On the heights of the Principality, between the narrow barriers, the Monaco circuit requires precise driving. A place of prestige and excellence, it is also one of the most feared challenges on the Formula E calendar. But in the age of digital technology and virtual preparation, one question arises: can you really feel the same intensity through a simulator? In other words, is Sim Racing capable of capturing the essence of Monaco that subtle blend of tension, strategy and precision to the point of becoming a real training tool for high-level drivers?
Monaco, an urban myth that is difficult to tame.
The Monaco circuit is much more than a track: it is an institution. Only 3.337 kilometres long, it makes 19 demanding turns through the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, winding between yachts, luxury hotels and historic buildings. No clearance, no margin for error: here, every meter counts. Walls are within reach of the rear-view mirror and the slightest overconfidence often ends up in the slides.
It is also a circuit apart from a strategic point of view. In Formula E, racing in Monaco is not only about raw speed, but also about intelligent energy management. The deployment of "Attack" mode, energy recovery by regenerative braking (regen), and lift-and-coast become the keys to success.
According to an FIA study published in 2023, 78% of drivers consider Monaco to be the "most mentally demanding" circuit in the championship.
The rise of Sim Racing in driver preparation.
If simulators were once reserved for engineers and technical development, they have now become essential tools for the pilots themselves. Sim Racing is no longer a hobby, it is a central axis of modern training.
According to a survey conducted by The Race in 2023, 87% of Formula E drivers train on a simulator at least once a week. They rehearse their lines, refine their trajectories and experiment with different strategies. For Monaco, where repetition is king, the simulator becomes an extension of muscle memory.
The professional simulators used by some teams such as DS Penske, Jaguar or Porsche faithfully replicate the behaviors of Gen3 cars: asymmetric braking, regen maps, urban grip, battery temperature rise. The proprietary software also integrates real-time energy management modules, which are essential in the Monegasque context.
Discover our products in our P1Sim & RS Simulation showroom, designed with engineers from motorsport. Experience Monaco like a Formula E driver.
Reproducing Monaco virtually: mission impossible? Not really.
Recreating Monaco in a simulator is above all a matter of precision. Thanks to photogrammetry and LIDAR surveys, editors like iRacing, rFactor2 are able to model the circuit with remarkable fidelity. Asphalt textures, sloping sidewalks, changes in elevation, asymmetrical kerbs... everything is there.
The experience doesn't stop there. In high-end simulators, the feel is just as important as the graphics. The Arnage flywheel by P1Sim reproduces every vibration of the asphalt, every surface transition, every kerb ridge. The Mistral pedal box, equipped with a 200 kg Load Cell sensor, simulates the feeling of decreasing braking in real conditions. And the dynamic D-BOX platforms restore the impact of a loss of grip or overly aggressive passage on a pavement.
As for energy management, it is not forgotten: the most advanced simulators allow you to assign regen curves, adjust engine braking, or practice lift-and-coast in realistic conditions, with haptic feedback on the controls.
Test our simulators in Monaco at Box 98: the ePrix is coming to the Principality.
Reading the track, an art as virtual as it is real
The Monaco circuit cannot be learned, it must be recited. Knowing each sequence, each blind spot, each micro-offset in the asphalt is fundamental. And it is precisely this repetition that Sim Racing allows.
The drivers also use the simulator to learn how to manage the most critical phases of Monaco: standing starts, braking compression before Mirabeau, or the famous chicane after the tunnel, which requires surgical tuning.
When virtual strategy lights up the real race.
One of the biggest advantages of Sim Racing is the data collection. Each virtual lap generates a mass of telemetry that can be analyzed: brake pressure, steering angle, regen delta, battery management, etc.
Teams use it to refine strategies, anticipate attack windows, or simulate race events such as a safety car or a sudden change in grip. And unlike the track, the simulator allows these scenarios to be repeated ad infinitum, without cost or safety constraints.
Access precision data to improve your piloting – train like a pro with P1Sim.
Sim Racing is not replacing Monaco. He precedes him.
It would be naïve to claim that Sim Racing can fully recreate the physical sensations of an ePrix. The adrenaline, the G-forces, the heat from the batteries, the fear of the wall at 200 km/h – all of this remains the prerogative of the real world. But the virtual allows us to approach it at a level of realism and intensity never reached before.
The simulator is no longer an alternative. It's a preparation. A tool you can trust. A means of mental recognition before the big jump.
Conclusion: between real and virtual, the line is blurring
In a world where every millisecond counts, where energy strategy topples the podiums, and where precision is the key to everything, Sim Racing is a formidable weapon. For Monaco more than anywhere else, he represents a strong ally: a learning ground, a faithful mirror, a partner for progress.
If the intensity of the real world remains inimitable, the virtual world today captures its essence. And in the quest for performance, that's the main thing.
