Monaco Grand Prix 2025: How to watch, predictions, new rules and everything you need to know

Formula 1 returns to Monaco for the eighth race of the season and what will be the third street track of the season, although this is one they all want to win.

The Monaco Grand Prix is unique in the sense that it is one of the only tracks that teams come to and bring specific setups to help cope with the high downforce needed for the slow corners.

Winning around Monaco requires precision and concentration, as Charles Leclerc almost found out on his way to victory last year when he had to remind himself to stay focused in the final laps.

Ayrton Senna has the most victories around Monaco at six, after breaking a 30-year F1 record in the 90s that was previously held by Graham Hill. Qualifying is everything around this track, but this year features a specific rule unique to Monaco that could improve the action.

Red Bull will be hoping Max Verstappen can pull off another stunning qualifying session, while McLaren will want to maximise their result with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris after dropping points in Imola.

With that in mind, here is everything you need to know ahead of the race weekend, including predictions, weather, and how to watch on TV.

What is the UK start time of the Monaco Grand Prix?

Sky Sports F1 will be providing live TV coverage in the UK, while those outside of the country can watch via F1 TV. Below are the start times for each session.

What are the new rules in the Monaco Grand Prix?

F1 is eager not to have a repeat of last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, in which there were only four overtakes on track, by introducing a special rule for this race only.

The highly unusual step will see drivers use three sets of tyres instead of two by mandating two pit stops. The rule specifies that drivers must use at least two different tyre compounds, which are the C4, C5, and C6.

Drivers do not have to comply with this rule if they use either of the wet weather tyres. Any driver who finishes the race without using the required number of sets will be disqualified.

If the race has been suspended and cannot be restarted, drivers who have used only two sets will receive a 30-second time penalty, and a driver who has only used one set will be penalised by a minute.

What is the weather forecast for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?

As it stands at the time of writing, the Monaco Grand Prix weekend is set to take place in dry conditions. The only threat of rain is during qualifying on Saturday afternoon, with moderate showers forecast.

Both practice sessions will see sunshine, with the chance of rain at 20% for the day. That increases to 60% for Saturday, then during the race, there is less than a 20% chance of rain.

Who will start on pole for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?

Tyler Rowlinson: Max Verstappen – Fresh off his dominance at Imola, Max Verstappen comes to Monaco looking to close the gap further to McLaren, with Red Bull’s latest upgrades paying off handsomely.

Verstappen is much ‘happier’ with the updates to the RB21, as he found the car’s understeering issue disappeared at Imola, allowing him to drive the car with ease as he shot into the distance.

The updates may not have as much of an advantage at Monaco, but the circuit is a simple one: qualify on pole and you have an almost guaranteed chance of winning.

Verstappen and Red Bull have the momentum after Imola and the Dutchman will continue his form with pole position on a track he has been strong at in the past.

Who will win the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?

Ben Evans: Max Verstappen – Off the back of his victory at Imola, Max Verstappen now has the opportunity to put serious pressure on both of McLaren’s drivers in the championship.

His pole position lap in 2023 shows that he’s capable of pulling off extraordinary feats on the streets of Monte Carlo, and while Red Bull’s latest update package isn’t specifically designed with Monaco in mind, it has closed the gap to McLaren.

Red Bull have typically got the upper hand over McLaren on strategy calls this season as well, and with the second mandatory stop now introduced for this weekend, Verstappen has all the tools available to him to close the gap to Oscar Piastri on Sunday.

Who will be the biggest surprise of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?

Kyle Archer: Kimi Antonelli getting on the podium – The Monaco Grand Prix gives Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli a chance to immediately respond to the Italian’s disappointing first home Formula 1 race at Imola last week. Antonelli did not make Q3 at the Emilia Romagna GP, and retired with a throttle issue.

The Emilia Romagna GP marked the Bologna boy’s first retirement, plus his worst qualifying performance since Antonelli qualified P16 on debut in Australia after damaging his floor. The 18-year-old qualified P13 at Imola, and his lap in Q2 was 0.438s slower than George Russell’s.

Yet Antonelli could be the biggest surprise at the 2025 Monaco GP, with the Mercedes gem taking a podium finish not implausible. His first seven rounds as an F1 driver have confirmed the teenager’s ability to push the limits, but he is yet to find a lot of performance in slow-speed corners.

Also, Antonelli became F1’s youngest-ever polesitter in the Miami Sprint as he denied Oscar Piastri of McLaren P1 in Sprint Qualifying by only 0.045s. The rookie also qualified P3 for the Miami GP after mastering the fast and narrow street track in Hard Rock Stadium’s car parks.

The Mercedes product should also not have to worry about Antonelli’s struggles with race pace in the Monaco GP given the lack of tyre degradation on the Principality’s streets. So, if he can qualify well, a podium in Monaco would be the ideal response to his upset at Imola.

Who will be the biggest disappointment of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?

Rory Mitchell: Lewis Hamilton – Lewis Hamilton arrives in Monaco at a circuit where Ferrari dominated last year with Charles Leclerc. He has won the race three times, so he knows what it takes, but recent strategy indecisions and the added pit stop might cause headaches at Ferrari.

In each of the seven qualifying sessions so far, Hamilton has only out-qualified Leclerc once. It’s unlikely that trend will break, and at a circuit where that is so crucial, it will impact Hamilton’s strategy options in the race.