Will an American Driver ever win Monaco?
The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix is a highly esteemed and iconic race in motorsports. It occurs on the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco; this circuit is renowned for its narrow, winding streets and challenging corners, making it one of the most demanding tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. The Monaco Grand Prix has a long and storied history, beginning with its inaugural edition in 1929. It has been a consistent part of the Formula 1 World Championship since its establishment in 1950. The race has achieved legendary status due to its glamorous atmosphere, unique ambiance, and exceptional skill required to navigate the narrow circuit at high speeds.
Emerging victorious in the Monaco Grand Prix is a remarkable accomplishment for any Formula 1 driver. The list of past winners includes some of the sport's most renowned figures, such as Lauda, Senna, Schumacher, Vettel, Alonso, and Hamilton. However, while American drivers have achieved several podium finishes at the Monaco Grand Prix, none have secured the podium's top step.
1957 Monaco Grand Prix Masten Gregory-Maserati 250F -3rd Place
The first podium for an American driver happened in 1957 when 25-year-old Masten Gregory from Kansas City, Missouri, finished third place on the podium in his Maserati 250F. Two American drivers have claimed second place on the Monaco Grand Prix podium. Richie Ginther achieved this feat three times in different years: 1961, 1963, and 1964. In 1961, he raced for Scuderia Ferrari alongside Phil Hill, who finished third, resulting in two Americans on the podium for Ferrari. Dan Gurney also had a fifth-place finish in the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix with Porsche, making it three Americans in the top five. During the 1962 race, Phil Hill secured another second-place finish, marking back-to-back podium appearances.
Nearly a decade passed before any American drivers achieved success at Monaco. In 1973, Peter Revson secured fifth-place points finish for Yardley McLaren. Eddie Cheever achieved his career-best result of fifth place in the 1981 Monaco Grand Prix with Tyrrell. Michael Andretti finished outside the points in eighth position in the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix, which remains the best American finish since 1981. Scott Speed finished ninth in the 2007 Monaco race with Toro Rosso.
1981 Monaco Grand Prix - Eddie Cheever - Tyrrell - 5th Place
Logan Sargeant, the current Williams driver, only competed on the Monaco circuit during the 2022 F2 series, securing ninth-place points finish in the F2 feature race in his first appearance at Monaco. The Monaco Grand Prix is contracted with F1 until the 2025 season. While it will likely remain on the calendar due to its iconic status, there are no guarantees. Will we ever witness an American driver win the Monaco Grand Prix? Only time will tell.
