Monaco is always a race that gets people talking. Half of Formula 1’s fans love it, getting excited by the sight of the cars dancing between the barriers at insane speeds and being enthralled by the glamour of the event.
The other half, on the other hand, hate the Grand Prix around the streets of Monte Carlo. To them, the event takes up a slot of the calendar that could be taken by a circuit that promotes better racing, has better safety, and is more suited to the modern image of Formula 1.
And the reality is that both of these positions are correct. Monaco is a race that is unique, that is special, and that is historic. It’s a Grand Prix that poses a unique challenge to the drivers and provides a different spectacle for the fans.
But it’s also a race that can be processional, often boring, and, on occasion, dangerous. It’s true that the Monaco Grand Prix would never get onto the calendar today if it were a new circuit, but does that mean it should be removed?
One Foot in the Past and One in the Future
Formula 1 markets itself as a sport that’s at the cutting edge of technology. Its cars are rocket ships with wheels, squeezing more than 1,000 bhp from a meagre 1.6-litre engine and using complex aerodynamics to allow drivers to travel through corners at impossible speeds.
But it’s also a sport that has to embrace its history. Without the legacy of names like Fangio, Moss, Lauda, Villeneuve, Prost, Senna, and Schumacher, Formula 1 would not be as prestigious. After all, there are plenty of other racing series that, while they have large followings, none are anywhere close to being as big as F1.
Monaco is the perfect embodiment of this coming together of past, present, and future. It provides a historic backdrop for futuristic machines to race around in the present. On that basis, Monaco is Formula 1, so removing it would be removing the sport’s essence.
Monaco Attracts a Lot of Attention
Formula 1’s new owners are on a quest to grow the sport, attracting new audiences in new and existing markets. Monaco is one of the weapons in its arsenal for doing this.
Because the race is unlike any other, it enjoys a lot of attention. Former F1 team owner and TV pundit, Eddie Jordan, was quoted as saying that he would receive more requests for tickets and hospitality for the Monaco Grand Prix than any other.
The race has also been a popular choice for companies running promotions and competitions. In 2022, one of these brands was PokerStars. The online poker platform runs a busy schedule of regular online tournaments for its players. In the run-up to the Monaco Grand Prix, it added to this with a special free roll tournament that awarded the winner a luxury Monaco Grand Prix experience that included private trackside viewing, four nights’ accommodation in Nice, and all flights and transfers. It’s not a new concept though, back in 2011, The Guardian ran a competition with a similar prize that included tickets for all three days of the race that year.
The sea of yachts that line the harbour is another example of the attention that the Monaco Grand Prix attracts. The world’s rich and famous want to see and be seen at the event, and their presence helps to increase the prestige and allure of both the race and the sport.
The Drivers Enjoy the Challenge
Monaco is a circuit unlike any other and that creates a challenge unlike any other. Most F1 drivers love racing around Monaco, including Ricciardo, who called it “a special weekend”. Part of their affection comes from the fact that it is quite the accomplishment to say that you won or even just scored points there.
Over the weekend, they build their confidence as they slide their cars around the corners, gently caressing the barriers with their wheels, trying to squeeze every last bit of performance from their laps around the circuit.
Being a unique challenge, it throws up interesting and unexpected results. It’s also clear in driver interviews that many of the love racing around Monaco, something that helps make good programming for the TV broadcasters.
So while it’s clear that Monaco wouldn’t be deserving of a Grand Prix if it were a new addition with no history, it is the perfect analogue for Formula 1 itself. F1 is nothing without its history and neither is Monaco. And since the Monte-Carlo race is a key part of the sport’s heritage, removing it from the calendar would be a mistake.
