starting line-up for the Monaco GP on Sunday.
F1 has also suspended starting races 10 minutes past the hour for the 2021 season, with all races starting every hour on the hour.
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Free practice 1: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CET (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on site)
Free practice 2: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CET (3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time)
Saturday May 22, 2021
Free practice 3: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CET (12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. local time)
Qualification: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CET (3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time)
Sunday 23 May 2021
Race: 2 p.m. CET (3 p.m. local time)
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10, leads Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
Why is the F1 Monaco GP training on a Thursday?
Originally, the Monaco GP fell on a holiday weekend in the province, which meant Friday was left free to watch the day and allow for regular traffic through Monte Carlo.
While maintaining the Friday free tradition, it is now being used to allow traffic through the area as well as businesses and hotels to replace inventory and prepare for the busy weekend period during the Monaco GP.
Although demand for businesses and hotels is likely to be lower due to COVID-19 restrictions and the number of visitors is capped at 40% or 7,500 fans per day of the track action and only 3,000 fans on Friday, all fans and visitors can easily access it on Move before the main action through the region, when the roads are closed again on Saturday and Sunday.
On the “rest day” on Friday, the track is still active, as the first Formula 2 sprint race on this day will take place from 11:45 am local time as part of the new three-race format of the F1 support series.
Alexander Albon, Toro Rosso STR14
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
How can I see the Monaco GP?
- Channel: Sky Sports F1 HD
- Channel numbers – sky: 406
- Channel Numbers – Virgin Media: 506 (Sky Sports F1 HD)
Sky Sports has live and exclusive broadcast rights in the UK. Preparation for the F1 race starts at 12:30 p.m. before the lights go out at 2:00 p.m.
When can I see the highlights?
- Channel: Channel 4
- Start time: Saturday qualifying at 8 p.m., Sunday race at 6.30 p.m.
Channel 4 has the right to show the GP-GP highlights of the qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10, leads the field through the first corner
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
Will it be on the radio?
Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2021 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra channels.
Coverage of the Monaco GP begins at 1:50 p.m. CET on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, which is available on both DAB radio and the BBC Sounds app.
Will there be fans at the Monaco GP?
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the number of spectators for the Monaco GP is currently limited to 40% of the regular full capacity for the race weekend, with a maximum of 7,500 fans allowed on each day of the track promotion. For the Friday ‘rest day’, the upper limit is set at 3,000 spectators. All fans must obey COVID-19 regulations in the stands and on the streets.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
Weather forecast for the Monaco GP
Monaco is set for largely sunny conditions, with a few clouds on Saturday and Sunday and a minimal chance of rain. Highs of 20 degrees Celsius are predicted over the weekend – around three degrees cooler than the hottest conditions at the Spanish GP.
Most of the F1 Monaco GP wins
Ayrton Senna: 6 wins (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Michael Schumacher: 5 wins (1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
Graham Hill: 5 wins (1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969)
Alain Prost: 4 wins (1984, 1985, 1986, 1988)
Lewis Hamilton: 3 wins (2008, 2016, 2019)
Nico Rosberg: 3 wins (2013, 2014, 2015)
Jackie Stewart: 3 wins (1966, 1971, 1973)
Stirling Moss: 3 victories (1956, 1960, 1961)
