2024 Monaco Grand Prix preview: timings, how to watch, and more

Hot topics ahead of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix 

For the first time in a long time, Red Bull’s superiority is in question as we head to Monaco. McLaren has once again hit the jackpot with a major upgrade that has seen it surface as the closest challenger to the reigning champions. Lando’s win in Miami was earned purely on pace which would have seen him take victory even without the timing of the safety car, while his scintillating charge during the closing laps in Imola almost made it two wins in a row as Verstappen struggled.

The Max Verstappen effect can only carry the team so far. His pole lap last weekend was typical of the three-time champion, but his days of cruising to victory week in, week out are seemingly at an end. The struggles of Sergio Perez in recent weeks perhaps indicate the true performance of the Red Bull, and it’s clear McLaren and Ferrari are in hot pursuit.

As if the spotlight on McLaren wasn’t bright enough right now, the team will also be running a special one-off livery in Monaco this weekend, as part of a wider celebration of Ayrton Senna. The two McLaren cars will be wrapped in the colours of Senna’s legendary yellow, blue, and green helmet, a pertinent homage to a driver whose tally of six wins in Monaco is still an unbeaten record.

Away from the on-track action in Monaco, news broke this week that Pat Symonds, architect of Fernando Alonso’s championship victories at Renault, will join the Andretti Global outfit as it continues its push to join the F1 grid. Symonds leaves his role as Chief Technical Officer of F1, where he was a key contributor in drawing up the new regulations set for 2026. The 71-year-old will join Andretti as Executive Engineering Consultant, and will begin work after a short period of gardening leave at the team’s new Silverstone base.

When can I watch the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix?

As per the change implemented by the promoters back in 2022, the Monaco Grand Prix action now begins on Friday, with the F1 cars heading out on track for free practice one at 12:30 UK time (13:30 local time) and free practice two at 16:00 (17:00).

Saturday will see the final practice session begin at 11:30 (12:30) before the most exciting and important qualifying session of the season gets underway at 15:00 (16:00).

Lights out for the Monaco Grand Prix is at 14:00 UK time (15:00) on Sunday 26^th May.

How to watch the Monaco Grand Prix

Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to all live coverage of F1 in the UK. Every session of the Monaco Grand Prix will be shown live and uninterrupted on Sky Sports F1.

US viewers can catch all the action on ESPN, and Australian audiences can watch on Kayo Sports. The F1 TV Pro app will also provide coverage of every F1 session across the weekend to several countries the world over.

Which series are supporting in Monaco?

Both Formula 2 and Formula 3 are in action in Monaco alongside the Porsche Supercup. Zane Maloney maintains a slender five-point lead over Paul Aron in F2 after a disappointing outing at Imola last weekend. The F3 standings are also tight, with Leonardo Fornaroli just three points ahead of Luke Browning after three rounds.

F2 and F3 will run their free practice sessions on Thursday afternoon, returning on Friday morning for qualifying. Both sessions will be split into two parts limiting the number of cars on track, with the time sheets combined to form the grids for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday is sprint race day; F3 kicks off at 09:45 (10:45), followed by F2 at 13:15 (14:15), with the feature races opening the track action on Sunday ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, F3’s feature begins at 07:00 (08:00) before F2 at 08:40 (09:40).

F1 Academy returns at the Spanish Grand Prix at the end of June, where Abbi Pulling will seek to further extend her championship advantage.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.