Introduction
Monaco, the glamorous city-state on the French Riviera, has produced five Monegasque F1 drivers in the history of the sport. While not a motorsport powerhouse like the UK or Italy, the narrow streets of Monaco host the most prestigious race on the F1 calendar – the Monaco Grand Prix.
It’s only fitting that a handful of Monegasque racers have made it to Formula One and competed at their home race. They have achieved varying levels of success, from multiple Grand Prix wins to failing to qualify. This article will profile all five drivers in order of their success in F1.
5. André Testut – 2 Attempted Entries
André Testut was one of the first Monegasque F1 drivers to attempt to compete after World War II, but also the least successful of the Monegasque F1 drivers. He entered his home race, the Monaco Grand Prix, in 1958 and 1959 driving a privately-owned Maserati 250F.
Unfortunately, Testut failed to qualify for either race. His best lap times were simply not quick enough compared to the pace-setting factory teams. The 250F was also an aging car by this point, outmatched by the latest mid-engined designs.
While his results were disappointing, Testut helped pave the way for future drivers from Monaco. He showed it was possible for a small independent team to attempt to make the grid, even against significant odds.
4. Robert Doornbos – 8 Entries
Robert Doornbos is unique on this list as he actually competed under both Dutch and Monegasque racing licenses. He raced for the final seven Grands Prix of 2005 for Minardi under Monaco’s flag, and in 2006 did 3 Grand Prix starts in Red Bull under the Dutch flag.
Doornbos replaced regular driver Patrick Friesacher at the 2005 United States Grand Prix. He went on to start all seven remaining races that season, recording a best finish of 13th position. While showing some promise, he scored no championship points.
For 2006, Doornbos switched to competing under a Dutch license. He started just 3 races for Red Bull, replacing Christian Klein, again failing to score any points. That brought his brief Formula One career to an end after just 11 race entries of the Monegasque F1 driver. But Robert Doornbos did not end his career then, he moved to American open-wheel racing, and had some fair share of success there.
3. Olivier Beretta – 10 Entries, 9 Starts
Olivier Beretta is best known for his sports car racing exploits, but he did compete in Formula One for part of the 1994 season. His 10 race entries and 9 starts put him 3rd ont he list, ahead of Robert Doornbos and André Testut, but behind Louis Chiron and Charles Leclerc.
Driving for the Larrousse team, Beretta qualified for every race he attempted except the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. His results included a season-best 7th position at the German Grand Prix. However, as a pay driver without sponsorship funding, he was replaced before the end of the year.
Beretta’s F1 career was short, but he demonstrated ability by scoring that lone point-scoring result. He later found success in sports cars, winning his class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times.
2. Louis Chiron – 19 Entries, 15 Starts, 1 Podium
Louis Chiron competed in Formula One’s inaugural 1950 season at the age of 50. In doing so, he became both Monaco’s first F1 driver and the oldest driver in championship history – records that stand to this day.
Driving for Maserati, Chiron started 15 races from 1950-1958. The highlight was a podium finish in third place at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. He also holds the record for oldest driver to start an F1 race, competing in practice for the 1958 Monaco GP at age 58.
Prior to F1, Chiron found success in the pre-war Grand Prix racing era. His achievements include winning the Monaco Grand Prix in 1931. Today, Bugatti’s Chiron hypercar is named in his honor.
1. Charles Leclerc – 139 Starts, 7 Wins, 38 Podiums, 25 Poles
Charles Leclerc is by far Monaco’s most successful Formula One driver. Since his debut in 2018 with Sauber, the young Ferrari driver has utterly dominated the record books for Monegasque F1 drivers.
Leclerc scored points in his first season, before being promoted to Ferrari for 2019. He took an emotional maiden Grand Prix victory in Belgium that year, and in the next race won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in the Ferrari. This made him an absolutely fan-favoured in Italy, a county which lacked any successful drivers in the last years.
In 2024, Charles Leclerc did something, that has not been achieved by any other Monagesque F1 drivers. He won the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, and broke the curse that has been hanging over him for the last couple of years.
As of September 2024, Leclerc has won seven races along with 25 pole positions and 38 podium finishes. He ranks among the top talents in F1 today, and has a long career still ahead at just age 26 to add to his achievements.
Legacy of Monegasque F1 Drivers
While not matching motorsport heartlands in terms of numbers, Monegasque F1 drivers had a huge succes considering the size and population of this small principality. Louis Chiron and Charles Leclerc have proven that the tiny principality can produce winning drivers.
Leclerc in particular has taken Monaco’s history in the sport to new heights. In an era of top teams and top talents, he consistently runs at the front and wins races wheel-to-wheel against the best competition.
The other drivers profiled may not have found much success, but they showed it was possible for a Monegasque racer to make it to Formula One. For a small nation, seeing one of their own compete on motor racing’s biggest stage is a significant accomplishment.