2004 Monaco Grand Prix

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2004 Monaco Grand Prix
Race 6 of 18 in the 2004 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
Race details
Date	23 May 2004
Official name	Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2004
Location	Circuit de Monaco, La Condamine and Monte Carlo, Monaco
Course	Street circuit
Course length	3.34 km (2.07 miles)
Distance	77 laps, 257.18 km (159.08 miles)
Scheduled distance	78 laps, 260.52 km (161.85 miles)
Weather	Dry and sunny
Pole position
Driver	Jarno Trulli	Renault
Time	1:13.985
Fastest lap
Driver	Michael Schumacher	Ferrari
Time	1:14.439 on lap 23 (lap record)
Podium
First	Jarno Trulli	Renault
Second	Jenson Button	BAR-Honda
Third	Rubens Barrichello	Ferrari
Lap leaders

The 2004 Monaco Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2004)^[1] was a Formula One motor race held on 23 May 2004, at the Circuit de Monaco, contested over 77 laps. It was Race 6 of 18 in the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship. The race was won by Renault driver Jarno Trulli; his only victory in Formula One. BAR driver, Jenson Button finished in second position, one second behind Trulli and Rubens Barrichello took the third and final podium spot for Ferrari.

In fine conditions Trulli beat Button to the first corner off the grid, and the fast starting Takuma Sato beat Kimi Räikkönen and Michael Schumacher to fourth place before retiring at the end of the second lap. On lap three the safety car was deployed due to a collision between David Coulthard and Giancarlo Fisichella, with the race resuming on lap seven. The two Renault drivers, Trulli and Fernando Alonso remained close together at the front of the race until the pit stops which briefly saw Michael Schumacher lead the race. Alonso retired after crashing trying to lap Ralf Schumacher, and a second safety car period ensued. After briefly leading, Michael Schumacher retired behind the safety car following a collision with Juan Pablo Montoya, who subsequently finished fourth. Schumacher's retirement elevated Button to second, and Trulli to the lead. Button subsequently reduced Trulli's lead, and the pair raced closely until the finish.

The race was Trulli's sole victory of his F1 career. The retirement of Michael Schumacher, the defending Drivers' Champion, brought to an end his run of five successive victories from the inaugural race of the season. Despite his retirement, Schumacher departed Monaco as the points leader, ahead of Barrichello and Button. Trulli's victory placed him ten points ahead of his teammate Alonso. Ferrari maintained their lead in the Constructors' Championship, 36 points ahead of Renault and 48 ahead of BAR, with 12 races of the season remaining.