The Monaco Grand Prix in the 2000s

Ferrari’s supremacy and Schumacher’s final years

At the start of the 2000s, Ferrari ruled Formula 1, led by a peak-form Michael Schumacher. Although Monaco was notoriously unpredictable, the Scuderia still managed to assert its dominance, though surprises often disrupted the expected order.

Michael Schumacher, Master of the Principality

• 2000: Starting from pole, Schumacher led comfortably until a mechanical failure forced him to retire, handing victory to David Coulthard (McLaren). A tough blow for Ferrari and a reminder that Monaco is unforgiving.

• 2001: Schumacher got his revenge, winning the race after Coulthard suffered an electronic failure at the start, ruining his chances. Ferrari secured a 1-2 finish with Rubens Barrichello in second.

Ferrari dominates, but rivals resist

• 2002: Ferrari was crushing the season, but David Coulthard triumphed again in Monaco, taking advantage of Schumacher’s struggles.

• 2003: The race saw Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams) take victory, capitalizing on strategic miscalculations by Ferrari and McLaren.

• 2004: Schumacher, on a record-breaking winning streak, saw his race end in the tunnel after a collision with Montoya under the safety car. This allowed Jarno Trulli (Renault) to claim his first and only F1 victory.

Alonso, Räikkönen, and the end of an era

With Schumacher’s departure, new stars emerged. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen became leading contenders, while Ferrari entered a transition phase.

The brilliance of Räikkönen

• 2005: Kimi Räikkönen delivered a perfect weekend for McLaren, taking pole, dominating the race, and winning in style. Alonso, then leading the championship, limited the damage, while Schumacher struggled, signaling Ferrari’s decline against Renault and McLaren.

Alonso triumphs, Schumacher steals the show

• 2006: This race is remembered for a major controversy in qualifying: Schumacher deliberately stopped his car at Rascasse to prevent Alonso from setting a faster lap. The stewards disqualified Schumacher, forcing him to start last. Despite this, he clawed his way up to 5th place, but Alonso dominated the race, reinforcing his championship lead.

The rise of new stars

By the late 2000s, new talents and ambitious teams disrupted F1’s traditional hierarchy.

Alonso vs Hamilton: the birth of a rivalry

• 2007: Tensions ran high at McLaren between Fernando Alonso and rookie Lewis Hamilton. In Monaco, the team ensured a controlled 1-2 finish, with Alonso winning and Hamilton finishing second. However, team orders prevented Hamilton from attacking, fueling a bitter rivalry between the two drivers.

Hamilton shines in the rain

• 2008: In wet conditions, Hamilton hit the barriers, but a well-timed pit stop kept him in contention. Making the most of changing conditions, he delivered an exceptional drive to claim his first Monaco victory, an important step toward his maiden world title.

Brawn GP: the season’s biggest surprise

• 2009: Brawn GP, a team that rose from the ashes of Honda, dominated the season. In Monaco, Jenson Button controlled the race and won. After the victory, he famously forgot to park in the correct spot and had to run through the pit lane to reach the podium: an iconic moment of the season.

The 2000s: the end of an era

• Ferrari’s domination (2000-2004), although Monaco still delivered unexpected winners like Trulli, Coulthard, and Montoya.
• Renault and McLaren’s rise (2005-2007), with Alonso and Räikkönen leading the charge.
• The emergence of Lewis Hamilton and the rise of new powerhouse teams like Brawn GP and soon Red Bull.

Monaco remained a unique circuit, where strategy, weather, and luck played a decisive role in shaping the outcome.