Monaco F1 GP Speed Evolution >>> MotorSports Etc.

Monaco F1 GP Speed Evolution

Since 1950

In order to compare lap times and average speeds over the years, equivalent Pole Position times were calculated based upon track length variations (see table below).

	The drawing below helps to visualize the Pole Position speed differential over 50 years of Formula 1 racing at Monaco.
	Each dot represents the relative position of a driver after 1 lap around the track based on equivalent average speeds.
	Each dot represents the position of a driver relative to Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in 2000 after 1 lap around the track based on equivalent average speeds.

In the 2000 Monaco F1 Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari F1-2000 would have lapped Juan Manuel Fangio in his 1950 Alfa Romeo every 3 laps!

	Based upon this analysis, we can expect the pole position in the year 2050 to be won at an average speed of around 130 MPH!
	In the 2004 F3000 Monaco race, Vitantonio Liuzzi qualified on pole 11.180s slower (+15%) than Jarno Trulli's F1 pole time.

Qualifying Fastest Times - Average Speed Equivalents

Year	Driver (Car)	Qualifying Fastest Time	Track Length (Miles)	Equivalent Time	Equivalent Average Speed (MPH)

2006	Kimi RAIKKONEN (McLaren-Mercedes) {not pole}	01:13.532***	2.075	01:09.8	107.0
2005	Kimi RAIKKONEN (McLaren-Mercedes)	01:13.644**	2.075	01:10.0	106.7
2004	Jarno TRULLI (Renault)	01:14.439*	2.075	01:10.3	106.3
2003	Ralf SCHUMACHER (Williams-BMW)	01:15.259*	2.075	01:11.5	104.5
2002	Juan Pablo MONTOYA (Williams-BMW)	01:16.676	2.094	01:12.1	104.6
2001	David COULTHARD (McLaren-Mercedes)	01:17.430	2.094	01:12.8	103.5
2000	Michael SCHUMACHER (Ferrari)	01:19.475	2.092	01:14.8	100.7
1999	Mika HAKKINEN (McLaren-Mercedes)	01:20.547	2.092	01:15.8	99.4
1998	Mika HAKKINEN (McLaren-Mercedes)	01:19.798	2.092	01:15.1	100.3
1997	Heinz-Harald FRENTZEN (Williams-Renault)	01:18.216	2.092	01:13.6	102.3
1996	Michael SCHUMACHER (Ferrari)	01:20.356	2.068	01:16.6	97.2
1995	Damon HILL (Williams-Renault)	01:21.952	2.068	01:18.1	95.3
1994	Michael SCHUMACHER (Benetton-Ford)	01:18.560	2.068	01:14.9	99.4
1993	Alain PROST (Williams-Renault)	01:20.557	2.068	01:16.8	96.9
1992	Nigel MANSELL (Williams-Renault)	01:19.495	2.068	01:15.8	98.2
1991	Ayrton SENNA (McLaren-Honda)	01:20.344	2.068	01:16.6	97.2
1990	Ayrton SENNA (McLaren-Honda)	01:21.314	2.068	01:17.5	96.1
1989	Ayrton SENNA (McLaren-Honda)	01:22.308	2.068	01:18.5	94.8
1988	Ayrton SENNA (McLaren-Honda)	01:23.998	2.068	01:20.1	92.9
1987	Nigel MANSELL (Williams-Honda)	01:23.039	2.068	01:19.2	94.0
1986	Alain PROST (McLaren-TAG/Porsche)	01:22.627	2.068	01:18.8	94.5
1985	Ayrton SENNA (Lotus-Renault)	01:20.450	2.058	01:17.1	96.1
1984	Alain PROST (McLaren-TAG/Porsche)	01:22.661	2.058	01:19.2	93.5
1983	Alain PROST (Renault)	01:24.840	2.058	01:21.3	91.1
1982	Rene ARNOUX (Renault)	01:23.281	2.058	01:19.8	92.8
1981	Nelson PIQUET (Brabham-Ford/Cosworth)	01:25.710	2.058	01:22.2	90.1
1980	Didier PIRONI (Ligier-Ford/Cosworth)	01:24.813	2.058	01:21.3	91.1
1979	Jody SCHECKTER (Ferrari)	01:26.45	2.058	01:22.9	89.4
1978	Carlos REUTEMANN (Ferrari)	01:28.34	2.058	01:24.7	87.5
1977	John WATSON (Brabham-Alfa Romeo)	01:29.86	2.058	01:26.1	86.0
1976	Niki LAUDA (Ferrari)	01:29.65	2.058	01:25.9	86.2
1975	Niki LAUDA (Ferrari)	01:26.40	2.037	01:23.7	87.6
1974	Niki LAUDA (Ferrari)	01:26.3	2.037	01:23.6	87.7
1973	Jackie STEWART (Tyrrell-Ford/Cosworth)	01:27.5	2.037	01:24.8	86.5
1972	Emerson FITTIPALDI (Lotus-Ford/Cosworth)	01:21.4	1.954	01:22.3	85.5
1971	Jackie STEWART (Tyrrell-Ford/Cosworth)	01:23.2	1.954	01:24.1	83.6
1970	Jackie STEWART (March-Ford/Cosworth)	01:24.0	1.954	01:24.9	82.9
1969	Jackie STEWART (Matra-Ford/Cosworth)	01:24.6	1.954	01:25.5	82.3
1968	Graham HILL (Lotus-Ford/Cosworth)	01:28.2	1.954	01:29.2	78.9
1967	Jack BRABHAM (Brabham-Repco)	01:27.6	1.954	01:28.6	79.4
1966	Jim CLARK (Lotus-Climax)	01:29.9	1.954	01:30.9	77.4
1965	Graham HILL (BRM)	01:32.5	1.954	01:33.5	75.2
1964	Jim CLARK (Lotus-Climax)	01:34.0	1.954	01:35.0	74.0
1963	Jim CLARK (Lotus-Climax)	01:34.3	1.954	01:35.3	73.8
1962	Jim CLARK (Lotus-Climax)	01:35.4	1.954	01:36.5	72.9
1961	Stirling MOSS (Lotus-Climax)	01:39.1	1.954	01:40.2	70.2
1960	Stirling MOSS (Lotus-Climax)	01:36.3	1.954	01:37.4	72.2
1959	Stirling MOSS (Cooper-Climax)	01:39.6	1.954	01:40.7	69.9
1958	Tony BROOKS (Vanwall)	01:39.8	1.954	01:40.9	69.7
1957	Juan Manuel FANGIO (Maserati)	01:42.7	1.954	01:43.8	67.8
1956	Juan Manuel FANGIO (Lancia/Ferrari)	01:44.0	1.954	01:45.2	66.9
1955	Juan Manuel FANGIO (Mercedes)	01:41.1	1.954	01:42.2	68.8
1950	Juan Manuel FANGIO (Alfa Romeo)	01:50.2	1.976	01:50.2	64.6

* 1 lap qualifying rules starting in 2003

** 2 laps aggregate qualifying rules starting in 2005

*** 3-tier knock out qualifying rules starting in 2006

	Monaco Grand Prix Winners
	Formula 1 World Champions
	Michael Schumacher
	Ayrton Senna
	Alain Prost
	Scuderia Ferrari Management