The Monaco Grand Prix is just around the corner, which means it’s time for the annual tradition of the entire Formula 1 world debating whether the tiny principality should still be hosting a round of the World Championship anymore.
2022 saw this taken to a new level as there was a sense among many that it actually was possible that the contract for the Monaco Grand Prix wouldn’t be renewed for 2023 and beyond. In fact, last year’s race came and went with no new deal signed between the sport’s bosses and Monaco’s royalty.
That did, eventually, change in September when F1’s CEO and former Ferrari Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali, and the President of the Automobile Club of Monaco made a joint announcement that F1 would be racing around the streets of Monte Carlo until at least 2025.
But a three-year contract will be over before we know it and we’ll be back to square one, dancing the same dance, debating amongst ourselves about whether Monaco deserves a spot on the Formula 1 calendar in the 21st century.
The Debate in a Nutshell
The Formula 1 world is, essentially, split into two opposing camps when it comes to the matter of Monaco.
On the ‘pro-Monaco’ side, fans of the race argue that it’s a unique event, steeped in history, that deserves to stay on the calendar because it represents the sport’s roots. Meanwhile, those against the race say that it’s no longer suitable for modern F1 as the cars are too big for the narrow streets, preventing overtaking and creating safety risks.
This has been covered over and over, so we don’t need to rehash the arguments. Instead, let’s examine whether there is a realistic chance of Monaco being resigned to the Formula 1 history books.
Modernisation and Progress
F1 has been on a quest to progress and improve in recent years. Following Liberty Media’s purchase of the sport in 2017, we’ve seen a complete rebrand of Formula 1, including new circuits and efforts to attract new demographics. This trend looks set to continue, too, with Domenicali suggesting we could see 32 races in the future.
Some of these new circuits have many of the ‘unique’ attributes that Monaco once held a monopoly over. It’s no longer the only street track and the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix will also boast much of the same glitz and glamour.
While it will likely take many years, as more fans become accustomed to the new fixtures on the calendar, Monaco could begin to lose its spark. At which point, there’s little to keep it around for.
Monaco Seems to Understand This
The principality appears to understand this and is taking steps to mitigate the risk of losing Formula 1. Since 1997, the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, a race of classic F1 cars, has been held on the same circuit, leaning heavily on the principality’s rich motorsport heritage. Other championships also host races on Monte Carlo’s streets, most notably the all-electric Formula E.
Monaco is also going all-in on other sports. Every year, it hosts a round of the European Poker Tour, one of the biggest card tournaments on the continent and in the world. The 2023 EPT Monte Carlo began exactly a month before the F1 weekend, attracting many of the most talented poker players on the planet.
The EPT Monte Carlo actually shares many similarities with the Monaco Grand Prix; in particular, the two events highlight a rich history of their respective sports in the principality. In the case of poker, Monaco’s Casino Monte Carlo is one of the oldest surviving gaming establishments in Europe and is also renowned for its opulence and glamour.
It’s not just poker, though. Monaco hosts other major sporting events including the Monte Carlo Rally, Monte Carlo Open for golf, the Monaco Marathon, and the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament.
So while losing the Monaco Grand Prix would, undoubtedly, be a big loss for F1, it would not be catastrophic for Monaco given all these other events in its portfolio.
Will it Happen?
Of course, unless we can get our hands on a crystal ball, no one can know for certain until it happens. However, if you look at the matter objectively, it seems to be an inevitability.
The passing of time will make losing Monaco less upsetting for F1 fans as newer followers of the sport will be more accepting of new events without being as emotionally tied to classic races.
That doesn’t mean Monaco will be dropped soon. The race’s organisers are likely to fight hard to keep it on the calendar, perhaps increasing the amount they pay and ceding some of the control that they’ve managed to hold on to, such as being responsible for directing the race broadcast and the unique podium celebrations.
Instead, Monaco could still be around in a couple of decades but its eventual removal, whenever it may come, seems like a near certainty.
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