Formula 1 Uncertain future
Arrogance could cost Monaco Formula 1
Status: 2:35 p.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes
Best view for spectators: Nowhere are they closer than in Monaco
Those: AP/Luca Bruno
Formula 1 is currently visiting Monaco – and is discussing the future of racing in the principality. What will happen after the contract ends? What speaks for further races in Monaco. And what speaks against it.
The fact that quite a few Formula 1 drivers live in Monaco is not necessarily due to the special beauty of the densely built-up principality or its special motorsport tradition. Security, discretion and tax advantages ensure that record world champion Lewis Hamilton as well as the current champion Max Verstappen, the German Nico Hülkenberg and young star Lando Norris have a residence in the city state on the Mediterranean coast.
For all of them, a home race is scheduled for Sunday (3 p.m./Sky) at the most special Grand Prix of the year. But whether this will continue in the future seems more uncertain than ever. Monaco was already the venue in the first year of Formula 1 in 1950, and the classic has been part of the calendar every year since 1955.
However, the future is only secured until 2025, and negotiations beyond that will be difficult. It cannot be ruled out that the principality will lose the race temporarily or that the traditional course will only be run every two years.
Pro: Tradition, glamour, demands
The tradition: The fact that every Formula 1 driver wants to win in Monaco is also due to the unique history. The Grand Prix, with its great driving challenges on the narrow streets, is one of the oldest and most traditional races in motorsport, and is known even by people who otherwise have little to do with the horsepower scene. Juan Manuel Fangio, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher – they have all won and thus contributed their part to the myth.
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The glamour: The huge yachts are once again lined up close together in the impressive harbor this week, and superstars from Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylie Minogue and Brad Pitt are regulars in the paddock. It is clear at first glance how special the racing weekend on the Côte d’Azur is. Hardly any other sporting event in the world is as much of a focus for the rich and beautiful in spring as this one. Accordingly, a great deal of attention is generated in the principality during these days.
Carlos Sainz drives past the yachts of the rich in his Ferrari
Quelle: Getty Images/Clive Rose
The driver is challenged: the guard rails are very close, mistakes are punished harshly. The course gives last year’s winner Verstappen and co. no rest. In Monaco, precision at the wheel is required, especially in the hunt for pole position. “You can feel that your heart rate is a little faster on the qualifying lap than on any other track. There’s a lot of adrenaline,” said Verstappen last year. The drivers love that, which is why ex-champion Fernando Alonso also said: “Monaco should always be on the racing calendar.”
The fan factor: If you want to see Verstappen’s Red Bull or Hamilton’s Mercedes up close, you have to pay hundreds of euros, but at least you get an almost unique experience. Spectators appreciate the special proximity to the track, it’s only a few meters to the asphalt. This is not possible anywhere else due to the safety precautions on classic tracks. Another unusual feature: Spectators can walk the track themselves in the evening, it is not closed off the whole weekend.
Contra: Arrogance and boredom
Boredom: The biggest problem for the future of the Monaco Grand Prix is the lack of excitement on race day. On the shortest track of the season at 3.337 kilometers, overtaking is almost impossible on a narrow strip of asphalt. This is not only due to the fact that cars are getting wider and wider, but also because the organizers are unwilling to change anything. Adjustments to the course seem feasible. For example, there is the possibility of designing a zone in the area of the famous swimming pool to make overtaking easier, but this has always been rejected. And so the one who starts from first place usually wins.
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The racing calendar: Formula 1 is expanding. Applicants for new world championship races are pouring a lot of money into the market, while old ones have to defend their place. Monaco enjoyed financial advantages in the past, paying significantly less entry fees than other places. “Monaco is there because of its heritage and history. That’s all,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner: “Even the crown jewel has to move with the times. If you stand still, you go backwards.”
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The arrogance: The Automobile Club de Monaco’s performance as an organizer is viewed critically within Formula 1. Challenges such as limited space and complicated logistics in the town of 38,000 inhabitants mean that many people in the area are not particularly keen on coming to Monaco for work. While the ACM believes that the Grand Prix is the only perfect event in the Formula 1 year and that others should learn from them, the reality is different. Changes remain difficult in order to make the event fit for the challenges of the future. “In the medium and long term, Monaco must come up with solutions so that we want to come back here,” said former Haas team boss Günther Steiner.
