The Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix is upon us again, bringing with it glitz, glamour and lots of traffic. The annual race, affectionately known as the ‘crown jewel of the F1 calendar’, will take place on Sunday, May 26, but a busy race weekend will see the Monaco circuit close for the entire working day, from Thursday, May 23, until all is said and done.

The circuit will close at 07:00 on Thursday, making way for Formula 3, Formula 2 and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup practice and test sessions, before reopening to regular traffic at 19:30.

A slightly later circuit closing time of 07:30 is scheduled for Friday, which will feature the first glimpse of F1 action in Free Practice 1 between 13:30 and 14:30 and Free Practice 2 between 17:00 and 18:00. Meanwhile, the qualifying sessions of F3, F2 and Supercup will take place around these times, with the circuit opening at a much later 21:00.

The all-deciding Free Practice 3 and every F1 qualifying session will take place on Saturday, from 12:30 until 13:30, and 16:00 until 17:00 respectively. F2 and F3 Sprint Races will keep spectators entertained in the meantime, and the circuit will be closed to non-single-seaters and Supercup cars from 06:30 until 19:30.

Last but certainly not least, race day Sunday will see a closure of the circuit from 05:00 until 20:30. F3, F2 and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup races will follow one another until the F1 Drivers Parade from 13:00 until 13:30. The big race begins at 15:00, and will last for 120 minutes or 78 laps, whichever comes first.

See the full schedule below:

See the schedule on the Automobile Club de Monaco website here.

Featured image courtesy of REUTERS/Massimo Pinca: Home hero Charles Leclerc