Prepare for a heart-pounding weekend on the French Riviera! The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix roars into Monte Carlo on May 23–25, 2025​. Practice sessions bookend Friday May 23, followed by a final practice and qualifying on Saturday, and the grand prix itself on Sunday (May 25)​ In fact, official sources list the weekend schedule as:

• Friday, May 23: Practice 1 (11:30–12:30) and Practice 2 (15:00–16:00)​.
  
• Saturday, May 24: Practice 3 (10:30–11:30) and Qualifying (14:00–15:00)​.
  
• Sunday, May 25: Race day – the 78-lap Monaco GP (flag drop at 13:00 local time)​.
  

What Makes Monaco Iconic

Monaco’s legendary hairpin turn (at the Fairmont) and tight streets demand millimetre-perfect driving and make overtaking nearly impossible.

Monaco is Formula 1’s crown jewel because of its unforgiving street circuit and glamorous setting. First run in 1929, it joined the F1 World Championship in 1950 and “hasn’t been off it since”​. The 3.337 km Circuit de Monaco winds through city streets that are incredibly narrow and totally iconic​ – Nelson Piquet famously likened driving here to “riding a bicycle around your living room”​! There is virtually zero margin for error: walls loom close, the hairpin and tunnel are needle-threading corners, and overtaking is extremely difficult (in fact the 2003 race saw zero passes). It’s a challenge “that nearly all drivers love, forcing them to put their skills on the line and rewarding millimetre accuracy”​. In short, winning in Monaco is a supreme test of driver skill and concentration – that’s why it’s so revered by fans and drivers alike.

2025 Edition: Highlights & Predictions

After the thrills of 2024, all eyes will be on the leading stars. Home hero Charles Leclerc thrilled the crowd last year with a hard-fought Ferrari victory at Monaco​, ending a decades-long home drought. But don’t count out Max Verstappen and Red Bull – Verstappen dominated the 2023 Monaco race, winning by 27 seconds​. Mercedes’ six-time Monaco winner Lewis Hamilton will also be itching to bounce back, and McLaren’s rising duo (Norris and Piastri) are brimming with confidence after strong form in 2024. Expect qualifying to be absolutely crucial in 2025, since passing on the tight streets is so hard; and a safety car or strategic pit-stop call could turn the race on its head. (As a reminder of the drama here, last year’s GP even saw a first-lap crash bring out the red flag​.) In a season celebrating F1’s 75th anniversary, Monte Carlo’s party vibe will be matched by fierce wheel-to-wheel action: get ready for strategic gambits under pressure and maybe another surprise podium!

How to Watch Live

Fans around the world won’t miss a turn. The official F1 website provides full broadcast info​. In practice, the race will be shown live on major broadcasters (for example, ESPN in the U.S. and Sky Sports F1 in the U.K.) and is available via F1 TV Pro/Access streaming where permitted. Qualifying highlights will be on free-to-air channels in some countries (e.g. Channel 4 in the UK). (Consult local listings or Formula1.com to confirm your region’s schedule.) The F1 app and F1 TV also offer live timing and on-demand replays for those with subscriptions.

Tickets & Travel Info for Fans

Monaco’s famous harbor – a reminder that the race is as much a French Riviera holiday as a motorsport event​.

Attending Monaco is a bucket-list experience. Official tickets and hospitality packages are sold through Formula1.com and partners (F1 Experiences, F1 Authentics, etc.), so book early – Monte Carlo’s grandstands and suites sell out fast. On race weekend, the Principality truly feels like a vacation destination. As Formula 1 notes, it’s “a holiday on the French Riviera, plus the chance to watch Formula 1 cars pounding past places where Monegasques usually go to buy a pint of milk”​ – you can even stroll along the track after the racing or have dinner on it at a trackside café. For example, fan-favorite spots include the swimming-pool chicane grandstands (L–P) and the Casino Square stand​.

Getting there: most fans fly into Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (France) and take the 20‑minute train ride or a helicopter shuttle to Monaco. Trains run frequently to Monaco-Monte Carlo station from Nice and Cannes. (Driving is tricky – Monaco has almost no public parking on GP weekend.) Once in town, Monaco’s compact size means you can often walk between grandstands or view the race from café terraces and yachts in Port Hercules (if you can swing a berth!).

Key Tips: Official F1 ticket outlets (and trusted resellers) will have grandstand and general-admission passes – check the race’s event page on formula1.com for details. Hotels in Monaco are very expensive, so many fans stay in neighboring Nice or Menton (train commute ~30 min). Whatever you do, soak up the glitz and speed: after the racing, Monaco’s nightlife and Michelin-starred restaurants await.