Monaco admits it reluctantly signed current F1 deal to stay on calendar
May 31 - Monaco only "reluctantly" signed a contract with Liberty Media to keep the fabled street race on the Formula 1 calendar in 2023 and 2024.
Following intense speculation last year that the parties were at stalemate, F1 and Monaco announced that a new deal had been struck.
Michel Boeri, who has been Automobile Club de Monaco president since 1972, said at the time that the contract was signed "in the interest of the Formula 1 world championship".
He also said the deal was "likely to be renewed".
But that renewal has now fallen under a cloud, after Boeri kicked off last weekend's Monaco GP by slamming Liberty as "the Americans" who only care about "the offer alone".
Prince Albert II swiftly intervened, insisting that Boeri is part of Formula 1's old regime and warning that Bernie "Ecclestone's time is in the past".
"I don't blame Michel Boeri for the fact that he found it difficult to adapt to the new situation, but it may be better now if someone else negotiates on behalf of the ACM," he added.
New quotes have now emerged that back Boeri's view that the new contract with Liberty Media was not in Monaco's best interest.
"We signed the contract for 2023 and 2024 to avoid falling into the abyss," he told Monaco-Matin.
"But it was done reluctantly. The problem is that we had to accept something that we don't fully support."
It is believed he is referring to Prince Albert II's revelation that the new deal will go beyond the measures agreed to last year, with "sponsorship, TV production and merchandising" to again be discussed.
Boeri said: "The people responsible for the signatures did their best. But we will oppose another contract with the demands of Mr (Stefano) Domenicali.
"It is clear that the current situation is not pleasant. Negotiating is sometimes very tiring, and with Bernie Ecclestone it was never easy, but we didn't need three law firms to settle the discussions.
"We used to sign a contract that was no more than three pages. Today, it's 65 pages."
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Monaco just lost the exclusive rights of mixed-up trackside advertisements & world feed coverage directing for this year, so they won't get back something they should've lost long ago because no location deserves special treatment in these regards.
''We will oppose another contract with the demands of Mr. Domenicali.'' - Tough luck because he most certainly won't concede something that goes against F1's general interests.
Boeri & Albert should realize that times have changed.
"Boeri kicked off last weekend's Monaco GP by slamming Liberty as "the Americans" who only care about "the offer alone".
We all know he is absolutely correct, although it's probably not politically correct to make such a statement in open media!
Prince Albert is trying to balance the income generated by the race against what it will cost the small principality to stage the event in the future.
I suspect , hes frustrated with the situation and just let rip, and the media have picked up on it, Im sure Monaco CAN pay more, but its a balance of everything you've said + the situation of the normal people of Monaco and the cost of living situation inflation etc , however that being said are there poor people in Monaco?
Monaco was the worst race this season, no excitement at all, cars can't really pass, leader takes a huge lead with no chance of anyone catching up and it's not just Max, it's whoever is out front. There has to be more entertainment in F1, not just riding around in front of all the rich people but showing some competition to the viewers on television. F1 is a dying motorsport.
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