With Gerhard Berger out of action after his huge accident at Imola, Ferrari decided to run only one car in Monte Carlo. Tyrrell had completed a pair of the new 018 chassis for Jonathan Palmer and Michele Alboreto and the new cars looked promising.

But at the front it was the usual story of Ayrton Senna leading Alain Prost in the two McLaren-Hondas. Thierry Boutsen was third in his Williams with Martin Brundle's Brabham fourth ahead of Nigel Mansell's Ferrari, Derek Warwick's Arrows, Riccardo Patrese's Williams, Stefano Modena's Brabham and the two Dallaras of Alex Caffi and and Andrea de Cesaris.

Before the start Patrese failed to get his Renault engine fired up and so had to start from the back of the grid. At the start Senna took the lead from Prost with Boutsen third and Mansell fourth. The two McLarens remained at the front all afternoon with Senna winning without any real challenge to his domination. Prost was second but Boutsen dropped behind Mansell and then Brundle. De Cesaris then moved up to run fourth ahead of Mansell before he collided with Nelson Piquet as he tried to lap the Lotus. This moved Modena to fourth and this became third when Brundle had to pit to sort out a misfire. Stefano finished third ahead of Caffi, Alboreto's Tyrrell and the recovering Brundle.