Turbocharged Era Returns: 2026 Monaco Historique to Welcome Formula 1’s Past Powerhouses
The 15th Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, scheduled for April 24th to 26th, 2026, will open its gates to a thrilling new chapter in motorsport history, as Formula 1 cars powered by turbo engines are now eligible to compete. A recent change in regulations from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has enabled the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) to establish a dedicated class for these iconic machines.
The possibility of including turbo-powered Formula 1 cars was initially explored in 2022 with the introduction of “Race G” for vehicles competing in the Monaco Grand Prix between 1981 and 1985. However, organizers anticipate that the spotlight will remain on the celebrated 3-liter single-seaters, evoking nostalgia for Formula 1’s golden age. These cars, often equipped with the legendary Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, revolutionized the sport upon their debut in 1966. Up to 100 vehicles are expected to participate across Races D to G, all meticulously maintained and poised to potentially surpass their performance from decades past, benefiting from modern grip conditions.
The ACM is committed to preserving the unique character of the Grand Prix, and will continue to host Race A1, exclusively for pre-war vehicles. The Bugatti models – 35, 37, and 51 – alongside Maserati, are considered foundational to the Monaco Grand Prix’s heritage. Races A2, featuring post-war front-engined cars, and C, dedicated to sports cars, will remain unchanged, as will the five other Formula 1 grids, collectively representing nearly 40 years of Grand Prix racing evolution (1946-1985). Organizers are planning a series of tributes and celebrations within the Principality’s historic race circuit.
The 2026 event promises a sensory experience, immersing attendees in the sights, sounds, and smells of motorsport’s rich past. Maserati, celebrating its centennial racing anniversary (1926), is poised for a significant presence. Beyond potential participation in Race A1 with models like the 26, 26B, 26C, 26M, 4CL, 8C, 4CM, V8RI, 8CM, 6C-34, 6CM, and 8CTF, the Italian marque will also be represented in Race A2 alongside the 250F – a winner in 1956 with Stirling Moss and in 1957 with Juan-Manuel Fangio – as well as the 4CL, 4CLT/48, A6GCM, and A6GCM. In Race C, the ACM hopes to see the 150S, 250S, and 300S models take to the track.
The event will also commemorate several significant milestones. Eighty years ago, in 1946, the first Gordini car emerged, designed by Amédée, a prominent French racer of Italian descent. Seventy years ago, in 1956, Gordini made its final Formula 1 appearance at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, before being succeeded by Matra in Monaco in 1967. Sixty years ago, in 1966, new Formula 1 engine regulations (3-liter displacement, no turbo) paved the way for McLaren’s Grand Prix debut, with founder Bruce McLaren at the wheel. He previously won the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix in a Cooper-Climax, a vehicle frequently featured in historic racing events.
McLaren, now led by Zak Brown, currently dominates modern Formula 1, having secured the 2024 Constructors’ World Championship – their first title since the late 1990s. The team’s Monaco record is impressive: 58 starts, 15 wins, 11 pole positions, and 28 podium finishes. However, their last victory in the principality dates back to 2008, achieved by Lewis Hamilton. In 1966, Guy Ligier also made his Formula 1 debut in a Cooper powered by a Maserati V12 engine.
Ten years later, in 1976, Ligier entered Formula 1 as a manufacturer at the Brazilian Grand Prix with the Matra-powered JS5, driven by Jacques Laffite. This car evolved into the JS7 in 1977, achieving a pole position in Italy thanks to its powerful French V12 engine. That same year, Alain Prost, a future four-time Formula 1 world champion, began his Formula 1 career and won the French Formula Renault championship after winning the Volant Elf at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
Thirty years ago, in 1996, Olivier Panis secured Ligier’s sole Monaco Grand Prix victory – the only post-war win for a French car. This also marked Ligier’s last Formula 1 success (a total of nine) before the team was sold to Flavio Briatore and subsequently to Alain Prost.
The Grand Prix Historique de Monaco continues to be a celebration of motorsport’s enduring legacy, promising a captivating spectacle for enthusiasts and a poignant reminder of the sport’s remarkable evolution.
