The magic of Monaco

By Greg MacLeman

| 3 Apr 2014

The Monaco Grand Prix has been the most prestigious meeting on the Formula 1 calendar for generations thanks to its tight and winding course through the principality's picturesque streets. Narrow, technical and dangerous, the circuit has only been mastered by the very best: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio. From its humble beginnings in 1929 to the races of the modern times, the circuit has a knack for drawing out the magic of motor racing and can always be relied upon to throw up unexpected results. Our best racing memories are intertwined with this historic meet, whether it be Senna's victory that never was in the wet in '88 or Sir Stirling Moss fending off the Ferrari onslaught in 1961. In the above photo, Innes Ireland leads Dan Gurney's Brabham BT7 Climax at Station Hairpin in 1963. All pictures copyright LAT Photograhic.

William Grover-Williams deftly pilots his Bugatti T35B to victory in the inaugural Grand Prix, organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco

The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio scores his first victory in a World Championship race at Monaco in 1950, seen here leading sixth-placed Bob Gerard's ERA A-type

Though Maurice Trintignant won in 1955, Louis Chiron became the oldest person to score Championship points. Here he is in his Lancia D50 at Station Hairpin

Stirling Moss pressed his ageing Lotus 18-Climax to victory in 1961, fending off three works Ferrari 156s to take the spoils

Graham Hill – the 'King of Monaco' – took his first victory at the circuit in 1963. Here he leads John Surtees' Ferrari Dino 156 through Casino Square

The circuit's narrow streets were littered with dangers. Graham Hill storms into the lead in 1965, just metres away from a bollard lined with sand bags

Denny Hulme's McLaren and Jean-Pierre Beltoise's BRM come together at Beau Rivage in 1974, causing a multi-car crash that retired seven cars

Niki Lauda storms towards the chicane in 1976. On the other side of the wall, holidaymakers are sunning themselves by the pool

Riccardo Patrese was top of the podium in 1982. He lost his lead after spinning with just over a lap to go, only to win when Didier Pironi and Andrea de Cesaris both ran out of fuel after passing him

Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna ruled Monaco for 10 years. The Frenchman's victory in 1984 heralded that era; here his McLaren MP4/2 leads Mansell's Lotus 95T Renault at Mirabeau. The race was controversially stopped after 27 laps despite Senna's Toleman making ground on Prost

Ayrton Senna's win in 1987 marked the first time a car with active suspension – his Lotus 99T honda – won a Grand Prix. He was later arrested for riding a motorcycle without a helmet

Michael Schumacher was renowned for his ability to push hard in the wet. But even the best make mistakes; in 1996 he crashed from pole on the first lap

Greg MacLeman

Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC

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