Oscar Piastri looks to conquer the Monaco Grand Prix

Formula One heads to the French Riviera this weekend for one of the most iconic races on the calendar, the Monaco GP.

Monaco GP

The Monaco GP has been raced in 70 of the 75 years of competition since the first year of Formula One in 1950.

The track at Monaco is a narrow, winding street circuit, which can make overtaking more difficult. This means that the driver who qualifies in pole position has a greater advantage in Monaco than they would elsewhere, especially given that the width of the cars has increased over the years.

In an attempt to make the race more entertaining, race officials have ruled that all drivers will have to make at least two pit stops this year. In previous years, most race strategies would only incorporate one stop.

Storylines

Having won the most races of anyone this season (four), Piastri is the favourite to win this weekend. The Aussie is looking to go one better this year after finishing second in Monaco last year. His greatest competition is likely to come from teammate Lando Norris or Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

McLaren has not claimed a win in Monaco since Lewis Hamilton with the team in 2008.

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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is the home favourite, having grown up in Monaco. He is also the defending champion.

Have Australians won here before?

If Piastri wins this weekend’s Grand Prix, he would become the fourth Australian to win on Monte Carlo’s famous street circuit.

Jack Brabham became the first Australian to win any Formula One race when he started in third and won the Monaco GP in 1959. Then, Mark Webber, who is Piastri’s mentor and manager, won the race twice in three years (2010 and 2012).

Most recently, Daniel Ricciardo claimed a famous victory in 2018, starting on pole and holding off his rivals as his car threatened to fail him in the final 50 laps.