Monaco's significance can not be understated

Monaco is so much more than just another Grand Prix on the schedule. It is a proving ground and F1's ultimate test of man and machine. It's the place where real racers emerge victorious. It puts the race back in the driver's hands. As the lights go out and the field of 22 charges down into the first corner this weekend, the greatest Formula One race of the year commences.

Spa, Silverstone, Monza; none of them compare to the glamorous Monte Carlo circuit and the euphoric, poignant feelings its grounds evoke. There is a mystique surrounding this place that can't quite be explained.

What other track could give you the kind of transcendent out-of-body experience Ayrton Senna described following his famous qualifying lap in 1988? He never reached that level of ecstasy again. From the elevation changes to the astonishing views and the fantastic layout, nothing comes close. This track forces you to incessantly ride on the absolute edge of disaster. To conquer Monaco, a driver must go out of their comfort zone. It demands unmitigated commitment at all times. One must push past the point of control in order to go fast; playing devil's advocate to chaos.

Between the narrow hairpin corner, the plethora of heavy breaking zones and uphill climb through the tight and twisting Beau Rivage, the fascinating run out of the Swimming Pool Complex, and the breakneck speeds reached through the tunnel before you plummet down into the notorious Nouvelle Chicane, Monaco has to be the most demanding track on the calendar today. In order to pass, competitors must make room with natural gaps being scarce and almost non-existent.

If this track wasn't already grandfathered in, the FIA would likely never allow such a course due to safety concerns. The course has an uncanny way of enticing one to try something they know will have dire consequences, yet, it's almost as if circuit is tacitly wanting you to do it.

When a driver suffers a momentary lapse in judgement and finds themselves in urgent need of a runoff area, don't expect to be so fortunate to find one at Monaco. With runoff spaces far and few between, an impact with the wall is almost a certainty. To win here, one must drive impeccably for the entire event. No mistakes, only perfection. Imprudence is not tolerated. Monaco allows nothing less if you want the right to be named one of its victors.

This magical facility will exasperate a driver to the point of complete physical and mental exhaustion.To go into Monaco with trepidation or distress guarantees failure. Confidence, fortitude, and an innate capacity for racing cars are the required traits of anyone who wishes to claim the checkered flag.

A driver can go their entire career without attaining a Formula One World Championship, yet they can still hold their head high when they've stood on top of the podium in this Grand Prix. No matter what else you've done, a win here leaves an indelible mark on your career that instantly propels you above thousands of other names.

This is the pinnacle of Formula One. This is Monaco.