Monaco Grand Prix Tips
The highlight for many of the Formula 1 racing calendar arrives on Sunday as drivers prepare for the glitz and glamour of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.
Unsurprisingly, Red Bull ace and current Drivers’ Championship frontrunner Max Verstappen is the firm favourite to win the chequered flag in Monte Carlo this weekend.
The Dutchman has won the high-profile race in two of the last three years, and the reigning world champion will take some stopping on Sunday.
However, other markets can provide better value for punters, and here are three selections to consider ahead of the highly anticipated race on the streets of Monte Carlo.
Tip 1 - Winner without Max Verstappen - Lando Norris @ 6/4
Lando Norris has been making waves in Formula 1 in recent weeks and could push Verstappen for the victory this weekend.
Winning his first race in Formula 1 at the Miami Grand Prix at the start of the month, the 24-year-old went on to finish in second place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last weekend.
Moving up to fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship, Norris has been showing a level of consistency that has been catching the eye.
While getting past Verstappen on the narrow Monte Carlo streets might be a push for Norris on Sunday, the Bristolian is good value at 6/4 in the race-winner market without Verstappen.
Tip 2 - Fernando Alonso top-6 finish @ 5/4
Fernando Alonso endured a race to forget at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last weekend but the two-time world champion can come back stronger in Monaco.
Adding upgrades to their AMR24 car prior to the race in Imola, Italy, Alonso unfortunately crashed in final practice and had to start the race from the pits.
The race itself was more akin to a test drive for the 42-year-old, but he and his Aston Martin Aramco team will have learnt plenty about the upgrades ahead of the contest at Monte Carlo, where he has won twice previously in 2006 and 2007.
Alonso finished in second place behind Verstappen in Monaco last year and, with a strong performance in qualifying, can definitely challenge for a top-6 finish this weekend.
Tip 3 - Pierre Gasly top-10 finish @ 5/4
Currently down in 19th place in the Drivers’ Championship on zero points, it has not been the season Pierre Gasly would have been hoping for with Alpine.
However, there is hope that the Frenchman can give the Monegasque crowd something to cheer about this weekend in Monte Carlo.
With two 13th-place finishes and one 12th, Gasly has been knocking on the door for points in the first seven races of the 2024 campaign.
Gasly seems to have enjoyed his time at the Monaco Grand Prix in the past. He has raced there five times previously and finished in the top 10 on four occasions.
Again, much will depend on a solid performance from Gasly in qualifying. However, should that go well, he has shown he can handle this street circuit and could deliver his first points of the season.