With only seven points between the first three in the title chase there is everything to fight for in Monaco. McLaren ran way with the race last year.
Heading to Monaco for the sixth round of the 2008 World Championship the title race remains a closely fought affair. Kimi Raikkonen struggled with a damaged front wing in Turkey and could only finish third. Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton are now tied for second place, just seven points behind the Finn.
There has been racing around the streets of Monte Carlo since 1929 and the circuit has changed little since. Ultimate horsepower and top speed are not so important in the principality. What is desirable is a nimble car and smooth power delivery. Unlike the circuits visited so far there are virtually no run-off areas at Monaco and small mistakes are severely punished.
McLaren will be confident of a strong showing after dominating the 2007 race. Fernando Alonso won from pole while his team-mate Hamilton finished second. Ferrari’s Massa was a distant third while the other Ferrari of Raikkonen finished a lap down.
As ever, qualifying at Monaco will be critical, with overtaking on track almost impossible. McLaren locked out the front row last year which laid the groundwork for their victory. As usual, BMW Sauber will be looking to spoil things for the big two and fight with Ferrari and McLaren. Mark Webber has become something of a qualifying specialist and loves Monaco so the Australian will be hoping to be in the top ten in his Red Bull. His team-mate David Coulthard is a two-time winner of the race and will also be one to watch. Giancarlo Fisichella usually goes well and qualifying may see the Italian drag his Force India off the back row of the grid. The 2004 winner Jarno Trulli will be keen to recapture Toyota's early season form after a disappointing race last time out in Turkey.
- Race date: Sunday, 25th May, 2008
- Race distance: 78 laps
- Circuit length: 2.075 miles (3.340 km)
- Lap record: 1 min, 14.439 seconds (Michael Schumacher, 2004)
- Weather forecast: (to be updated)
Previous Winners
- 1929 (William Grover-Williams, Bugatti)
- 1930 (René Dreyfus, Bugatti)
- 1931 (Louis Chiron, Bugatti)
- 1932 (Tazio Nuvolari, Alfa Romeo)
- 1933 (Achille Varzi, Bugatti)
- 1934 (Guy Moll, Alfa Romeo)
- 1935 (Luigi Fagioli, Mercedes)
- 1936 (Rudolf Carraciola, Mercedes)
- 1937 (Manfred von Brauchitsch, Mercedes)
- 1948 (Giuseppe Farina, Maserati)
- 1950 (Juan-Manuel Fangio, Alfa Romeo)
- 1952 (Vittorio Marzotto, Ferrari)*
- 1955 (Maurice Trintignant, Ferrari)
- 1956 (Stirling Moss, Maserati)
- 1957 (Juan-Manuel Fangio, Maserati)
- 1958 (Maurice Trintignant, Cooper)
- 1959 (Jack Brabham, Cooper)
- 1960 (Stirling Moss, Lotus)
- 1961 (Stirling Moss, Lotus)
- 1962 (Bruce McLaren, Cooper)
- 1963 (Graham Hill, BRM)
- 1964 (Graham Hill, BRM)
- 1965 (Graham Hill, BRM)
- 1966 (Jackie Stewart, BRM)
- 1967 (Denny Hulme, Brabham)
- 1968 (Graham Hill, Lotus)
- 1969 (Graham Hill, Lotus)
- 1970 (Jochen Rindt, Lotus)
- 1971 (Jackie Stewart, Tyrrell)
- 1972 (Jean-Pierre Beltoise, BRM)
- 1973 (Jackie Stewart, Tyrrell)
- 1974 (Ronnie Peterson, Lotus)
- 1975 (Niki Lauda, Ferrari)
- 1976 (Niki Lauda, Ferrari)
- 1977 (Jody Scheckter, Wolf)
- 1978 (Patrick Depailler, Tyrrell)
- 1979 (Jody Scheckter, Ferrari)
- 1980 (Carlos Reutemann, Williams)
- 1981 (Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari)
- 1982 (Riccardo Patrese, Brabham)
- 1983 (Keke Rosberg, Williams)
- 1984 (Alain Prost, McLaren)
- 1985 (Alain Prost, McLaren)
- 1986 (Alain Prost, McLaren)
- 1987 (Ayrton Senna, Lotus)
- 1988 (Alain Prost, McLaren)
- 1989 (Ayrton Senna, McLaren)
- 1990 (Ayrton Senna, McLaren)
- 1991 (Ayrton Senna, McLaren)
- 1992 (Ayrton Senna, McLaren)
- 1993 (Ayrton Senna, McLaren)
- 1994 (Michael Schumacher, Benetton)
- 1995 (Michael Schumacher, Benetton)
- 1996 (Olivier Panis, Ligier)
- 1997 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 1998 (Mika Hakkinen, McLaren)
- 1999 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2000 (David Coulthard, McLaren)
- 2001 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari)
- 2002 (David Coulthard, McLaren)
- 2003 (Juan-Pablo Montoya, Williams)
- 2004 (Jarno Trulli, Renault)
- 2005 (Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren)
- 2006 (Fernando Alonso, Renault)
- 2007 (Fernando Alonso, McLaren)
* = run as a non-championship sports car race
