#IAMSTORIES: Brian, Monaco
As Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team prepares for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, we’re shining a spotlight on our passionate fanbase in Monaco.
For Brian, a trip to Monaco and a first experience of the circuit as a teenager sparked a love of the Grand Prix and an eventual move to the country. In his own words, Brian shares his Formula One story.
I had always been interested in road cars as a boy growing up in Toronto, Canada, but it was a visit to Monaco when I was 15 that started my love of Formula One.
I saw the starting grid markings on the start/finish straight of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, and it was the beginning of my love of Formula One. I wondered 'how can they race down this street?'
After that, I would always wait patiently to watch the week-delayed coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix on ABC's Wide World of Sports, which was in black and white then!
I was lucky enough to attend several Formula One races, first at Mosport, outside of Toronto. Later I saw a few Grands Prix in Montreal, too.
Gilles Villeneuve would become my all-time favourite after I saw him race in person. He had the most amazing car control, and he was always on the limit. I remember that one of the greatest ever battles in Formula One came at the 1979 French Grand Prix, when Gilles took on René Arnoux in his Renault.
Watching the circuit come to life demonstrates why Monaco is so intense for the drivers. It demands utmost precision from behind the wheel, which makes the Grand Prix so special.
I moved to Monaco in 2013 from Toronto. I learned very quickly just how much of a unique place it is to live. At first, it was like a fantasy, but over time, you realise this tiny place is a world-class city. Everything you could want is here, the weather is fantastic, as is the food.
The 2013 Monaco Grand Prix was the first race I saw after moving here, and the atmosphere was electric! I'm lucky enough to live just above the start/finish line, so I'm at the centre of the action.
It's incredible to watch the circuit get built around us locals and then taken down. It's around a three-month process in total, so it’s a significant undertaking.
Watching the circuit come to life demonstrates why Monaco is so intense for the drivers. It demands utmost precision from behind the wheel, which makes the Grand Prix so special. There's no room for error and, combined with the glitz and the glamour, it makes Monaco so unique.
I'm lucky enough to have an amazing view of the race, but I would also recommend Casino Square as a viewing spot. You only see the cars for a few seconds before, in an instant, they're gone, but it gives you a true look at the intensity missed by the TV coverage. I also love watching the cars accelerate from Tabac and then brake into the Swimming Pool section.
Away from the track, I'd recommend trying the socca chips made in the Place d’Armes Market, and you can include some Bandol Rose from Domaine Tempier too.
Ahead of this race, my support is with Aston Martin. I've always loved their cars, and I'm lucky enough to own two of them.
It's been great to watch Lance get stronger with every passing race, and I'm confident that Sebastian is becoming more comfortable in the AMR21. I can't wait to see them race in Monaco this weekend.
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