Welcome to the Monaco F1 24 Track Guide!
Monaco is one of F1’s most iconic challenges, known for its narrow streets, tight corners, and unforgiving barriers. This guide breaks down each sector, offering corner-by-corner tips, pole lap benchmarks, and essential car setup advice. With limited overtaking opportunities, qualifying is crucial here, and getting the perfect setup is key. Whether you’re a seasoned sim racer or new to the sport, this guide will help you tackle the legendary Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Let’s conquer Monaco!
Circuit Overview
- Location: Monaco Grand Prix Circuit, Monte Carlo
- Length: 3.337 km (2.074 miles)
- Corners: 19
- DRS Zones: 1
- Layout: A legendary and narrow street circuit, known for its challenging corners, tight corners, and lack of overtaking opportunities. The circuit is made up of sharp hairpins, quick chicanes, and unforgiving barriers.
- Surface: The track surface is bumpy and offers minimal grip, particularly in the warmer weather, making tire management essential for a strong race.
- Unique Feature: Monaco is one of the most iconic tracks in the world, where precision and consistency are key. The tight layout, which winds through the streets of Monte Carlo, makes overtaking incredibly difficult, and qualifying often determines the race outcome. The famed Casino Square, the tight hairpin at Sainte-Dévote, and the Tunnel section are just some of the unique features that make Monaco a thrilling race for drivers and fans alike.
Monaco’s unpredictable weather can add even more excitement to the challenge, requiring teams to remain flexible in their strategies. The race is not just about speed—it’s about survival, strategy, and mastering the art of going as fast as possible without hitting the barriers!
Sector 1: (Turns 1-4)
- Turn 1 (Sainte-Dévote):
The lap starts with the tight right-hander at Sainte-Dévote. Brake early and carefully, ensuring you hit the apex to set up for the challenging uphill section. - Turn 2 (Beau Rivage):
After Sainte-Dévote, climb the up hill section, carefully threading between the barriers and taking as straight as line as possible to carry as much speed towards Massenet. - Turn 3 (Massenet):
This fast left-hander requires a smooth transition and careful throttle application to avoid losing the rear end. Stay close to the inside curb for the best line, but be mindful of the wall on the outside. - Turn 4 (Casino Square):
The slight right-hander leading into the breathtaking Casino Square. It requires precise braking and turning in to avoid hitting the barriers. Maximize your line by taking a wide entry to avoid understeering into the tight apex. Following turn 4 there is a bump that needs to be avoided as this can unsettle the car and spin up the rear wheels.
Sector 2: (Turns 5-12)
- Turn 5 (Mirabeau):
A slow right-hand corner with an off-camber nature, this makes it very easy to lock the inside right wheel. Brake late but be cautious not to overdo it, Stay tight to the inside line for a better exit, and be ready to shift gears as you accelerate out. - Turn 6 (Grand Hotel Hairpin):
The sharpest corner on the circuit, requiring heavy braking and extreme turn-in. Position the car to the far-right before braking hard for the tight left. A short wheelbase helps here, but hesitation can cost valuable time. Ride the kerb as much as possible here to help pull the car round to the left, this is the slowest corner on the F1 calendar. - Turn 7:
The next right-hander is another slow corner. Let the car roll down the hill, using the kerb to help with the transition. Be smooth with your throttle input here to avoid spinning the rear wheels. - Turn 8 (Portier):
A tight right-hander that leads into the famous Tunnel section. Brake early to avoid locking up, and keep the car balanced as you exit into the tunnel. The limited visibility makes this a tricky corner. - Turn 9 (Tunnel Straight):
Once in the tunnel, it’s a flat-out section, but be cautious as you transition back into daylight. Keep the car tight to the right to minimize track width, staying steady as you approach the next tight section. - Turn 10-11 (Nouvelle Chicane):
A sharp left-right chicane, often a key overtaking point. Brake late and stay tight to the inside for a smooth transition through the chicane, bump over the kerbs but be careful of track limits. A good exit is essential here to set up for the upcoming corners. - Turn 12 (Tabac):
A fast left-hander with little room for error. Brake just before the corner and use the kerbs lightly to help with the balance. Oversteering or understeering here will cost you precious time.
Sector 3: (Turns 13-19)
- Turn 13-14 (Swimming Pool Complex part 1):
A series of rapid left-right corners, the Swimming Pool complex is a high-speed section that requires precision. Keep the car tight to the apex and be mindful of throttle application for maximum exit speed. - Turn 15-16 (Swimming Pool Complex part 2):
This section is even more critical for your overall lap time than the first part. Stability and precision are paramount. Aim to just skim the inside barrier with your wheel—too much, and you’ll risk breaking your suspension; too little, and you’ll run wide, bouncing over the outside kerbs and compromising your lap. Countless laps have been ruined at this chicane, making it one of the most unforgiving yet vital parts of the circuit. - Turn 17 (Rascasse):
A tight right-hand corner that requires heavy braking. Clip the inside curb to maximize your exit and avoid hitting the barriers. Brake late but not too deep to maintain a clean line. The pit entry also follows this corner so it can be tricky to navigate if you are following someone closely who is pitting. - Turn 18-19 (Anthony Noghes):
The final corner before the straight, requiring a precise entry. Brake just before the apex and stay tight to the inside and aim for the cone on the top of the barrier to help turn in. A clean exit here sets you up for a fast run down to the start/finish line and the only DRS zone.
Full Qualifying Lap
In this section, you’ll find my full Monaco F1 24 qualifying lap video, where I push the limits of precision and control to challenge myself against real-world qualifying lap times. Experience the adrenaline of navigating Monaco’s iconic corners like Sainte Dévote, Casino Square, and the Swimming Pool Chicane, and see how my lap compares to the best in Formula 1. Witness the technical mastery required to conquer this legendary street circuit and immerse yourself in the thrill of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Previous Pole Lap Times at Monaco Grand Prix
Here are the pole lap times for the Monaco Grand Prix in recent years, highlighting the exceptional skill and precision needed to conquer this iconic and challenging street circuit.
- 2024 Pole Lap: Charles Leclerc – 1:10.270
- 2023 Pole Lap: Max Verstappen – 1:11.365
- 2022 Pole Lap: Charles Leclerc – 1:11.376
- 2021 Pole Lap: Charles Leclerc – 1:10.346
- 2020 Pole Lap: Cancelled Covid-19
Personal Lap Reflection
I was thrilled with this lap—everything came together perfectly, and the setup gave me the confidence to attack the circuit. Monaco doesn’t offer many overtaking opportunities, so nailing a pole lap is essential for a successful race, and with this setup, you’ll have the tools to do just that.
This track demands precision, especially with some of the unforgiving kerbs and bumps that can easily unsettle the car. Braking too late or locking up will almost certainly send you into the barriers, and this is where Monaco’s true challenge lies. In this lap, I had a couple of small lockups, but thankfully, they were minor enough not to cost me much time.
The highlight for me was beating Charles Leclerc’s real-world pole time. It felt like a huge personal achievement, especially since I’ve always struggled to find a setup I felt comfortable with in previous games. This lap was the result of practice, precision, and a setup that truly worked in harmony with the circuit.
Monaco F1 24 Setup
For my Monaco F1 24 Grand Prix qualifying lap, I used a setup tailored for a 35% race distance with 100 AI difficulty. This balanced setup offers exceptional stability through Monaco’s tight corners and technical sections, allowing you to navigate the narrow streets with confidence. It requires no mid-session adjustments like brake bias or differential changes, making it a reliable, “set it and forget it” option. With this setup, you can fully focus on perfecting your lap and tackling the unique challenges of the Monaco Grand Prix.
| Aerodynamics | Front wing | 50 |
| Rear wing | 50 | |
| Transmission | Differential on-throttle | 70% |
| Differential off-throttle | 25% | |
| Engine braking | 100% | |
| Suspension Geometry | Front camber | -3.50 |
| Rear camber | -2.20 | |
| Front toe-out | 0.00 | |
| Rear toe-in | 0.05 | |
| Suspension | Front suspension | 41 |
| Rear suspension | 5 | |
| Front anti-roll bar | 21 | |
| Rear anti-roll bar | 16 | |
| Front ride height | 23 | |
| Rear ride height | 48 | |
| Brakes | Brake pressure | 100% |
| Front brake bias | 54% | |
| Tyres | Front right tyre pressure | 23.5psi |
| Front left tyre pressure | 23.5psi | |
| Rear right tyre pressure | 24.0psi | |
| Rear left tyre pressure | 24.0psi |
Memorable Moments of the Monaco Grand Prix
- Ayrton Senna’s Masterclass in (1984):
In his rookie year, Ayrton Senna stunned the F1 world by driving his underpowered Toleman through the rain-soaked streets of Monaco. Starting 13th, Senna carved through the field and was catching leader Alain Prost when the race was controversially red-flagged, denying Senna what could have been his first F1 victory. - Lewis Hamilton’s Tire Gamble (2008)
In treacherous wet conditions, Lewis Hamilton won his first Monaco Grand Prix in 2008, overcoming an early puncture. He recovered brilliantly and managed his strategy to take a victory that would later prove pivotal in his first World Championship triumph. - Michael Schumacher’s Controversial Pole (2006):
During qualifying in 2006, Michael Schumacher stopped his car at Rascasse, allegedly to prevent Fernando Alonso from setting a faster lap. The incident led to Schumacher’s lap being deleted and him starting at the back of the grid, overshadowing the weekend. - Leclerc’s Home Woes (2021):
Charles Leclerc took pole but couldn’t start the race due to a pre-race mechanical failure, extending his bad luck at his home race. - Jenson Button’s Dramatic One-Off Return (2017):
Jenson Button, standing in for Fernando Alonso, collided with Pascal Wehrlein’s Sauber at Portier on lap 57. Wehrlein’s car flipped onto its side against the barriers, though he was unharmed. The crash marked a dramatic and unfortunate end to Button’s one-off F1 return.
Conclusion
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most iconic races on the F1 calendar, known for its tight corners and unforgiving barriers. Mastering this circuit requires precision, skill, and strategy. This track guide and setup break down each sector to help you navigate Monaco’s technical corners with confidence. The setup ensures stability and control, allowing you to focus on lap times and strategy. By following these tips, you’ll be prepared to conquer Monaco, whether aiming for pole or the win. Get ready to take on the challenge of this legendary race.
I put together this track guide using my trusty Fanatec GT DD Pro 8Nm racing wheel paired with the F1 Esports V2 rim, along with modded CSL pedals for that extra responsiveness. I race on the PS5, seated comfortably in my modified Playseat Challenge. To elevate my performance even further, I gear up with specialized gloves and boots that provide the perfect grip and feel. This setup has truly enhanced my control and precision on the track, making every racing session not just competitive, but incredibly enjoyable!
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