Preview: Monaco awaits for Alex

Find out what Alex had to say ahead of the start of the European leg of the season

Published

04 JUN 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

Alex is all set for the sixth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season as the championship heads to Monaco for the first European race of the year.

One of the most iconic venues in world motorsport, the streets of Monte Carlo provide a unique challenge unlike anywhere else on the calendar, with the barriers never far away and every lap demanding complete precision.

The weekend also marks a significant milestone for Alex. Making his 95th start for Atlassian Williams F1 Team, he will draw level with Nigel Mansell for the joint-most race starts in the team's history.

"Monaco is one of those races that is just special - it's the crown jewel of the F1 calendar," Alex said.

"Monaco is a pure test of both the driver and the car, and it will be important as a team to have a clean weekend, getting in as many laps as we can, following an unlucky weekend in Montreal where I lost out on a lot of track time.

“Qualifying is everything around Monaco, and I'm looking forward to getting my first taste of the new cars around these narrow streets with the high speeds. Monaco is usually pretty good for us as a team, and for me as a driver - so I'm looking forward to getting back on track, and hopefully bringing home some points."

The 2026 Monaco Albono is ready to collect!

Monaco's famous 3.3km street circuit packs some of Formula 1's most recognisable corners into a single lap. From the climb up Beau Rivage into the Casino Square section, to the tight Hotel Hairpin and the tunnel.

With overtaking opportunities at a premium, qualifying has traditionally played a decisive role in determining the outcome of the weekend, making every lap throughout practice particularly valuable.

Alex also arrives in Monte Carlo with a strong record around the Principality.

His first appearances came in Formula 2, where he secured fourth and sixth-place finishes during the 2017 weekend before claiming Pole Position twelve months later. While misfortune prevented him from converting that pace into results in 2018, he has since enjoyed several points-scoring performances in Formula 1.

On his Monaco F1 debut in 2019, Alex finished eighth, before adding further top-10 results in 2024 and 2025 with back-to-back ninth-place finishes. A mechanical issue ended his 2022 race prematurely, while he crossed the line in 14th during the 2023 event.

With Monaco often rewarding confidence and commitment more than outright pace. We'll be covering the action every step of the way, so make sure to follow along on our live blog via the AA23 website and app.

And don't forget to claim Alex's latest Fan Passport stamp before racing concludes in Monaco. You can add this week's Albono to your collection via the link below.

Enjoy the Monaco Grand Prix!