Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Monaco
Grand Prix = Monaco
date=April 8
Year = 1961
Race_No = 1
Season_No = 8
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Official name = XIXe Grand Prix de Monaco
Location = Circuit de Monaco
Monte Carlo/La Condamine, Monaco
Course = Street circuit
Course_mi = 1.954
Course_km = 3.145
Distance_laps = 100
Distance_mi = 195.4
Distance_km = 314.5
Weather = Sunny
Pole_Driver = Stirling Moss
Pole_Country = UK
Pole_Team = Lotus-Climax
Pole_Time = 1.39.1
Fast_Driver = Richie Ginther
Fast_Team = Ferrari
Fast_Time = 1.36.3
Fast_L
Fast_Country = US
Fast_Driver2 = Stirling Moss
Fast_Team2 = Lotus-Climax
Fast_Country2 = UK
Fast_Lap2 = 85
First_Driver = Stirling Moss
First_Country = UK
First_Team = Lotus-Climax
Second_Driver = Richie Ginther
Second_Country = USA
Second_Team = Ferrari
Third_Driver = Phil Hill
Third_Country = USA
Third_Team = Ferrari
The 1961 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on May 14, 1961 on the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It was the inaugural race of the 1961 Formula One season, and the first race under the new 1.5 litre engine regulations [http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr095.html 1961 Monaco Grand Prix report from grandprix.com] .
Report
Qualifying
The erratic yearly variations in Monaco's qualifying regulations saw grid places guaranteed for works teams and past winners in 1961[cite book |last=Lang |first=Mike |title=Grand Prix! Vol 1 |publisher=Haynes Publishing Group |date=1981 |pages=p180 |isbn=0-85429-276-4] . Therefore the five works teams were awarded two places each on the grid, and Stirling Moss and Maurice Trintignant qualified as the past winners.Leaving nine drivers to fight over four places, a fifth place opened up when Innes Ireland crashed during the final practice session, breaking his leg. Stirling Moss took pole position from Richie Ginther and Jim Clark, with Graham Hill and Phil Hill on the second row.] Race
Ginther led Clark and Moss into the first corner but Clark quickly became a non-factor with a faulty fuel pump. Ginther fell to third on lap 14 when Moss and Bonnier passed him at almost the same time. At quarter distance Moss had an impressive 10 second lead but the Ferrari's of Hill and then Ginther found their way around Bonnier and began to close the gap. At half distance it was 8 seconds then 3 seconds at lap 60. Ginther moved into second on lap 75 and tried to close the gap but Moss was up to the challenge. They even set equal fast laps on consecutive laps: Ginther on lap 84, Moss on 85.
Classification
Notes
* Pole position: Stirling Moss - 1:39.1
* Fastest L
Richie Ginther and Stirling Moss – 1:36.3
* Lap Leaders: Richie Ginther 13 laps (1-13); Stirling Moss 87 laps (14-100).
F1 race report
Name_of_race = Monaco Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1961
Previous_race_in_season = 1960 United States Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1961 Dutch Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1960 Monaco Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1962 Monaco Grand Prix
References
