'Monaco is magical and the sport would be poorer without it'

So after the rain and cold of Thursday, I’m sitting in my room on a beautiful sunny Monaco morning. The sound of the GP2 cars fills the air and all is good with the world.

Well it is as far I’m concerned. There are many places I could wish to be but at this moment in time, Monaco is the only one that will do. Sky Sports F1 viewers often ask what my favourite race is and bar the brilliance of Silverstone, Monaco does it for me every time.

It might not be wheel to wheel racing lap after lap and it’s true, we don’t get a huge amount of overtaking here, but nothing beats the sheer madness of watching the best drivers in the world battle it out in the most glamorous and sexy race of them all. How can you fail to be impressed with the skill required to hurtle round the two mile circuit, just inches away from the barriers at all times. The drivers dancing on that fine line between success and failure for each of the 78 laps.

Drivers talk about wanting to win this and their home race more than any other. In Nico Rosberg’s case, he’s managed both in one go in the last two years. One more and he’ll become the first driver to bag a hat-trick of Monaco wins since Ayrton Senna, something he told me he wasn’t really focusing on when we spoke on the harbour side on Tuesday evening. But how could you not think about it? Given how much his team mate is compared to the great Brazilian driver, what an achievement it would be for Nico to emulate Ayrton’s achievements here.

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The pressure’s on Nico this week though and judging by the performance of his team mate in the Thursday practice sessions he’s got a real fight on his hands. Lewis was quick straight away. Fresh from the completion of his new three year Mercedes deal he looked very much at ease as he posted the fastest times of the day. And with his job done on the track, Lewis took himself off to Cannes for the evening to mix with super models at a Charity Ball. Just another day in the life of one of Britain’s richest sportsmen.

Away though from the parties, and there are plenty of them this week, I also can’t wait to get back into the Sky F1 Commentary Box. As you can see from the photo, a small and compact room, opposite the pit lane and right in the thick of the excitement.

My notes that you see stuck on the walls or on the desk in front of me are compiled before I get to Monaco and added to over the weekend. In many ways the preparation for this race is just like any other. But because it’s Monaco, you know that there will be people watching who don’t normally tune in to F1. Sky Sports F1 may be the only place to see every race live, but for plenty of sports fans, the Monaco GP is the one race they tune into. Because it’s got the history, because the harbour side scenes are as familiar to sports fans as their own back yard, only with slightly more boats floating on the water. Because we remember watching Monaco GP’s in the past and falling in love with the place.

For me, it was my dream to come here and witness it in the flesh. Which I did for the first time in 2006 and the best part is, the dream keeps coming true. There have been some legendary party nights on super yachts, some incredible experiences, from Powerboat rides with Jenson Button, to my pathetic attempt at trying to jet ski last year and of course some great racing moments too.

If you ever get the chance to come, then do, and it’s brilliant to stop and chat to so many fans over the course of the weekend. But if not, don’t miss the most prestigious race of them all from the comfort of your own sofa. The naysayers will argue that Monaco has no part in the modern day Formula 1, but I disagree. The sport would be poorer ( and I’m not talking financially here) without this race. It stirs the soul, conjures up emotions like no other and in the shadow of the world famous Casino, for one man this Sunday, provides an opportunity to hit the jackpot.

Don’t miss Sky Sports F1’s exclusively live coverage of the 2015 Monaco GP. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway from 11.30am. No Sky Sports? No problem! Watch the Monaco GP for £6.99 with NOW TV