DATA ANALYSIS: How does lack of top speed contribute to lack of overtaking at Monte Carlo?

The data from the Monaco Grand Prix reveals that no driver reached the 300kph top-speed. Looking back at last weekend's Monte Carlo round, F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo delivers some key stats from the Principality.

Although Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc dominated the practice sessions at the Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri picked up the pace in qualifying.

The Briton set the benchmark in the middle part of qualifying before posting a track record in Q3 en route to a brilliant pole position in the Principality.

His team-mate Piastri was unable to put a perfect lap together when it really mattered, and ended up third on the grid behind the Ferrari of Leclerc.

Despite the introduction of a mandatory two-stop strategy for this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, Lando Norris controlled proceedings in the 78-lap race to snatch his first victory in the Principality from home favourite Charles Leclerc.

Piastri did not always look overly comfortable in his MCL39, but it was still enough for the Australian to finish on the podium and maintain his lead in the championship.

After the weekend in the Principality, there were speculations that the Monaco Grand Prix might complete changes to the layout of the track in the near future as the lack of overtaking opportunities has resulted in processional races in recent years.

The issue is that overtaking on the tight and twisty streets of Monaco is nigh-on impossible. The main straight is relatively long, but it ends in a tight first corner where drivers would need to take huge risks to attempt an overtaking manoeuvre.

Furthermore, the sport can mandate only a single DRS section as only the start-finish straight allows a safe deployment of the adjustable rear wing.

Highlighting the difficulty of overtaking is the fact that no driver reached 300kph at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll achieved the highest top speed with 295kph while the highest top speed in qualifying was 292 kph, recorded by Esteban Ocon and Alexander Albon.

Interestingly, the Monaco street circuit is the only track where the highest speed is often reached without DRS. Drivers usually reach the highest top speed out of the tunnel, as the longer full-throttle time and downhill gradient matter more than the main straight's DRS zone.