By the time you've read this, the seventy-fourth Monaco Grand Prix will likely have kicked off with its opening practices. With that in mind, we welcome you (!), fine reader, to the most glamorous party in Formula 1, the first "crown jewel" of the World Championship calendar, the most difficult circuit with the narrowest margins of any in F1.
Monaco is promoted as an elongated gala event for upper-crust socialites that just happens to feature a car race somewhere in the itinerary. And it's true that the black tie dinners, gambling, champagne, and celebrity watches often do provide a necessary distraction from what is traditionally a processional race where overtaking is at more of a premium than anywhere else.
The debate over whether or not modern F1 has outgrown the principality along the Côte d'Azur will continue doesn't show signs of slowing down any time soon. But a star performance at Monaco is still something to cherish forever. Just ask World Championship leader Nico Rosberg - now a three-time and defending champion of what he considers to be his true "home race" - having grown up in Monte Carlo with his champion father, Keke.
Rosberg's hat trick of Monaco victories put him elite air - his next Monaco victory, whenever it happens, will put him equal with Alain Prost, and behind only Senna, Schumacher, and Graham Hill. He was a bit fortunate to inherit the win last year after a horrendous strategical boner from Lewis Hamilton. But after the two crashed out four corners into the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago, what happened last year at Monaco isn't on the minds of either driver or their supporters.
Monaco's unforgiving nature lends itself to become a race of atrition. This often leads to some incredible upsets - the near-victories for rookies Senna and Stefan Bellof in 1984, the stunning victory for Ligier driver Olivier Panis in 1996, and most recently, Jules Bianchi scoring the championship points necessary to keep what is now Manor Racing in the sport today - just two years ago.
Speaking of stunning results, how about that Max Verstappen kid? First race with Red Bull Racing, first career victory, first Dutch driver to win an F1 Grand Prix, youngest winner in F1 history - younger than any other driver has even started a race. It shouldn't have been a shock, given his billing as F1's next legendary champion in the waiting - but given the circumstances, it really was a pleasant surprise for The Bandit to take his first win in his first start with the senior Red Bull team.
Now the only question is, can Verstappen do it again at the more difficult Monaco circuit where he crashed spectacularly a year ago? It surely won't be easy - Renault and "TAG-Heuer" have new engine upgrades, but teammate Daniel Ricciardo - still shaken from his recent defeat at the hands of Felipe Massa, Jr in the principality - will get first dibs on the upgrade that could see Red Bull jump back over Ferrari in the pecking order and stay there for good.
Something that the Scuderia aren't keen on happening. Michael Schumacher's 2001 victory in Monaco remains Ferrari's last victory here. Many questions surround whether or not Ferrari have as effective a chassis as Mercedes, and now Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel is trying to break a five-year winless drought in Monte Carlo of his own this weekend. Oh, by the by - remember how Kimi Raikkonen was past his prime? He's stealthily climbed to second place in the championship, ahead of Hamilton, with four consecutive top-five finishes and three podiums. Most recently, second place to that Verstappen kid in Spain.
Amongst the field of slightly longer shots to gamble on, Williams Martini Racing want to break their recent struggles at Monaco with a car that's more effective on the twisty, claustrophobic street circuit. Effective enough to get back into the points? This remains to be seen. It was a mixed bag of a first weekend back for Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso, who just last year finished on the podium at Red Bull. This year, he needs to be mindful that his teammate Carlos Sainz does not start utterly outclassing him for the rest of the season - especially now that there's talk that Sainz could be hitting the open market.
And for McLaren Honda, whose strength in chassis and aero could outshine their horsepower deficiencies at the ultimate low-speed circuit, it could be a day for either 2009 Monaco winner Jenson Button, or two-time winner Fernando Alonso, to finally return to the steps of the podium - assuming their cars don't break down.
Take away the paparazzi and the pomp, the celebrity and the staggering fleet of yachts that are all bigger than your house - and there are streets that can tell decades of stories of Grand Prix legends past and present. There could yet be another great story for them to tell in 2016.
2016 Monaco Grand Prix Schedule (all times GMT)
Free Practice 1 - Thursday, 12:00-13:30
Free Practice 2 - Thursday, 16:00-17:30
Free Practice 3 - Saturday, 13:00-14:00
Qualifying - Saturday, 16:00-17:00
Race (78 Laps) - Sunday, 16:00
