Formula 1’s slowest track is arguably also its most intense.

Once described as “riding a bicycle around your living room” by former racer Nelson Piquet, the circuit through the affluent streets of Monte Carlo is intricate, undulating, and narrow.

The relatively low average speed (as stated by Formula 1) of 130km/h is made up for by the 19 corners and turns, and almost 100 gear changes that the track requires.

monaco circuit layout with streets

Though Raikkonen didn’t take an overall victory thanks to teammate Vettel’s Monaco prowess (as seen below from Formula 1’s own stats), Kimi’s qualifying lap is still champion stuff.

Kimi is adjusting the car out of a few corners (turn 1 is a good example) whereas Trulli appears to adjust the car into the corners and exits rather smoothly.

This can be backed up with a side-by-side of Kimi’s 2017 lap, and one from 2005. His 2005 qualifying lap also landed him a pole grid position, which he used to claim victory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0mcQ3h9eVg&feature=oembed

Again, there are so many differences between cars of then and now – and the track has changed ever so slightly – but watching the same man drive the same circuit ten years apart only to beat his own lap in a heavier car with a smaller engine should be bizarre.

If nothing else, it’s a tribute to the engineering advancements of the past decade. Even if they don’t sound as good.

Map credit: Will Pittenger