Monaco Grand Prix 2026: How to watch, F1 race and qualifying times and Monte Carlo weather forecast

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Formula 1 heads to Monte Carlo for the sixth round of the 2026 season, the Monaco Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s action.

Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the Drivers’ Championship after securing a history-making fourth consecutive victory in Montreal. The Mercedes rookie inherited the win after teammate and polesitter George Russell retired from the race with an engine failure.

Russell had successfully defended from Antonelli during the opening stages, but his race came to a premature end on Lap 30, handing the lead, and ultimately the victory, to the championship leader.

The result saw Antonelli become the first driver in Formula 1 history to claim his first four Grand Prix victories consecutively, as well as extending his advantage over Russell at the top of the standings.

Attention now turns to the streets of Monte Carlo, where Ferrari arrive as strong contenders for victory. The Scuderia are expected to benefit from FIA-imposed restrictions on top speeds, a change that could play to the strengths of their package around Formula 1’s most iconic street circuit.

Read more like this: Monaco Grand Prix predictions as F1 experts weigh up Ferrari chances of ending Mercedes’ win streak

The jewel in the crown is upon us! Who’s your pick for the Monaco Grand Prix? 👑

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When is the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, including full weekend schedule

The 2026 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix will take place from 5-7 June, kicking off the European leg of the calendar. The iconic race around the streets of Monte Carlo runs for 78 laps, with track action getting underway at 3pm track time on Sunday 7 June.

How to watch the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, including free highlights

Full details on how to watch the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix in your country can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

UK viewers can catch all the action from the Monaco Grand Prix on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage, including practice and qualifying, on the Sky Sports F1 channel. Sky Sports packages start at £22 per month. NOW TV customers can also access the race via the Sky Sports pass, with access starting from £27.99 a month.

Free highlights of the race in Monte Carlo will be shown on Channel 4 at 6:30pm on Sunday 7 June.

In the United States, Formula 1 is now available on Apple TV after the broadcaster secured the rights from ESPN last season. Fans who previously subscribed to F1 TV should see savings, having previously paid $129 per year last season compared to Apple TV’s $99 annual subscription.

In Australia, fans can watch the Monaco Grand Prix through Kayo or Foxtel. Kayo is a streaming platform that gives subscribers access to more than 50 live sports, including F1 coverage for $29.99 per month. Foxtel is currently offering a significant discount until 30 June 2026, with its packages starting from $60 per month.

Formula 1 will also upload race highlights from the Monaco Grand Prix to its official YouTube channel later on Sunday following the race.

What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix?

At the time of writing the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix is expected to be unsurprisingly sunny and warm. There is a small chance of rain on Friday during FP2, but the risk disappears into the evening and does not return all weekend.

Temperatures should reach highs of 25°C on Sunday, although it will not be significantly cooler over the lead-up, with Friday and Saturday forecast to reach 24°C. A gentle south-easterly breeze should hit the track all weekend, feeling strongest during Saturday’s qualifying.

What is the Pirelli tyre allocation for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix?

Pirelli will bring its softest trio of tyre compounds to the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, a selection traditionally used for Formula 1’s most famous street race, including the C3 Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft.

The Monte Carlo circuit has undergone resurfacing work since last year’s event, with new asphalt laid between Turn 7 and the entrance to the Tunnel, as well as from Turn 19 through to Turn 1.

Despite the changes, Pirelli expects only minimal graining throughout the weekend and does not anticipate any significant impact on tyre behaviour. This is typical for Monaco, where the smooth track surface generally results in low tyre degradation and favours a one-stop race strategy.

Last season, the FIA introduced a mandatory two-stop rule in an attempt to create more strategic variation and improve the spectacle of the Monaco Grand Prix. However, the governing body has opted not to retain the regulation for 2026, with the event returning to its traditional format.

Where is the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix held?

The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix is held at the iconic Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo. The 3.337 km (2.074 mi) street circuit runs around the harbour of the Principality and has been a staple on the Formula 1 calendar from 1955.

The Monaco Grand Prix is one of Formula 1’s most historic races, first held in 1950, although races around the iconic track date back as far as 1929. The Circuit de Monaco has remained largely unchanged in the last 100 years, with the most recent adaptation being made to the Tabac curve in 2015, which shortened the track by three metres.

The track features several elevation shifts and a number of tight corners, making it one of the most technically demanding tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. The Fairmont Hairpin is the slowest corner in Formula 1, being taken at just 48 km/h (30mph) as well as one of the fastest just three turns later in the tunnel, which sees drivers reach speeds of 260 km/h (160mph).

Ayrton Senna is the most decorated driver at the Circuit de Monaco, with six Formula 1 victories between 1987 and 1993, with Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher sitting closely behind with five wins apiece.

Who won the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?

Lando Norris converted pole position into a maiden Monaco Grand Prix victory in 2025, overcoming an early scare and the challenges posed by the FIA’s mandatory two-stop rule to claim his second win of the season.

The McLaren driver suffered a significant lock-up at Turn 1 on the opening lap but maintained control of the race throughout much of the afternoon. Following Norris’ second pit stop, Max Verstappen inherited the lead and elected to extend his final stint in the hope of a late Safety Car.

That gamble ultimately failed to pay off. Norris quickly closed on the rear of the Red Bull, but Verstappen managed the pace at the front, allowing Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri to close the gap behind the McLaren and create a tense battle for the net race lead.

On Lap 77, Verstappen finally made his final pit stop, handing the lead back to Norris. The Brit then held off sustained pressure from Leclerc to secure victory, with the Ferrari driver finishing second at his home race and Piastri completing the podium in third.

Further down the order, the race was heavily influenced by strategic tactics. Williams secured a double points finish after Alex Albon spent much of the afternoon defending from George Russell, helping team-mate Carlos Sainz maintain track position ahead.

Russell’s frustration eventually boiled over when he illegally overtook Albon by cutting the Nouvelle Chicane. The Mercedes driver received a drive-through penalty for the move and subsequently informed his team that he would rather accept the punishment than remain trapped behind the Williams.