Witnessing firsthand the madness that is the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix is a Bucket List item I’m still yet to achieve. (Although I shouldn’t complain too much, since for the last four years I’ve spent the same weekend at another iconic race, the Indy 500.)
I might not have had the chance to watch a race live at Monaco, but last spring I at least got the opportunity to visit the principality. And what better way to get a feel for the tight, confined streets of Monte Carlo, than to walk the route of the F1 track…
The Start-Finish Line
Building the pits
Me and Rich on Pole Position
Race Control is the first structure to be built for the race
Turn 1, Sainte Devote, where so much of the action happens
Sculpture of William Grover-Williams in his Bugatti at Sainte Devote
Heading up Beau Rivage
Looking back at the harbour from Beau Rivage
Curving left through Massenet at the top of Beau Rivage
Squeezing into Casino Square
Casino Square
The World Famous Casino Monte Carlo
Passing the ‘bump’ on the way to Mirabeau
Mirabeau
Aiming for the Grand Hotel Hairpin
Looking down on the hairpin exit
It’s easy to see why the Monaco hairpin is the slowest corner in Formula 1
One of the hairpin curbs
Me at the hairpin
Continuing down the hill to Portier (although this guy would be going the wrong way in the race!)
Approaching Portier
Portier from above
Modern era Formula 1 car near Portier
Me above the entrance to the tunnel
Sue modelling the curb at Portier on the run down to the tunnel
Curving through the tunnel
Part of the crash protection already in place in the tunnel
Dark to light: about to exit the tunnel
Between the tunnel and the chicane
A chicane is located here during the race… I couldn’t figure out how they’d fit it in!
Assembling the metal protective barriers
Look how close the track runs to the harbour towards Tabac!
Dodging through the Swimming Pool section
Stands going up near the Swimming Pool, opposite the pits
Rascasse cafe and corner
The short dash from Rascasse to the final corner of the lap, which is named after the man who invented the Monaco Grand Prix, Anthony Noghes
Aim straight ahead to navigate the Anthony Noghes corner onto the start-finish straight, or duck right into the pits
My second statue of Juan Manuel Fangio with his Mercedes, this time at the Anthony Noghes corner (the other was in Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Back onto the start-finish straight, a lap of Monaco completed
Do you think they’ll let me join?!
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This week’s post was inspired by a whole bunch of photo themes: Cars from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge, Cee’s Which Way Challenge, Transportation from Jenn’s Traveling at Wits End, Action from Debbie’s Travel With Intent, Epic from Patrick’s Pix To Words, and Jo’s Monday Walk, of course.
Jaspa's Journal 
Great post! What an amazing experience!
Thanks Josh! Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
I don’t know how many times I must have watched this race, back in the Schumacher days. I used to hate that tunnel! And after all that racing, for things to end as they did was tragic. So how come you didn’t stay for the race when they were already putting scaffolding up- prior engagement? 🙂 🙂 Thanks for showing me the circuit, Jaspa.
You’re right, Jo. It’s very sad what happened to Michael. And although they were already putting up the stands and stuff, we were still there almost two months before race day! That said, I would have loved to hang around!
Thanks for sharing that! I used to watch that race all the time. Great to have an intimate look at the course during race prep!
The pleasure’s all mine, Patrick!
=)
These are marvelous photos for all these challenges. Well done and captured.
Thanks, Cee!
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These are indeed wonderful snaps of this great racetrack 🙂
Thanks, Hammad!
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Amazing post. It is definitely on my bucket list too. Love the photos, it must have been so surreal
It was a great experience. One day I’ll see the race itself!