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Monaco Grand Prix agrees new 10-year Formula 1 deal
(Photo: Mark Hintsa)
The Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2022 after a new 10-year deal was agreed today.
Formula One Management’s Bernie Ecclestone and Automobile Club de Monaco’s Michel Boeri agreed the deal in London on Wednesday just days before the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.
Monaco is one of the pillars of the sport and for many is the highlight of the calendar as the rich and famous swoop on the principality for the weekend.
Ecclestone had previously suggested that F1 could pull out of Monaco but unlike threats to drop other Grands Prix, including a British race, it was never likely to result in the sport actually saying goodbye to what is arguably its flagship race.
No other circuit on the F1 calendar can rival Monaco for its appeal, glamour and unique characteristics.
While other tracks may be Monacoesque in design, the atmosphere in Monte Carlo is one that cannot be replicated around Valencia’s harbour or Singapore’s Yas Marina.
Monaco’s new deal will see the race on the F1 calendar through to 2022.
The only other races confirmed beyond 2016 are the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and a US Grand Prix at the new Austin circuit, due to hold its inaugural race in 2012.
While I respect the history of the Monaco GP, in modern F1 it is one of the most boring races, alongside Bahrain and Spain (Catalunya).
With the modern cars, that’s certainly the case, but there some great races in the 80s and 90s. 1982 was particularly memorable – drivers spinning in the wet, others running out of fuel in the closing laps. The 84 race was dramatic as well.
In 96 just four cars finished, with Olivier Panis somehow managing to hold off Coulthard to take his only F1 win for Ligier.
Monaco has the potential to be unpredictable, but sadly we’ve not enjoyed the kind of racing there often seen in a couple of decades earlier.
It’s still a great venue and circuit. Perhaps if someone on a yacht could pump water and spray it over parts of the circuit we’d have more interesting races.
