Following an impromptu week off due to the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Formula 1 is back this weekend for the legendary Monaco Grand Prix, which kicks-off what is now a double-header.
Last weekend’s Emilia Romagna GP was sadly cancelled due to the horrific weather conditions currently being experienced in the region, with torrential rain having caused widespread flooding and landslides.
Whilst the circuit itself wasn’t too badly affected, the sport decided to cancel the event due to how stretched the emergency services already were, with the pinnacle of motorsport having ultimately made the correct decision.
F1 and Ferrari have both donated €1 million to support the flood relief, with several lives having tragically been lost.
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The cancellation of last weekend has given the paddock more time to get down to the Circuit de Monaco, which will now host the sixth round of the championship, rather than the seventh.
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen enters the historic event with a 14-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship over team-mate Sergio Perez, following Verstappen’s third victory of the season in Miami.
With Perez having won last season’s Monaco GP, the Mexican will be hopeful that he can reduce Verstappen’s lead this weekend, given how strong the 33-year-old always is at street circuits.
Red Bull claimed their fourth 1-2 finish of the season at the Miami International Autodrome, meaning they boast a 122-point advantage in the Constructors’ Championship ahead of this weekend.
There will be an awful lot of eyes on Mercedes come Friday afternoon as FP1 gets underway, with the Silver Arrows set to introduce their highly anticipated new concept, which they’ll be hoping will reduce the gap to Red Bull.
Elsewhere, Fernando Alonso will be targeting his first win since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix and his first win in Monaco since 2007, with the Spaniard having admitted to the media that he sees Monaco as Aston Martin’s best chance of victory.
At Ferrari, Charles Leclerc will be dreaming of victory at his home race, with him having finished fourth last season following a strategic mishap by the Italians.
Leclerc did claim pole position last season and has already proven to be quick at street tracks this year, with the 25-year-old having claimed pole position for the main race and the sprint race in Azerbaijan.
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Qualifying and Sunday’s 78-lap race could be impacted by the elements, though, with rain being forecast for large portions of the weekend, meaning that a second consecutive wet Monaco GP could be on the cards.
So, will anybody be able to stop Red Bull from claiming a sixth consecutive win of the season, or will it be another 1-2 finish for the mighty Austrians?
2023 Monaco GP start times (GMT):
Friday (May 26)
Free Practice 1 – 12:30
Free Practice 2 – 16:00
Saturday (May 27)
Free Practice 3 – 11:30
Qualifying – 15:00
Sunday (May 28)
Race – 14:00