Editing Monaco Grand Prix (section)

==Fame==
[[File:Monaco 680.JPG|thumb|Monaco for the 2006 Grand Prix]]
The Monaco Grand Prix is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world alongside the [[Indianapolis 500]] and the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].<ref name="why not2">{{cite web |title=Why not a Grand Prix in Monte Carlo? |url=http://www3.monaco.mc/monaco/gprix/why.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060502180348/http://www3.monaco.mc/monaco/gprix/why.html |archive-date=2 May 2006 |access-date=9 March 2007 |publisher=Gale Force of Monaco}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Indy 500, Sunday May 27, 2007 | work = Top Gear Magazine New Car Supplement 2007 | page = 30  | publisher = [[BBC Worldwide]]|date=March 2007}}</ref> These three races are considered to form a ''[[Triple Crown of Motorsport|Triple Crown]]'' of the three most famous motor races in the world. As of 2025, [[Graham Hill]] is the only driver to have won the Triple Crown, by winning all three races. The practice session for Monaco overlaps with that for the Indianapolis 500, and the races themselves sometimes clash. As the two races take place on opposite sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and form part of different championships, it is difficult for one driver to compete effectively in both during his career. [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] and [[Fernando Alonso]] are the only active drivers to have won two of the three events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://latinamericanpost.com/21491-triple-crown-of-motorsports-can-juan-pablo-montoya-make-history|title=Triple Crown of Motorsports: Can Juan Pablo Montoya make history?|date=5 June 2018 |access-date=5 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106132314/https://latinamericanpost.com/21491-triple-crown-of-motorsports-can-juan-pablo-montoya-make-history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alonso-wins-le-mans-to-edge-closer-to-triple-crown.33IOqVOdCoWyW2CKKMAGok.html | title=Alonso wins le Mans to edge closer to Triple Crown | access-date=5 November 2018 | archive-date=6 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106053343/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alonso-wins-le-mans-to-edge-closer-to-triple-crown.33IOqVOdCoWyW2CKKMAGok.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In awarding its first gold medal for motorsport to [[Rainier III, Prince of Monaco|Prince Rainier III]], the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] (FIA) characterised the Monaco Grand Prix as contributing "an exceptional location of glamour and prestige" to motorsport.<ref name="FIA Gold Medal" /> The Grand Prix has been run under the patronage of three generations of [[Monaco]]'s royal family: [[Louis II, Prince of Monaco|Louis II]], [[Rainier III]] and [[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|Albert II]], all of whom have taken a close interest in the race. A large part of the principality's income comes from tourists attracted by the warm climate and the famous casino, but it is also a [[tax haven]] and is home to many millionaires, including several Formula One drivers.<ref name="atlas_residents">{{cite web|title=Yearly Roar|work=Atlas F1|url=http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2001/mon/preview/straatsma.html|access-date=27 February 2007|archive-date=30 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224438/http://atlasf1.autosport.com/2001/mon/preview/straatsma.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Monaco has produced four native Formula One drivers—[[Louis Chiron]], [[André Testut]], [[Olivier Beretta]], and [[Charles Leclerc]]<ref>{{cite web|title=List drivers by country&nbsp;– Monaco|url=http://www.f1db.com/exec/section/driver/action/list_by_country/value/Monaco/asc/lastname|access-date=31 August 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008010728/http://www.f1db.com/exec/section/driver/action/list_by_country/value/Monaco/asc/lastname|archive-date=8 October 2007}} www.f1db.com identifies Testut as Monagasque, although he was born in Lyons, France.</ref>—but its tax status has made it home to many drivers over the years, including [[Gilles Villeneuve]] and [[Ayrton Senna]]. Of the {{F1|2006}} Formula One contenders, several have property in the principality, including [[Jenson Button]] and [[David Coulthard]], who was part owner of a hotel there.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sylt |first=Christian |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/in-the-drivers-seat-david-coulthards-16330m-hotel-haul-1980367.html |title=''In the driver's seat: David Coulthard's £30m hotel haul'' |publisher=Independent.co.uk |date=23 May 2010 |access-date=4 December 2011 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012095103/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/in-the-drivers-seat-david-coulthards-16330m-hotel-haul-1980367.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Because of the small size of the principality and the location of the circuit, drivers whose races end early can usually get back to their apartments in minutes. Ayrton Senna famously retired to his apartment after crashing out of the lead of [[1988 Monaco Grand Prix|the 1988 race]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Senna sews up world title with Formula One victory|work=[[USA Today]]|first=Valerie Lynn|last=Dorsey|page=11C|date=31 October 1988}}</ref> In [[2006 Monaco Grand Prix|the 2006 race]], after retiring due to a mechanical failure while in second place, [[Kimi Räikkönen]] retired to his yacht, which was parked in the harbour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Sam |title=The retiring Kimi Räikkönen once left the Monaco Grand Prix to drink beers in the hot tub of his private yacht |url=https://www.insider.com/f1s-driver-once-left-monaco-grand-prix-drink-his-yacht-2021-9 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Grand Prix attracts big-name celebrities each year who come to experience the glamour and prestige of the event. Big parties are held in the nightclubs on the Grand Prix weekend, and the [[Port Hercules|Port Hercule]] fills up with party-goers joining in the celebrations.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Massimo Marioni|title=How the rich and famous take in the Monaco Grand Prix weekend|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/30/sport/monaco-gp-rich-and-famous-spt-intl/index.html|access-date=2020-09-08|website=CNN|date=30 May 2018 |archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807163655/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/30/sport/monaco-gp-rich-and-famous-spt-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Criticism===

In the 21st century, several commentators and F1 drivers have called the Grand Prix the most boring race of all circuits, both to drive and to watch as a spectator. Criticism has been directed towards how few overtake attempts are performed, as well as how frequently the driver who sets the pole position wins.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clancy |first=Rebecca |title=Formula One: 'Boring' Monaco GP at risk of being downgraded to a biennial event |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/formula-one/article/formula-one-boring-monaco-gp-at-risk-of-being-downgraded-to-a-biennial-event-m8blzctt3 |access-date=2022-06-05 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605233625/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/formula-one-boring-monaco-gp-at-risk-of-being-downgraded-to-a-biennial-event-m8blzctt3 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Oliver |date=2021-05-20 |title=The Monaco Grand Prix is the most boring race on the F1 circuit - only money gives it meaning |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2021/05/20/monaco-grand-prix-boring-race-f1-circuit-money-talks/ |access-date=2022-06-05 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605233625/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2021/05/20/monaco-grand-prix-boring-race-f1-circuit-money-talks/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Fernando Alonso]] has said that the race is "the most boring race ever," and [[Lewis Hamilton]] stated that the 2022 Grand Prix "wasn't really racing."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lewis Hamilton's damning rant on 'boring' Monaco GP: 'Thank god that's over' {{!}} F1 {{!}} Sport {{!}} Express.co.uk |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1616786/lewis-hamilton-monaco-grand-prix-mercedes-f1-spt/amp |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=www.express.co.uk |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605233625/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1616786/lewis-hamilton-monaco-grand-prix-mercedes-f1-spt/amp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alonso says Monaco GP &quot;the most boring F1 race ever&quot; |url=https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/alonso-says-monaco-gp-the-most-boring-f1-race-ever-1042410/3104298/ |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=us.motorsport.com |date=27 May 2018 |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605233625/https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/alonso-says-monaco-gp-the-most-boring-f1-race-ever-1042410/3104298/ |url-status=live }}</ref>