Featured Image Credit: Formula 2
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris
Chris Byfield
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris
An F1 driver’s terrifying near miss at the Monaco Grand Prix last year showed the true dangers of the track.
Formula 1 continues its European triple header this week with the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, which is one of four current circuits that were on the original 1950 calendar.
Max Verstappen enters the race fresh of a victory in Imola, and will be hoping to further close the gap on championship leader Oscar Piastri and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
Ahead of the race, however, there has been talk about the difficulty of the track, which is famous for sections such as Sainte Devote, Casino Square, the hairpin, the tunnel and Tabac corner.
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It’s certainly one of the most dangerous races on the circuit, as evidenced by a near-miss in last year’s Formula 2.
In 2024, Isack Hadjar’s exceptional reactions prevented a massive crash in the Monaco tunnel during Formula Two qualifying.
The Frenchman narrowly avoided colliding with the slow-moving Ritomo Miyata, who was struggling with a power unit issue.
Miyata had his speed reduced to a crawl and was hugging the right-handed barrier, unbeknown to Hadjar who was charging into the tunnel at full speed.
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The Japanese racer, who was out of sight around a blind corner, only came into view at the last second, forcing Hadjar to jerk his Campos to the left to narrowly avoid the Rodin Motorsport racer.
The Monaco GP is iconic, known to be a challenging street circuit with tight corners, elevation changes and a narrow track.
Indeed, the course actually breaks FIA regulations. While tracks must be at least 3.5km long in total, the Monaco course falls just short at 3.337km.