Round 6 of 22 · Monaco Grand Prix

Monaco Grand Prix

3:00 PM GMT+2 · Monte Carlo · Monte Carlo

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Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo, Monaco · Europe/Monaco

Circuit de Monaco is a 3.337 km (2.074 miles) street circuit threaded through the streets of Monte Carlo, with 19 corners across a 78-lap race distance of 260.286 km. It is the shortest, slowest, and most famous circuit on the calendar, part of F1 since the championship’s inaugural season in 1950, with the Grand Prix dating back to 1929. Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record at 1:12.909, set in 2021.

The layout winds through public roads barely wide enough for two cars side by side. The climb to Casino Square through Massenet leads to the iconic right-hander at Casino, followed by the plunge down to Mirabeau and the tight Fairmont Hairpin (formerly Loews), the slowest corner in F1 at approximately 48 km/h. The tunnel section plunges drivers from bright sunlight into darkness and back out at over 250 km/h before the chicane at the swimming pool complex. Overtaking is extremely difficult, with the chicane after the tunnel and Turn 1 being the only realistic passing spots, and a single DRS zone on the pit straight.

Ayrton Senna won here six times, a record that defines Monaco’s history. His first victory came on 31 May 1987. Graham Hill earned five wins and the nickname “Mr. Monaco.” On 29 May 2022, Sergio Perez won a rain-affected race that saw multiple lead changes and strategic gambles. Charles Leclerc, a Monaco native, finally won his home race on 26 May 2024 after years of heartbreak, including mechanical failures and team strategy errors that denied him in 2021 and 2022.

The timezone is Europe/Monaco at CEST (UTC+2). A 14:00 local start translates to 12:00 GMT and 08:00 EDT, making it one of the most accessible races for a global audience. European fans get an afternoon race, North American viewers get a morning start, and Asian fans can watch in the evening at 20:00 CST and 21:00 JST. Check Monaco time and Monte Carlo time for conversions.

June in Monaco is warm, dry, and reliably sunny, with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius. Rain is rare but transformative when it arrives. The Principality transforms for race weekend, with yachts filling the harbour and the circuit becoming a stage for one of sport’s most glamorous events. Getting to Monaco is straightforward via Nice airport, just 30 km away, with helicopter transfers and train connections available.

See the full race schedule and session times at the Monaco Grand Prix page.

The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco starts at 14:00 CEST (UTC+2) on Sunday 7 June. At 3.337 km per lap over 78 laps, it is the shortest circuit on the calendar and the only race where qualifying position determines the result almost absolutely.

This is not a sprint weekend. Practice, qualifying, and the race run across the standard three-day format.

The Circuit de Monaco threads through the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, past the harbor lined with superyachts, through the famous tunnel, and around the tight Loews hairpin where speeds drop below 50 km/h. At just 3.337 km, it is the shortest lap on the calendar, but every meter demands absolute precision with barriers inches from the car on both sides.

Monaco has hosted a Grand Prix since 1929 and has been a fixture of the World Championship since 1955. Ayrton Senna won here six times, a record that still stands. Graham Hill earned the nickname “Mr. Monaco” with five victories in the 1960s. In 1982, the final laps produced one of the most chaotic finishes in F1 history, with multiple leaders crashing or running out of fuel in the rain. Charles Leclerc, born and raised in Monaco, finally won his home race in 2024 after years of heartbreak, including a 2021 qualifying crash and a 2022 strategy error that cost him victory.

For European fans, the 14:00 CEST start is a comfortable Sunday afternoon watch. UK viewers tune in at 13:00 BST. North American fans get a morning slot at 08:00 Eastern and 05:00 Pacific. Australian viewers face a late evening at 22:00 AEST, while Asian audiences watch at 20:00 JST and 20:00 CST. Check Monaco time for the exact start in your location.

The 2026 regulations bring wider cars with active aerodynamic elements, which will make Monaco’s tight confines even more demanding. Threading a car through the barriers on the approach to the Swimming Pool complex will test driver confidence to its absolute limit. Qualifying remains everything here; a pole position in Monaco is worth more than at any other circuit on the calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time did the Monaco Grand Prix start?

The Monaco Grand Prix started at 15:00 local time in Monte Carlo on 2026-06-07. This page shows the start time converted to your local timezone.

Where is the Monaco Grand Prix held?

The Monaco Grand Prix takes place at Monte Carlo in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Was the Monaco Grand Prix a sprint weekend?

No, the Monaco Grand Prix ran the standard weekend format with practice, qualifying, and the race.