Monaco Grand Prix 1961 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Stirling Moss opened the 1961 season with another of his legendary Monaco victories, masterfully controlling the race in Rob Walker's privateer Lotus-Climax despite facing Ferrari's formidable new rear-engine 156 "shark nose" machines. The British virtuoso's second consecutive Monaco triumph came through inch-perfect precision on the unforgiving street circuit, where his ability to consistently lap within fractions of a second of his best time proved decisive. Moss demonstrated why many considered him the world's finest driver, extracting maximum performance from his customer Lotus to defeat the technically superior works Ferraris through sheer driving brilliance and flawless race management. His victory sent an early message that even Ferrari's revolutionary new car could be beaten by a great driver in lesser equipment.

Richie Ginther secured a solid second place for Ferrari, running consistently throughout the race to bring valuable points back to Maranello. Phil Hill completed the podium in third, giving Ferrari encouragement despite losing to the privateer Lotus. The race marked the first championship outing for Ferrari's new rear-engine design, which featured distinctive protruding air intakes that earned it the "shark nose" nickname. While the Ferraris showed impressive speed, Monaco's unique demands favored Moss's precision over raw performance. Wolfgang von Trips retired with mechanical issues, denying Ferrari what might have been a stronger result. Moss's Monaco mastery continued to showcase his unique talent, proving once again that he could make inferior machinery competitive through virtuoso performances that left rivals in awe.