In Pictures: The Monaco Grand Prix through the years

Nothing lights up the Formula One calendar quite like the Monaco Grand Prix.

The tight streets of Monte Carlo’s Circuit de Monaco make it the showpiece of the F1 season, a track which Jenson Button referred to as ‘very special’ on what will be a fleeting return to the sport for the former world champion.

The 2009 champion will return for one race while McLaren’s Fernando Alonso competes at the Indy 500 in America.

Speaking last month he said: “I’m thrilled to be making a one-off return to Formula 1 racing, and I couldn’t think of a better place to make that return than my adopted home Grand Prix: Monaco."

Since holding its first Grand Prix back in 1950, the circuit stretches out more than 3 kilometres through the city.

Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record: 1 minute 17 seconds, 939 milliseconds, which recorded last year.

But ahead of Sunday race, and another 78 laps of 19 turns, we take a look back through the archives at some great images from years gone by.

Scroll through the gallery above for the full lowdown…