The treacherously narrow streets of Monaco favour pinpoint skill over sheer speed and two faded Grand Prix stalwarts, vowing to revive their reputations, could find themselves in recovery mode from their current dire straits in the Principality’s showcase race on Sunday.

Former world champions, but now also-rans, Jenson Button and his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso, the two oldest drivers on the grid and top-paid with multi-million-dollar pay packets, are zealously intent on emerging from the harsh glare of setbacks galore to upset the form book on what is to both of them their favourite road race.

Monaco looms and it means conditions and opportunities this season so far have never been better for the troubled twosome to reverse their slump down among the no-hopers and show they can still be challengers... Button at 36 and with 15 wins from 289 starts and Alonso, 34, with 32 victories from 256 GPs.

Since Japanese engine giants Honda moved in to partner McLaren the once-all-conquering team’s barren spell has been an embarrassing disaster and neither former and feared ace driver has enjoyed the rarefied atmosphere of the top step of the podium.

Button’s last triumph was in Brazil in 2012. Alonso was first in homeland Spain a year later.

Sadly for drivers of their undoubted ability, McLaren has not been in a position to send them into the action in a car to equal their skill and determination.

A truly spectacular lapse when the likes of Mercedes, especially, and Ferrari, latterly, have boosted their drivers’ chances of dominance with virtually faultless cars and top-level expertise behind the scenes.

I can imagine that backstage, ahead of Monaco’s mega-show under global scrutiny, the efforts to give 2009 champion Button and Alonso, the title-holder twice in 2005-6, the necessary equipment to offer an upgraded level of challenge have been frantic.

And if the McLaren veterans’ pre-Monaco hints are an indication that they could, at long last, be happier behind the steering wheels of their cars we could be in for a treat of a fightback from their rearguard situation — not necessarily as winners, or even podium placements, but as a growing threat to the established front runners.

If it was down to their vast experience and individual ability that outcome would surely be the case — as everybody connected with the sport, driver or backroom staff, readily admits.

It is a tribute to their patience and understanding — though, I suspect, it could be that they have both been warned off any comments that could reflect badly on the team — that they both smilingly get on with the job against all the odds and a surge of upcoming youngsters.

Button, who lives in Monaco, strongly forecast this week that his and Alonso’s cars will be a big improvement. “Maybe it will be our breakthrough,” he said.

There are 78 laps and 160-plus miles around the slowest track of them all ahead of him and he added: “I love the place. To do well here is every driver’s dream.

“The feeling you get giving it your all is absolutely brilliant when the barriers are so close you could reach and touch them.

“One slight mistake and you are in big trouble.

“There’s no place like it. And when you win from pole like I did 2009 it is a thrill beyond belief.

“It requires a unique set up, more traction and high down force, more steering angle and softer suspension. After all that it’s up to the driver.”

Alonso, twice triumphant in 2005-6, is also certain that the McLaren and Honda strugglers, could at last have set him up with the most reliable and best performing car of their miserable season.

“This such a special place,” he said. “And maybe, hopefully, we’ll have a car that can do the business. I am optimistic that we can dial-in our car to play to our strengths to cope with this unique track and its extra-special demands.”

It could be that the two stars, rather than continue to face the final curtain as fears for their future grow, could stage a showstopper performance.

Let’s hope so. Rehearsals start today.

Was there ever a more appropriate anagram to attach to the despairing pair than TALENT turned LATENT?