Brundle: Blood poured from my hands during Monaco GP – and 2026 won't change much

Martin Brundle's memories of the Monaco Grand Prix are vivid – and painful. During his F1 career in the 1980s and '90s, he says he would have “blood pouring” from his palms after battling the streets of Monte Carlo. Now, as F1 prepares for its 2026 rule changes, Brundle expects little change to the race-day spectacle.

Why it matters:

Monaco is the most famous yet least overtaking-friendly circuit on the calendar. With the 2026 regulations promising more passing through battery deployment swings, many hope the race will finally deliver wheel-to-wheel action. But Brundle, drawing on decades of experience, believes the track's layout will always trump any rule tweak.

The details:

• Physical toll: Brundle, who first raced Monaco in 1985 with Tyrrell and scored his best result there (P2 for McLaren in 1994), recalls changing gear 3,000 times per race. Without power steering, drivers would tape their hands with duct tape to cope with the blisters and bleeding.
• Mental grind: He describes the race as relentless – one mistake ends your day. Seeing a pit board with 50 laps to go after thinking they were halfway was demoralizing.
• 2026 expectations: Despite new active aero and battery modes designed to create overtaking, Brundle told Sky Sports: “Monaco is usually about qualifying day. Race day is a bit of a game of chess unless it rains or there’s a timely safety car. I don’t think that will change a whole lot.”

What's next:

The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix will be the first real test of whether the new cars can produce racing on the tight streets. Brundle's skepticism is grounded in history – drivers have struggled to pass there for decades. Unless rain or safety cars intervene, the field may once again line up in qualifying order on Sunday.

For Brundle, the 1994 podium remains a career highlight, but he warns that modern drivers, despite better safety and power steering, still face an unforgiving challenge: “It’s tough in anything going so fast.”