Monaco Grand Prix: Stunning archive images chart 75 years of F1's most glamorous race

Formula 1 has been racing in the streets of the Principality since the very first world championship season in 1950, and it "remains its most glamorous event", according to the BBC's retrospective. As the paddock prepares for this year's race from 5-7 June, we look back at a selection of the best pictures from previous Monaco events.

The early years: Fangio and Moss

Juan Manuel Fangio steered his Alfa Romeo around the hairpin during the first F1 world championship race in Monaco in 1950. The Argentine would go on to win the event — the second of seven races in the inaugural F1 season. The start of the 1955 race saw the Mercedes of Fangio and Stirling Moss leading the way, with Lancia's Alberto Ascari sandwiched between the Silver Arrows.

Fangio was photographed wearing a flat cap at Monaco in 1956, having dominated the first decade of F1 with five world titles between 1951 and 1957. Stirling Moss, meanwhile, holds the winner's trophy next to Princess Grace of Monaco in 1960 — the second of three wins in the Principality for the Briton, who also triumphed in 1956 and 1961.

Graham Hill, the 'Mr Monaco'

BRM's Graham Hill led Lotus' Jim Clark in the early stages of the 1963 race, and was surrounded by crowds after claiming his first Monaco victory that year. "The Englishman would go on to win the race five times in total, earning him the nickname Mr Monaco." Hill was captured driving through Tabac on his way to victory in 1968, the year he secured the second of his world titles, with his final F1 win coming in Monaco in 1969.

Wet weather, drama and Hollywood

A frogman waited on a boat in case any cars crashed into the harbour in 1972, the same year Ferrari's Jacky Ickx was pictured driving into the tunnel — the Belgian, a six-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, would later become clerk of the course in Monaco. In 1976, Ferrari's Niki Lauda and McLaren's James Hunt were seen in conversation; their battle for the title that year, won by Hunt by a single point, was dramatised in the 2013 film Rush.

Nigel Mansell's Lotus was parked up on the kerb with a broken rear wing after he crashed out of the lead in treacherous conditions in 1984. That same year, Ayrton Senna announced his arrival with sublime wet-weather skill, moving from 13th on the grid up to second in his Toleman before the race was stopped as conditions were deemed too dangerous.

The Senna era

Prince Albert of Monaco greeted Ayrton Senna, then with Lotus, in 1986. Two years later, marshals clambered over the barrier at Portier to attend to Senna's damaged McLaren after he crashed out of the lead while ahead by around 50 seconds. "He was so devastated, he walked straight to his apartment without talking to any members of his team."

Senna held off the much faster Williams of Nigel Mansell in a thrilling 1992 conclusion, and won for a sixth and final time in 1993. "The Brazilian won for a sixth and final time in 1993 and remains the most successful F1 driver at Monaco."

Schumacher, Alonso and the celebrities

Celebrities have always been drawn to Monaco, including Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone, who indulged in some shadow boxing with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in 1998. Schumacher was stripped of pole position in 2006 after parking his Ferrari at La Rascasse shortly before the end of qualifying, blocking rival Fernando Alonso from completing a final flying lap. Starting from the back, Renault's Alonso went on to take his first Monaco win.

Twenty years on, approaching his 45th birthday, Alonso is still racing and preparing for his 431st career start this Sunday.

The modern era

Race winner Mark Webber somersaulted into a swimming pool as he celebrated with his Red Bull team in 2012. In 2018, father and son Keke and Nico Rosberg completed a demonstration drive in their respective championship-winning cars — Keke leading in his 1982 Williams with Nico behind in the 2016 Mercedes.

The most recent chapter belongs to Charles Leclerc, a Monegasque who finally won his home race in 2024 and was drenched in Champagne by Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz. The joyous scenes continued as Leclerc took the plunge, diving into the harbour to celebrate his victory.