Part 7

Navigate the challenging Monaco circuit in F1 26. Learn optimal lines, braking points, and survival strategies for every corner, from Sainte Devote to Anthony Noghes.

This guide covers the Monaco circuit in F1 26, emphasizing survival and careful driving due to its tight barriers and limited passing opportunities. The Monaco circuit is a highly daunting temporary street course where barriers are extremely close, making passing virtually impossible. There are few places to pull off the course if a car has a problem, so drivers must be wary of damaged or stationary vehicles, especially around blind corners. The most significant key to finishing a race at Monaco is survival, requiring a slow, methodical, and patient race. Aggressive driving is likely to result in significant damage.

The Monaco Circuit Breakdown:

1. Pit Straight: Not truly straight, it fades to the right. The Pit Lane rejoins from the right near the end. Be aware of slow cars entering the pits.
2. Turn 1 (Sainte Devote): A tight, semi-blind right-hand corner requiring heavy braking. The uphill portion of the course begins here.
3. Straightaway (Beau Rivage): Steeply uphill and not straight due to varying fades, making it a poor passing zone.
4. Turn 2 (Massanet): A sweeping, blind left-hand corner needing moderate braking on entry and light braking through the turn. Exiting this corner is the highest point on the course.
5. Turn 3 (Casino): A right-hand corner following Massanet, requiring light to moderate braking. It's wider than most, with a pull-off area on the outside. Be careful of the left-side barrier on exit.
6. Turn 4 (Mirabeau): A right-hand blind 'J' turn after a long downhill straightaway, requiring heavy braking. A small pull-off area is on the left on entry.
7. Turn 5 (Great Curve): A left-hand hairpin, one of the slowest in F1. Passing is possible on the inside with excellent braking, otherwise, single-file driving is recommended.
8. Turns 6 and 7 (Portier): A 'U' shaped pair of right-hand corners, neither can be taken at high speed. Turn 7 is the slowest and most difficult to see.
9. Straightaway (The Tunnel): A long right-hand fade within a semi-tunnel. Visibility is poor due to the sun's angle. Brake shortly after exiting into sunlight to avoid the chicane.
10. Chicane (Nouveau Chicane): Marked by rumble strips and a barrier, requiring utmost importance on braking. The course narrows through the chicane and widens at the exit.
11. Turn 8 (Tobacco): A left-hand corner best taken with light braking, or no braking with sufficient downforce and a flawless racing line.
12. Turns 9-12 (Swimming Pool): A double chicane. Turns 9 and 10 are a tight left-right combination requiring moderate braking. Turns 11 and 12 are a tighter right-left combination. A short straightaway follows where passing one car might be possible.
13. Turns 13 and 14 (La Rascasse): A tight left-right chicane. Moderate braking for Turn 13 and heavy braking for the 'J' turn of Turn 14. The Pit Lane is to the right at the exit.
14. Turns 15 and 16 (Anthony Hoges): The final tight right-left chicane. The course narrows through the chicane before widening for the Pit Straight.