As ever, at F1's tightest and twistiest circuit on the calendar, the likely winner is likely to start from pole position. As such, the driver that finds the most speed from the Pirelli rubber on Saturday is the lead contender to be the king of the streets.
There might have been less racing than expected in May, but that doesn't mean F1 was devoid of news. The rumour mill ran at full power, with speculation about Nyck de Vries already set to lose his seat, Mick Schumacher eyeing Logan Sargeant's place, and the headline-grabbing talk of Ferrari offering Lewis Hamilton £40m to race in red. Expect all involved to face a grilling from the press over the weekend, so try reading between the lines in their answers to see if F1's annual 'silly season' has already begun.
Elsewhere, in more tangible news, Honda will return to the sport in a full-time capacity by powering Aston Martin in 2026 to highlight the green team's push for glory. A good showing from Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll would make their marketing team happy, and one lap is all they need to secure silverware at F1's "jewel in the crown" event.
An Aston Martin win might not be as wild a dreamas it sounds, too, with the much-discussed Imola upgrades for many teams set todebut one week late at the Principality. How much those developments will closethe gap to leaders Red Bull remains to be seen, especially at such a uniquecircuit, but any edge on F1's shortest track will be vital.
Driving some of the most advanced cars on the planet around streets far too narrow for them is always a challenge, and Pirelli is providing the three softest tyres in its arsenal to help the drivers navigate the 2.1-mile course.
The C3, C4, and C5 are available, but it might be the Intermediate or Full Wet compounds that the teams are using on Sunday. The chance of rain for the Grand Prix is high, and a repeat of last year's inclement conditions, which lost Charles Leclerc a win on his home circuit, could return for 2023.
Red Bull is the form team for the season, and they are the ones with expertise at the circuit after taking three of the last four victories there and half of all wins since 2010. Max Verstappen has 'only' won the race once, so things might not go all the two-time champion's way this weekend.
Charles Leclerc and Ferrari showed their capabilities on one lap in Azerbaijan, where they took pole position. That advantage may prove the pivotal difference for Monaco, as overtaking is often impossible. Leclerc has two poles on home soil to his name but no wins, and he will look to right that wrong this weekend.
Of course, should car improvements come for others, Mercedes and Aston Martin may also fancy their chances. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell demonstrated the Silver Arrows have the capability to shine after their Australian performance. If the car developments work as well as the German manufacturer hopes, they may also be in the hunt.
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Unless rain delays the race's start again, the mid-afternoon slot of 2 PM will see lights out for F1's most famous race on Sunday.
Qualifying – On air: 2 PM, Session start: 3 PM Saturday 27th May
Race – On air: 12:30 PM, Session start: 2 PM Sunday 28th May
Qualifying/Sprint – 7:30 PM Saturday 27th May
Race – 6:30 PM Sunday 28th May
Qualifying & Race – It looks unpredictable right now for both days, with Saturday seeming more likely for dry conditions. Some forecasts have the chance of rain for Sunday afternoon as high as 75%, so expect the unexpected.
