Grosjean reveals Monaco inspiration

Romain Grosjean is taking inspiration from one of Formula 1's craziest races as he bids to end his 2018 drought at the Monaco Grand Prix. Grosjean is one of just two rivers yet to score a point in F1 this year, having crashed out of the last two races in Baku and Barcelona.

After crashing out under the safety car in Azerbaijan, Grosjean was out on the first lap in Spain, spinning across the Circuit de Catalunya and collecting Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly with him.

William's rookie Sergey Sirotkin is the only other driver yet to finish in the top 10 of a race this season and Grosjean's hopes of breaking his duck in Monte Carlo are hit by a three-place grid penalty earned in Barcelona.

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But the Frenchman hopes the feats of his compatriot Olivier Panis in a crazy 1996 Monaco race in which the podium finishers were the only drivers to see the chequered flag.

"It's been a tough series recently, with tough luck," Grosjean said. "Obviously, yes, it's a shame when your race ends on the first lap, but it does happen sometimes.

"We've got 16 races to go. There's a lot more races. The car is fast at a lot of circuits. I'm very much looking forward to the next race.

"You always have to drive underneath [the limit], unless you're in qualifying on a very fast lap. It's very tight there, and it goes very fast between the walls. It's a great challenge.

"It's probably one of the worst races to get a penalty. It is what it is. We've got to live with it. Our strategy will be to qualify as high as we can and move from there.

"I do remember Monaco in 1996 when Olivier Panis won. He was the last Frenchman to win a grand prix. I remember that race, especially, as it was a crazy race.

"He started 14th and was one of only three cars to cross the finish.

"Of course, the history of Monaco, and all the racing cars, and the changes to the circuit over the years – we love it because Monaco is Monaco."