2010 Formula One Grand Prix De Monaco

Circuit Key

About Monaco


It’s the social event of the season, but Monte Carlo is also one of the most challenging destinations on the calendar. The two mile lap may be the shortest seen all year, but still places extreme demands on the car and requires a unique set-up. First and foremost, Monaco is a street circuit, so soft tyres and a high downforce configuration are pre-requisites to counterbalance the poor grip levels which play havoc with the track in the opening sessions. The lap itself is dominated by slow speed corners and undulations, so a solid mechanical and aero balance is key. Evocative corners, such as Lowes, Chicane and Rascasse are all taken in either first or second gear, so not only are the brakes worked considerably harder in Monaco than anywhere else, but the number of gear shifts made reaches over 4,000, approximately 500 more than at any other track.

With speeds dipping to as low as 28mph on the entry to corners such as the Lowes hairpin, good traction to power the car out of the exit is also crucial to set a competitive lap time. With just 45% of the circuit driven at full throttle, the longest period lasting just eight seconds through the tunnel where speeds peak at 180mph, drivers record the lowest average lap speed of all races at Monaco so engines are given a relatively easy ride over the weekend.

The tight, twisty nature of the track means precision is also paramount for the drivers, for the smallest of errors will be brutally punished by the unforgiving, and menacingly close, armco. Physically, the 78 lap race is also one of endurance as the drivers have to wrestle their machines round streets more suited to cruising convertibles. In summary, the playground of the rich and famous transforms itself into one of the season’s greatest challenges, where only the best reap the reward.

 

News From Monaco

17 May

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Monaco GP Review

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Sam Michael explains what caused the two retirements in the Monaco GP...

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16 May

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Monaco GP Race

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Not a good day in Monaco as the team endure a double DNF...

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15 May

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Monaco GP Qualifying

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A solid performance from both Rubens and Nico in Monaco today lines them up in P9 and P11 respectively...

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13 May

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Monaco GP Practice

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A solid day of running in Monaco with both drivers reporting an improvement in the FW32...

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Monaco GP Preview

11 May 2010

Monaco

16 May 2010

Circuit de Monaco

  • Number of laps 78
  • Circuit Length 3.34 km/2.075 miles
  • Race Length 260.52 km/161.85 miles
  • Race Start 1:00pm
  • WF1 Race Wins 3
  • WF1 Poles 7
  • WF1 Fastest Laps 3
  • WF1 Entries 32
  • 2009 Fastest Lap F Massa, Ferrari
  • 2009 Pole Sitter J Button, Brawn GP
  • 2009 Race Winner J Button, Brawn GP
  • 2009 Williams Result NR Q6 / R6 KN Q10 / R15