A prince among drivers

The Principality of Monaco is 2 square kilometres which is half the size of the suburb where I live in Australia. The ruling family, the Grimaldis, can trace their lineage back to the 13th century. While Prince Albert of Monaco may be the one in charge, the real prince of F1 is Charles Leclerc, who drives for Ferrari.

Less than a quarter of the population are Monégasque and Charles was born in Monaco in 1997. His mother, Pascale, is a hairdresser who cuts the hair of some of the drivers. Leclerc won his home race in 2024. That year Australian driver Oscar Piastri was making every F1 race a home race. He has Chinese and Italian roots and when he was looking for his Monégasque roots, Leclerc offered to adopt him.

Most of the F1 drivers live in Monaco due to its favourable tax climate so they get to sleep at home during race week. The track is short and there is no room for error.

Spectators fill every vantage point, from the grandstands to the balconies of apartments and hotels to the yachts that fill the harbour. It is all glamorous and chic. The jewel in the crown of the F1 calendar.

This design features a new element for the Circuit Maker 2026 series, the use of watercolour pencils. As the circuit is so narrow and the principality so small, the harbour obviously had to be included.