Some of the biggest stars in the world have raced in and won the Monaco GP over the years. Figures like Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso have all tasted victory in the principality. However, outside of F1, a certain Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, once took part in the Monaco GP.
Well, you guessed correctly. Of course, it was part of a movie, but featuring a race in Monaco in Iron Man 2, just shows how popular the street circuit is, even away from the world of F1. The character of Stark was played by Robert Downey Jr. who made the Iron Man franchise a worldwide hit. ESPN F1 posted a tweet reminding fans of the same.
Throwback to when Tony Stark made his racing debut in Monaco.
It didn’t end well… pic.twitter.com/DBtuKWRS5v
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) May 23, 2023
In the movie, Stark is a young, charismatic billionaire who has a superhero suit of his own, which he uses to fight evil. As expected, evil decided to follow him to the Monaco GP. Ivan Vanko, a villain more popularly known as Whiplash, arrives at the track and decides to create havoc.
Vanko’s shenanigans on the track must have brought out the red flag in Monaco for sure. But Downey Jr. aka Iron Man, was there to save the day, as he fended off Whiplash’s attempted assault.
The popularity of the Monaco GP
The Monaco GP is arguably the most popular race on the F1 calendar. It has been a mainstay since the championship started back in the 1950s, and was an annual outing even before that. The fact that it was featured in the opening scenes of one Hollywood’s biggest movies shows a lot.
Celebrities from all over the world flock to Monaco during the race every year. We’ve seen multiple film stars, and athletes including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady and LeBron James.
Memory lane in Monte Carlo 😍
First up, let’s go back to the 1950s #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/QS4aef1PsR
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 22, 2023
This year’s Monaco GP too, is set to have a star studded guest list. With F1’s ever increasing popularity and growth, more and more celebrities attend the glamorous race in Monte Carlo every single year.
Will Monaco remain on the F1 calendar?
The 2023 Monaco GP is right around the corner. Even though in terms of overtakes and racing action, the Grand Prix has lost some of its hype in the last few years, it remains a favorite for teams and drivers.
Over the last few seasons, there have been rumors about the race being cancelled or replaced by a newer track. However, nothing official has been revealed about the race’s contract as of yet. For now, it is on the schedule and the entire community is hyped for it.
Red Bull will enter the 2023 Monaco GP as the undisputed strongest team. Max Verstappen, who leads the world championship ahead of Sergio Perez by 14 points, will be looking to extend his gap.
