May 18 - Formula 1 team bosses admit that rumours suggesting Monaco needs to change gear in order to keep its historic annual street race on the calendar are not wide of the mark.

As the sport dramatically shifts gear with new races at venues including Miami and Las Vegas, it is becoming clearer that even blue-riband events like Monaco, Spa and Monza are not safe.

"Obviously things are changing," Haas boss Gunther Steiner said.

"We always need to evolve and develop, and if staying current means the model has to change, I think it needs to change. We cannot live in the past," he added.

"Hopefully Monaco can stay on the calendar with the right circumstances."

As ever in F1, it is clear that financial considerations are at the very heart of the problem with Monaco, as organisers pay what is believed to be the lowest race fee among all grand prix promoters.

"I think if Monaco was a new circuit and they said 'You're going to have the lowest fee of every single circuit and you're going to go there and can't overtake', it would never be accepted on the calendar," Red Bull's Christian Horner said.

"We accommodate Monaco because of its heritage and because of its history - that's it. I think that you've got to evolve.

"If you stand still, you're going backwards, and I think that applies to all aspects of the sport," he added.

Alfa Romeo chief Frederic Vasseur agrees that Monaco "can't stay old fashioned" and expect its grand prix to stay on the calendar.

"And I'm not just thinking about Monaco," he said. "It's a good lesson for all grands prix."


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53 F1 Fan comments on “F1 team bosses say Monaco GP in danger now

  1. ReallyOldRacer

    Boss translation: "We can go race on the gravel in Miami because they pay a lot of money and we love money. Historical fibre, who cares? Evolve means spectacle, not spectacular."

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  2. Susan

    If everybody had complaints about how narrow Jeddah was, and how narrow the chagains at Miami were , but Monaco is okay? When cars were little, Monaco was great. Now the new generation of cars are heavy and large, Monaco will just turn into a procession not a race. Guess it's historic significance is more important. Country country.

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  3. shroppyfly

    Monaco the same even in the early nineties remember Mansell trying to overtake Senna, he just positioned his car in the right place and nothing Nige could do, easy solution give them all a renault clio to race round in , way more entertsining than f1 is there, BUT its Monaco....

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    • ReallyOldRacer

      Hey, eat great food, sail, gamble, enjoy the beauty, watch the support races (they're a hoot), listen to the boys roar through the tunnel and see real royalty present the trophies. You want to see the guys challenge Spa, attack the para at Monza or conquer a Tilke track, all great fun. But there is a reason that Monaco was the first televised race and is still the most watched. It's a special place. All of the naysayers need to shut the f **k up.

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  4. Blo

    The Senna Mansell race was the most exciting race I have ever watched,Murray probably helped.
    I can imagine the response from Monaco, poof, f—k off then. Just the sort of publicity Liberty wants

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      • John B

        James Hunt was way better than Walker as he was commenting from a position of knowledge and not being famous for his stupid comments often corrected by James

        Do we not remember what Walker called Michael Schumacher. Totally disgusting comment about Michael's heritage

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  5. Adrian Roscher

    The Formula E races at Monaco, now that they run the full F1 circuit, have been quite good over the past several years - more passing in 45 minutes plus 1 lap than in any F1 race there in years.

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    • ReallyOldRacer

      Good point. The e cars have improved every year and there really is some good racing. My problem is that they sound like sewing machines and that changing cars mid-race was crap. Boring. Kinda' like hating spinach as a child and so never tasting it as an adult.

      • Adrian Roscher

        Formula E hasn't had to change cars ever since the Gen 2 car debuted however many seasons ago - next year's Gen 3 car will be even better... but yes, the sound is not the same as ICE cars. And the "attack mode" and "fan boost" are gimmicky, but then again so is "DRS."

        • ReallyOldRacer

          Adrian, I said changing cars mid-race WAS crap. and recognize that the cars have improved. And what is this pulling off line to get more power? Unfortunately, first impressions tend to be lasting impressions. Currently Fe is broadcast on a pay to view source in the US. Be awhile before the series gets much play here. Eventually, maybe, but not now.

          • Adrian Roscher

            yes, the "attack mode" gimmick requires them to navigate the outside lane of (typically) a hairpin corner at least once or twice (it varies) each race, which typically in tight racing conditions involves losing a spot or two, but then gives the cars extra power for a limited period (as does the equally gimmicky "fan boost"), usually enabling some passing back at least. Not sure if you meant to type "UK", as here in the US F-E is on CBS Sports Network, not ppv.

  6. ReallyOldRacer

    One more thing. If Fe becomes the marquee race at Monaco along with the same support races, it will still be my #1 target race weekend.

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    • ReallyOldRacer

      Good point, KEVIN. The Principality is not going to tear up the streets to make it wider or put in gravel traps. If push comes to shove their attitude will likely be, "Well, it's been a good hundred year run. We'll just combine Fe and the historics as headliners, throw in some support races and have a party." Basically, go pound sand Liberty.

      My bet: no loss of tourism revenue and no F1 political BS.

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      • KEVIN

        What about a race with one off cars just for Monaco. Crazy idea, but how interesting could it be with teams developing a one-off car for one race?....They still race the historic cars that are fantastic. This would not effect any budgetary restrictions...Liberty is mixing a lot of things up, why not Monaco?

          • KEVIN

            Piss off, Money grows on trees....the historic race puts on a great show. A one-off with mostly identical cars (and smaller) could be good for competition (passing) and seeing who is the best racer with mostly identical cars...we've all wondered how good "certain" drivers are without having the best car!

        • Swede

          They already have that. F2 and F3. Pretty good racing too.

          No need to mess up F1 more. In fact, Hybrid era was the worst thing ever. Makes cars too heavy and costly, and don;t sound near as good.

        • madra

          thats a great idea sniper,im sure it would work.i remember walking down the track at santa pod on a warm day my boots werent on too tight and one came off my foot and stuck to the track.

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  7. Sudan

    Totally agree. Beautiful country but wasn’t built to accommodate to 2022 wide, heavy F1 cars. Life will go on, the sun will still rise and set. Can’t hang on to the psst forever.

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  8. smokey

    IMO There are four circuits that epitomise F1 and it's rich history: Spa, Monza, Silverstone and Monaco. There should be a caveat to ensure these circuits remain part of the F1 calendar into the future, regardless of Liberty's or Mohammed's wishes. You could also throw in Suzuka and Montreal, two more great circuits.
    Certainly, the modern era of F1 cars have outgrown Monaco, however, it is not possible to widen the circuit or alter it's current course owing to existing structures. Somehow I can't see the Hotel de Paris or Casino Square being demolished or altered to enable the circuit to be widened! WYSIWYG!
    Maybe we need special cars for this special place ~ scale model mini F1 cars!

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      • smokey

        Hey, you are correct, Shroppy. I had a senior's moment and the mighty Ring slipped my mind! However, could we afford to upgrade the old circuit to current safety standards? What a classic!

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    • Blo

      Simple and imo appropriate answer for Monaco. Same circuit, same drivers, same points, classic F1 cars from a different era each year. Maybe replicas built by the teams. Imagine it!

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  9. golly

    fuck history the track is too narrow for overtaking if it wasnt for the rain it would have been another procession.strategy was the winner with red bull and AT/GASLY making the overtaking .time to take it off the calender and lets get back to racing.even fab shamilton couldnt overtake hurrah!

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  10. Mark

    Regardless of the racing, the narrow streets and lack of overtaking the simple fact is Monaco will stay if it can continue to sell out to fans, secure the revenue from tv and other media, court the corporate R&P (Rich and privileged otherwise known as VIP but I don't like using that term as it implies that all of these people are important). Follow the money.

    • smokey

      I am always highly amused by the wankers that are full of their own self importance and get their face on the cameras, but most people have no clue who they are! And also couldn't care less. Monaco is unfortunately wankers paradise when it is time for the F1 race! Those directly involved in the running of the race and F1 greats of the past excepted, of course!

      • ReallyOldRacer

        Agree re Monaco, but I think the US races have taken the mantle of most strutting wannabes. And the SKYguys just eat it up. Don't forget, they point the cameras.

        • Adrian Roscher

          True, but only because the US effectively controls global entertainment media and therefor most "celebrities" manufactured by said media are Americans, and most Americans being a fundamentally lazy people who like to avoid other countries/cultures whenever possible, home races are far easier for their PR teams to persuade them to attend. It is the rare gridwalk find at an F1 event who is actually a racer. Retired racers, Patrick Dempsey and Frankie Muniz excepted. Perhaps a few others.

          • Susan

            Let’s not be so quick to throw stones. I agree the US fans can be tacky and crass. I lived in Europe and I witnessed some not so polished people, especially in England. Those so called lazy Americans who travel abroad are there because of what foreign culture has to offer. Let’s not be high and mighty, people are people no matter where one travels. Good one , not so good ones. I’ve also witnessed foreign travelers here, some good some not so good.

          • KEVIN

            Fundamentally Lazy, wow Adrian, Please post your credentials and we'll seen how unpolished, uneducated and just being a twat you are.

            You assessment of Americans is a bit dated and insulting, go back to your hole OLD man.

          • Adrian Roscher

            So Kevin, a few things: 1. Born and raised in America here, albeit of European immigrant parents, so I not only know of what I speak, I'm entitled to speak it; and 2. As to my education and credentials, my BA is from Columbia and my JD from Stanford - what about yours? 61 is old enough to have been an F1 fan for half a century and seen races at Watkins Glen and Indianapolis. What about you, you rude little twat?

        • Adrian Roscher

          That said, watching Martin Brundle trying to interview hip-hop "artists" or one of the Williams tennis sisters is a bit of pre-race comedy I for one enjoy!

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  11. Shroppyfly

    Susan.Not polished,Not polished,course we aren't polished but we are incredibly well endowed with formula 1 teams and rappers who like gold and talk shite for England


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