Nico Rosberg leads the field at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix (Getty)
The Monaco Grand Prix is the highlight of the F1 calendar, epitomizing the glitz, glamour and playboy lifestyle of the formula 1 circus. It’s the race every driver wants to win above all others, and is arguably the hardest to conquer: the circuit’s tight, twisting street track and high walls ruthlessly punish driver error while making passes difficult.
Nico Rosberg has won Monaco the last two seasons in a row, and will be desperate to make it a hat-trick this Sunday as he seeks to close the 20-point gap to teammate Lewis Hamilton at the top of the Drivers Championship. For the rest of the grid, it’s a simple case of playing catch-up: Mercedes already have a 70 point lead in the Constructors Championship, dominating the podium again two weeks ago in Spain.
The Basics
Sebastian Vettel will be looking to reduce his deficit in the Drivers Championship (Getty)
The Race:
Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2015
When:
Qualifying: Saturday May 23rd, 8am Eastern / 1pm BST / 10pm AEST
Race: Sunday May 24th, 8am Eastern / 1pm BST / 10pm AEST
Channel:
Qualifying: NBCSN (US) / BBC One (highlights) Sky Sports F1 (UK) / Fox Sports 5 (AUS)
Race: NBC (US) / BBC One (highlights), Sky Sports F1 (UK) / Fox Sports 5 (AUS)
Where:
Circuit de Monaco, Monaco (2.075 miles, 78 laps)
Betting:
Odds courtesy of Paddy Power:
L Hamilton 5/6, N Rosberg 11/8, S Vettel 10/1, K Raikkonen 20/1, V Bottas 66/1, F Massa 80/1, D Ricciardo 200/1
300/1 Bar
Last Race:
F1 Spanish Grand Prix (May 10th, 2015)
1. Niko Rosberg
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Sebastian Vettel
Heavy’s Pick
Nico Rosberg has won the last two Monaco Grand Prix (Getty)
With Mercedes so utterly dominant this season and, indeed, in this race for the last two years, you’d be a fool to bet against the Silver Arrows not winning Monaco again in 2015. Given the race’s tight, twisty street circuit, whoever makes it to the first corner in the lead will likely hold it until the checkered flag. You could toss a coin between Rosberg and Hamilton but, on the strength of his victories at Monaco the last two seasons, we’ll put our money on the German to stand atop the podium for the third year running.