JUST IN: Monaco’s F1 corners explained: From Hamilton team-mate c…read more
Monaco Grand Prix Corners Explained: Drama, Crashes, and ControversiesAs Formula 1 returns to the glamour of Monaco, fans are not only bracing for the race’s high-speed drama but also revisiting the circuit’s infamous cornerseach with a history of controversy, collisions, and jaw-dropping moments.
Sainte Dévote – The Scene of First-Lap Carnage
The opening corner at Monaco often sets the tone. A tight right-hander after a downhill sprint from the grid, Sainte Dévote has seen numerous pileups, including the controversial 2016 incident where Lewis Hamilton’s then-Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg ran wide, effectively blocking the track and triggering a cascade of crashes. Critics claimed it was a tactical move—something Mercedes still denies.
Mirabeau – Where Mistakes Go Viral
Descending into the Mirabeau corner, drivers have to brake hard while turning—a recipe for disaster if even slightly misjudged. It was here in 2021 that Charles Leclerc crashed during qualifying, securing pole but damaging his Ferrari’s gearbox, leading to a DNS (Did Not Start). It reignited debate over whether drivers should retain pole position after crashing.
Loews Hairpin – The Slowest Corner in F1
Iconic for its tightness and low speed, the Loews Hairpin (also known as the Fairmont Hairpin) requires full lock steering—something rarely seen in modern F1. Famously, this corner was the setting of a bizarre sea crash in 2004. During a promotional shoot, a driver lost control of a demonstration car, skidding across the barriers and nearly plunging into the harbor—thankfully with no injuries.
Portier – The Gateway to Glory or Disaster
Portier leads into the famous tunnel, but it’s also known as the place where Ayrton Senna crashed in 1988 while leading by a massive margin. The Brazilian legend later admitted to “losing concentration” in a haunting reminder that even the best are vulnerable here.
The Swimming Pool – Fast, Flashy, and Fatal for Lap Times
This complex of chicanes is as glamorous as it is dangerous. Lewis Hamilton has described threading the needle here as “dancing with death,” especially after his near-miss in 2019, where he brushed the barriers while defending against Max Verstappen.
Rascasse – Tactics and Traffic
A notorious bottleneck, Rascasse saw one of Monaco’s most controversial moments in 2006. Michael Schumacher was accused of deliberately parking his Ferrari to block Fernando Alonso’s qualifying lap. The incident led to Schumacher being sent to the back of the grid—a rare penalty for the seven-time world champion.
Anthony Noghes – A Final Chance
The last corner before the finish line, this sharp right-hander is often a driver’s last chance to make a move. In 2015, Hamilton’s team mistakenly called him in for a pit stop during a late safety car, costing him a sure victory to Rosberg. The blunder remains one of the biggest strategic miscalculations in modern F1.
As engines roar and champagne chills, Monaco’s corners remind fans and drivers alike: history is made not just on the straights, but in every tight turn and high-risk maneuver of this legendary street circuit.
— Written by [Your Name], F1 Newsroom
