Monte-Carlo revs up for Grand Prix

Reaching a speed of 170km/h round the streets of the small Principality of Monaco this is a sight to behold. The Monaco Grand Prix 2016 is the sixth race of a twenty one race series that crowns the world champion F1 driver.

Precision driving, technical ability and a touch of bravery (or is it madness?) is needed to tackle this course, and certainly to challenge your opponents if you are looking to win. Overtaking is near impossible so the qualifying laps are more critical than any other Grand Prix. Poll position is a must if you want to step on to the winners podium. The entire circuit is lined with barriers, crowds are not set back in a grandstand but are instead watching from the pavement, apartment balconies, cafe terraces and hotel rooftops.

The town will warm-up this weekend with the Historic Grand Prix, showcasing some of the classic cars that have won, lost and crashed on the infamous track over the years. Then come Thursday 26th May 2016, the big names in motor racing and F1 will take to the circuit and begin their bid for glory.

The Portier corner is key to achieving a good lap time in Monaco. Preceded by the Loews hairpin, the slowest corner in Formula One, and followed by the tunnel, one of the few flat-out sections of the track makes it a very tricky section to negotiate. Some great names have ended their races in the barriers here, most notably Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

Both Graham Hill, the man nicknamed 'Mr Monaco', and Schumacher have won it five times, Alain Prost took four victories, whilst Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart each won here three times. But the record of wins in the Principality resides with the Senna, who won in Monte Carlo six times.

So far in the 2016 series, Mercedes driver and team mate of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg has taken the first four victories. Now lying 43 points ahead of Hamilton and 57 points ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, he is certainly showing an early dominance. We'll catch up with the racers and driver standings again after the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend and ahead of the Monaco GP.