(01)History
Records and Legends: The Drivers Who Defined the Monaco Circuit
No other circuit on the Formula 1 calendar has shaped a driver's legend quite like the streets of Monte Carlo. A look at some of the numbers behind the race's history.
5 min read
Ayrton Senna, a record still unbeaten
No driver has left a bigger mark on Monaco than Ayrton Senna, a six-time winner between 1987 and 1993 (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993). His sixth win in 1993 took him past the previous record of five, held by Graham Hill since the 1960s — a total no driver has matched since. His 1988 pole position, set almost a second and a half faster than his own teammate, is still regarded as one of the most remarkable qualifying laps in the sport's history.
The Triple Crown, a nearly impossible feat
Motorsport's 'Triple Crown' refers to victory across the three races widely considered the most prestigious in the world: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Only one driver has ever completed it: Britain's Graham Hill, a five-time Monaco winner between 1963 and 1969, who also won at Indianapolis in 1966 and at Le Mans in 1972.
Fernando Alonso, one win away from history
A two-time Monaco winner (2006, 2007) and two-time Le Mans winner (2018, 2019), Fernando Alonso remains the driver closest to joining Graham Hill on the Triple Crown roll of honour — missing only a win at the Indianapolis 500, a race he has entered several times without yet taking victory.
A circuit that rewards precision over raw power
With barriers just centimetres from the wheels and almost no run-off anywhere on the lap, Monaco is universally regarded by drivers as the most demanding circuit on the calendar in terms of precision — outright speed often matters less here than the ability to drive within millimetres of the walls, lap after lap.
Records and statistics as of the writing of this article; consult official Formula 1 sources for the most recent results.