Autosport writers’ favourite F1 Monaco Grands Prix

What makes for a good Grand Prix? A tense spectacle decided right at the end? Lots of thrilling overtaking moves? A display of brilliant driving? A bafflingly unpredictable result? 

The Monaco Grand Prix remains Formula 1’s jewel in the crown, and at some point in its long history it has produced races befitting of all of the above descriptors. It has crowned Monaco Masters, such as Graham Hill, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, while several drivers have put in career-defining performances on the hallowed streets. Think Stirling Moss against the Ferraris in 1961, or Jochen Rindt with the aged Lotus 49 in 1970.

Autosport has previously attempted to rank the very best Monaco GPs but, since the question is ultimately a subjective one, we decided to open the floor and asked our team of writers to pick their favourites.

1972, Monaco’s greatest one-hit wonder – Kevin Turner

Let’s be honest, the tight confines of Monte Carlo rarely produce great races. But what the Monaco GP does provide is one of the greatest challenges in motorsport, with any mistakes usually punished severely. It’s therefore a place to admire great drives and there have been plenty of those, from Stirling Moss winning in 1961, Graham Hill’s finest victory in 1965, Gilles Villeneuve’s 1981 heroics and Ayrton Senna’s sextet of successes.

There’s also something appealing about drivers who manage their day of days around the principality. Jarno Trulli’s win in 2004 has to be one of the feel-good results in recent years. And the appallingly wet 1972 contest has to be regarded as one of the greatest one-hit wonders in F1 history.

Top 10: Ranking the greatest one-hit wonders in F1 history

Jean-Pierre Beltoise had shone in the wet before, charging from 16th to second in the 1968 Dutch GP at Zandvoort, but his drive at Monaco four years later stands comparison…