The Monaco F1 GP at the foot of the track: it’s very scary

MD got into rally cars on asphalt and dirt, with Alonso in a street McLaren at Estoril and did many other atrocities. But the streets of Monaco are the most incredible. This newspaper experienced the F1 Monaco GP free practice sessions at the foot of the track, on the street of photographers. Some photojournalists warned: “This is the track where you will see them closest. Be careful. You will be afraid.” They fell.

We went through the road, the area between the asphalt and the stands, which in the pool area is almost a yacht. We walked between the walls and the water of the harbor, passing dozens of track marshals, firefighters, employees and security. At least sometimes, the feet have lead to prevent them from falling into the water. We walked for about 15 minutes until we reached the famous tunnel of Monaco. However, what catches the most attention along the way are the many yachts with privileged views. We found a guy sunning his boat, with the F1 track a few meters away. Others are barbecuing as if they were in the garden of their house, but unlike others, there is an F1 track just a few meters away.

And on dry land, some workers along the route also gave a nice tribute by grilling meat under the awning. Luxury and practicality, in equal parts, coexist in Monaco. The two sides of the coin.

To access the Casino area from the pool you have to reach the tunnel. There, the first surprise: they told us that there is another underground crossing for pedestrians that allows you to reach the other side of the asphalt. It was a long corridor with marble floors and walls, which was clearly used (and still is) for the passage of many celebrities from one side of the tunnel to the other, leading to the Casino.

At the end of that hallway, there were many elevators waiting for us, another example that in this iconic event everything is completely set up, as in other places on the track where there are portable elevators that are dismantled after of every race and bridges to cross, hidden in the distance . An entire inner labyrinth that is invisible to the eye and, therefore, has a truly unique and special beauty.

A blow to the chest

The logistics of Monaco are staggering. But more than that, what can be seen below.

After leaving the elevator and opening some fences to climb some stairs, we reached the top of the first climb, just before the fabricated Massenet curve, near the Casino. And suddenly heard the noise of an approaching car. Camera in hand to capture the first snapshot of the day, we received a massive blow to the face. The shock was so brutal that he was forced to take a few steps back. An F1 passed at more than 270 km/h in front of our camera lens, one meter away, and this journalist could barely see it. It is impossible not to open your mouth and scream with such a violent shot of adrenaline and sensations. It’s like a rocket passed in front of you.

And as more cars began to pass at full speed, the sense of fear increased. Pure adrenaline while standing, no need to get in a car, as if it were an extreme attraction in the best amusement park in the world. It sees a herd of wildebeest, roaring like lions. Unbelievable and unrepeatable. crazy

It was also amazing to see how the cars held onto that curve without losing control after braking in the middle of the curve. You know it’s safe, but seeing cars so close, speeding by and taking pictures with only a fence separating you, your feeling at the foot of the track is one of vulnerability. There are walls and the security is huge, but it is impossible not to think about the danger you are running in the spaces for photographers, small windows without barriers to have the best snapshot. If a car gets into an accident and a piece jumps off… is it right for me? It is inevitable not to do that reflection. It’s a scary feeling to see them speeding through a meter. Very scary. But addictive at the same time.

But most of all, that’s when you have to realize how alien F1 drivers are. They are riding in a car at full speed between the walls and any accident can be massive. The sensation is as if these superheroes are inside rockets, doing something completely irrational and crazy, like fighter pilots but staying on the asphalt. Their work should be highlighted. From the couch at home it’s very easy to criticize them and say ‘this one is slow’ and ‘I’ll do better with this one’. But they are the ones who enter Monaco at full speed and manage to tame a route that escapes reason. Everything, from first to last, is chosen.

Inside the tunnel at full speed

After a while, MD got off the elevator to the tunnel. There, the sense of vulnerability and speed increases. It’s impossible not to jump and scream as an F1 passes just centimeters from the wall. And then, the noise got louder. They say it’s unbearable for the ears in the past in cars that played more heavenly music with their V10 or V12.

At that point the maximum speed is reached, of approximately 290 km/h. At around 300, sparks from wood on the ground touching the asphalt raised a burning smell, which combined with burning brakes when braking at the Nouvelle Chicane. At that point, dozens of photographers stood on the left, behind the wall, without protection from the asphalt and the track was clear to take the iconic image with Monaco in the background and the F1 cars accelerating.

At that point you can also see how the drivers let the car run on the left curve, making it jump the curb so that it lands on the ground, without bouncing at all, facing the steering wheel straight to track the next curve like a straight after incredible traction.

Then they arrived at Tabac, another scary one. The drivers let the car run with it at 145 km/h, which seemed faster from the wall. They bypassed the protection, and therefore, centimeters away MD It is impossible not to jump again and reach the paddock again with your hairs standing on end.with a feeling of adrenaline, orgasmic, witnessing true madness.

Not before passing the pool exit, one of the most critical points for pilots and where there are usually many touches. There, you can fully appreciate the surgeon’s precision they must have at full speed to turn the steering wheel at the right moment to pass millimeters from the wall at the entrance of the curve to the interior plane of the chicane. Going to the right by a few centimeters can cause an accident. And if you over-brake a little, you can jump too much with the left tire touching the inside edge at the exit of the chicane and the car jumps too much, making it spin out of control towards the outside wall.

Standing at that point, it was incredible to see the lines of pilots, their reflexes to pull over to let the other pilots pass in the middle of the lap and the constant scares going on as everyone tried to find the their own limits between the walls. Before our eyes, Stroll had a warning for jumping too much on the piano. And suddenly, a whistle. It’s Charles Leclerc, kissing the barriers just enough not to damage his car but to give him a real scare.

A unique track

Pilots complete a lap at an average speed of 155 km / h between streets, with no margin for error, on the wheel of spaceships, real rockets. On TV, Monaco can be a boring Sunday race. But one meter from the track, it’s the most incredible feeling you can experience in motorsport. An outrage made possible thanks to unmatched engines and unique pilots. Television does no justice to what Monaco is. You have to live it. Unforgettable. It’s scary. A lot. Long live the Monaco GP.