Monaco Grand Prix promoter insists race will stay on F1 calendar

2022 F1 season

Posted on

| Written by

The president of the Automobile Club de Monaco has dismissed reports the principality is at risk of losing its grand prix.

The 2022 Formula 1 calendar is due to feature a record 23 races once a replacement for the cancelled Russian Grand Prix is found. Two further events will join the schedule next year, in Qatar and Las Vegas.

The announcement of the latter last month, which will push F1 close to its current limit of 24 races per season, prompted speculation some European rounds may be unable to renew their contracts. Monaco is among the venues seeking a new deal.

Speaking at a meeting of the ACM, president Michel Boeri rejected claims the race could be dropped from the calendar.

“People have been talking about supposed difficulties after this year in organising grands prix, Liberty Media’s financial demands being too high for Monaco, and that our grand prix is going to disappear,” said Boeri in comments widely reported by local media.

“It’s not true. We are still in talks with them and now we have to materialise by signing a contract. I don’t know if the contract will last three or five years, but these are just details.”

Monaco is one of the longest-running venues on the F1 calendar. It held its first grand prix in 1929, 21 years before the world championship began. It was part of the inaugural championship season in 1950, and following its return to the schedule in 1955 it has only missed a single year since, in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2022 F1 season

Browse all 2022 F1 season articles

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

45 comments on “Monaco Grand Prix promoter insists race will stay on F1 calendar”

  1. This race will not be missed.

    1. @proesterchen Calling it a “race” is somewhat disingenuous. It is, first and foremost, a social event for the elites and super-rich that just happens to feature some racing cars parading around some very narrow streets.

      I completely understand the challenge for the drivers and having a win at Monaco is undoubtedly a massive feather in their cap. But from my perspective, it’s the dullest event on the calendar.

      +1 for not missing it if it was dropped.

    2. @proesterchen @scbriml I’d miss Monaco as it’s one of the highlights of the year for me partly because of the history, Partly because it’s something completely different to anything else & partly because of the challenge of racing these cars at these speeds millimetres away from the barriers for 78 laps.

      1. IfImnotverymuchmistaken
        13th April 2022, 15:24

        I agree, even if there is no overtaking, to say it’s dull watching them pass the railings less than a couple of mms away going 320 km/h is a bit… incomprehensible? Especially if coming from true F1 fans.

      2. @stefmeister As I said, I do appreciate the challenge for the drivers, but it’s certainly not a race I enjoy. In recent years, we’ve even had to endure the prospect of the drivers deliberately going slowly to make their tyres last sufficiently to ensure a one-stop race. As somebody else said, qualifying is the most exciting part of a Monaco weekend. Might as well give the points out on Saturday and go home a day early.

        Thankfully, given the number of races in a season these days, the Championship impact of having a bad race at Monaco is significantly reduced compared to much shorter seasons.

      3. @stefmeister whilst you say it is “something completely different” and talk about the challenges caused by the close proximity of the barriers, that is being eroded as more street tracks are being added to the calendar.

        It might stand out when there are only one or two other street circuits on the calendar, but when street circuits make up closer to a quarter of the calendar, it loses that uniqueness when there are multiple other circuits on the calendar with similar challenges.

    3. Would kind of like to see Monaco replaced with a North Korean Grand Prix that takes place at that track the S. Koreans built. Keep with the brutal dictatorship theme F1 has adopted.

    4. Yes it will. Its one of the highlights for many, including me.
      Every small error is punished most of the time with a race ending crash.
      It’s unbelievable how drivers are able to stay focused for so long.
      It’s a very different race the, let’s say Monza. But that’s the attraction it asks for different talents to be used.
      Great race!

    5. I enjoy the Monaco race weekend as a whole. The qualifying session is usually one of the best of the year. The setting is spectacular. It is a genuine technical challenge for the drivers. Now Paul Ricard, there is a boring weekend.

  2. That’s a shame. Completely unsuitable for todays cars and usually, utterly dull.

  3. I very much struggle with the concept Monaco is a dull event. As someone fascinated with the art of driving a race vehicle really nothing in the world touches Saturday afternoon at Monaco. FP3 is even a show because one small error and you’re out of quali. It’s the best qualifying session of the year… by a mile.

    Monaco has never been suited to racing. You can watch old F1 races for 30-40+ years ago and hear Murray say how tight the track is and how unsuited for racing it is… but that’s kind of the point. But modern F1 cars are unsuited to racing, so much they require artificial aids, so philosophically where do we draw the line.

    1. First, apologies, I accidentally clicked “Report”.

      It really says it all when you think qualifying is the best bit of a Monaco GP. It’s an anathema to try and race modern F1 cars there.

      I wouldn’t shed a tear if was to be dropped.

      1. What’s wrong with having an awesome qualifying that is the best on the calendar? It means the season isn’t monotonous. I truly don’t comprehend why people hate Monaco. It’s what sets F1 apart, it’s part of the culture of F1. It gives the season an ebb and flow. it’s one of the only tracks of the season where you can really see a driver drive. It’s where a misjudged input can have a massive consequence.

        As someone else has noted it also gives the chance for championship competitors to drop the ball and have a real off weekend ala Hamilton in 2021. The layers to the weekend are far greater than most other circuits.

        … and btw without DRS we’d be seeing processions everywhere. The cars, without mandated overtaking aids, aren’t suited to ‘racing’… full stop. I don’t see many calls for the complete removal of aerodynamics.

        1. I truly don’t comprehend why people hate Monaco. It’s what sets F1 apart, it’s part of the culture of F1.

          Monaco is now also part of Formula E’s culture – and they put on a much better race.
          It’s time for F1 to leave and let FE and the historics to have the venue to themselves.

          I’ve never liked Monaco. I can count the number of good F1 events there on one hand out of the 35+ years I’ve watched it.
          The drivers aren’t even really driving that hard – you can’t push at Monaco due to the consequences, so there is always a substantial safety margin.

          Oh, and I have been calling for the removal of primarily aerodynamic devices in F1 for many years. They are the main cause of F1’s inability to race well, and also the least useful ‘development’ or information of any kind that can be taken from F1.

          1. If Monaco loses F1 then I highly doubt there’ll be any more motorsport there as the money, time and land investment wouldn’t be worth the hassle. I think inflicting that kind of desecration to motorsport culture would unforgivable. Like I have said I can’t comprehend how anyone would call for its axing.

          2. Really? Fewer than 5 decent Monaco Grands Prix in 35 years? Come on. I agree the races can be a bit dull if overtaking is the objective but off the top of my head 88, 92, 96, 97, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 11, 15, 16 an 19 were all pretty memorable (and I was too young/not born yet to watch them all live). As a massive Webber fan back in the day, 2010 and 12 were equally as memorable but they were objectively not great races.

    2. Indeed. I’m excited to hear where they’ll put the 3rd and 4th DRS zones at Monaco this year! :)

  4. The president of the Automobile Club de Monaco has dismissed reports the principality is at risk of losing its grand prix.

    Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he? It’s his job to promote the event (I wouldn’t call it a race).

    1. @scbriml Spot-on. All event organizers always defend their events, but time will tell.

  5. Imagine being Ok with dropping Monaco /smh

  6. Fastest parade on the planet. Only for the rich and those who want to be near rich people. All flash and no substance

  7. Mercedes struggles last season showed why this event absolutely needs to be on the calendar.

    Much like the old Hockenheim its an event that forces teams to design their cars differently and a completely different challenge for the drivers.

    Anything that encourages differences in results and performance should be embraced.

    Usually the same weekend theres a 500 mile race around an oval if you want a lot of overtaking.

    1. I totally agree. If there were a bunch of tight, twisty street circuits then I would want rid of them, but having one race that provides a very different challenge (both technically and for the drivers), rewards qualifying much more than other tracks, and punishes small mistakes is good to have. I want a mix of challenges on the calendar including tight street circuits, high speed tracks, tracks with heavy breaking, night races, high-altitude tracks, places with a high chance of rain etc. The history and tradition also adds to Monaco of course, and that can’t be easily replaced.

  8. Monaco is a classic & I can’t think of an F1 season without it. Qualifying enthusiasm is alone enough to keep it on the calendar.

  9. While Monaco has got mentioned alongside Circuit Paul Ricard & Spa-Francorchamps as an under threat location, I can definitely see at least Paul Ricard going, i.e., the one most under threat.
    However, I wouldn’t hugely mind losing Monaco either despite its classic status.

  10. I hope the next “formula” reduces the size of the cars. These 2m-wide boats are not made for Monaco, and certainly don’t aid in overtaking on any track. I wouldn’t mind seeing them drop to 1.8 m again and with a significantly shorter wheelbase. This would help reduce the weight of the car as well. Funny enough a smaller car with the new 18 inch wheels would look absolutely ridiculous but so be it.

    1. They won’t go back to the 1.8m cars (Which I always thought looked silly anyway) as making cars narrower would also reduce the size of the floor/diffuser which would then reduce the ground effect as the tunnels/diffuser would end up been smaller.

      Something I think Ross Brawn said a few years ago was that reducing the size of the cars from 2m to 1.8m in 1998 actually accelerated the aero development with the winglets/flaps & things because they all started looking for ways to get back the performance that they had lost by the narrowing of the cars (Which reduced the efficiency of the diffuser due to it been narrower) in 1998.

      That is something to remember. The cars were not made narrower in 1998 to improve the racing it was done to slow them down. And in fact because the narrower cars in 1998 ended up been more aero dependant there was actually less overtaking & less closer racing in 1998 than there had been in 1997 with the wider cars that were generating a bit more grip from the floor/diffuser.

      I always thought the wider 2m cars looked better anyway, They looked better proportioned than the squashed/boxey 1.8m dinky toy cars. The wider front wings & narrower/taller rear wings brought in in 2009 really didn’t help that awful look either.

      1. +1.

        There have been a lot of changes since I started watching F1 (1994-95), and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more, but I’m fairly sure the 1998 changes (not just the narrow-track, but the grooved tyres as well) were the worst step in terms of car rules I’ll ever see F1 make.

    2. You confuse width with length. It’s the gigantic length that makes modern F1 cars look like boats!

      The proper width makes them look like… racing cars! Racing cars are wide! The 180cm narrow cars looked pathetic! Silly! Disgusting! I hated them in 1998 and never stopped hating them until they went back to NORMAL racing car width in 2017.
      With the taller wheel they should make the cars wider if you ask me! Just like they were pre-1993 – up to 220cm wide.
      Make them SHORTER and wider. I shake my head every time people conflate the consequences of these two dimensions.

  11. I’d miss the event, but I wouldn’t miss the race.

  12. I still think the Monaco GP should stay. It is such an iconic track, and requires such an incredible amount of skill to drive a Formula 1 car to the limit that close to the barriers for 78 laps, particularly with the car being thrown about on the bumps. And the race can be exciting too, despite the lack of overtaking. 2019 was a great example when the top four were so close together but nobody could pass Hamilton, and in 2011 we were robbed of a great finish by the red flag when Vettel led on a one-stop from Alonso on two and Button on three. 1992 is the ultimate example of a faster car right behind a slower car, unable to pass, providing a fantastic race. And when a pass does happen, it is always absolutely brilliant.

    For me, Monaco is one of six tracks that should always get a free pass on the calendar, along with Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, Suzuka and Interlagos.

  13. I agree about the race being processional, but fans complain about the modern circuits being boring characterless tilkedromes, then in the next breath say Monaco won’t be missed. I don’t understand.

    I always loved the old Hockenheim, yes it was basically just massive straights interrupted by the odd chicane but it was interesting because it was different.

    Be careful what you wish for. Monaco is part of the sport’s heritage. In a world where we’re going to have 3 races in the USA, and a ton of Middle Eastern circuits no-one really likes, perhaps one day you’ll reminisce about those 1000hp cars hurtling past the yachts on a late spring afternoon.

  14. I live in the UK now, but grew up in Canada, and only started watching F1 because my father was a fan (there was no Drive to Survive back then). As a young kid, Monaco grabbed me instantly. So exotic, so glamorous! I know now, watching as an adult, that there isn’t much passing, but I still love the spectacle of it. Fast cars shooting by yachts in the harbour in the Med sun. I loved going there in 2009 to see the GP. Given the prices, really a once in a lifetime experience.

    Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I think back in North America, other than Montreal (or Mosport for at times) and wherever the US was at the time, most people could only name another place F1 raced – Monaco. Maybe times have changed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if things had changed too much (with maybe the addition of Mexico).

    I do wonder, at a time when F1 is becoming more popular in the US, would Liberty really drop F1’s most famous and well known track?

  15. Well, every year seems to bring bigger, heavier, fatter-tired cars – at some point they won’t even be able to drive around Monaco in single file…

    1. This year they are a bit smaller heavier yes but racing not in Monaco great on Saterday the Qualfier but Sunday it sucks…

  16. Ahh, Monaco Grand Prix day. Lap 1, cars zoom up hill and pile into the hairpin. Great, but show’s over. By lap 3 I’m thinking ‘this is going to be a long, long afternoon. At least there are buildings, that’s something different. Someone might hit a barrier. Please rain.’ Anyway, eventually there is always some entertaining racing that day, because in the evening the Indy 500 comes on.

  17. José Lopes da Silva
    13th April 2022, 19:53

    It was absurd to loose Monaco in a pack of 16 races.

    It’s even more absurd to lose it in a pack of 23 or 24 races.

  18. With all this talk of Monaco, Spa, Ricard, maybe Silverstone losing races, F1 needs to be careful it doesn’t lose enough “classic” circuits to allow a rival series to be formed.

  19. What you still nappy wearing year 2000 kids don’t understand is that Monaco was a unique event and provided its own challenges.

    It was ALL about as being as accurate as possible over the entire weekend. Overtakes were not a gifted DRS playstation game buta game of chess for 40+ laps then taking an opportunity of a mistake. Just look back on the greatest Monaco grand Prix ever 1992….

    1. The last few laps of 1982 also. Interesting use of past tense there Superman – I fully agree with the points you make

  20. I have an opinion
    13th April 2022, 23:11

    If you don’t “get” Monaco, don’t watch – more free time before Indianaopolis. But there’s a reason why both are part of the Triple Crown.
    Rather than drop the race, fix the cars! Fingers crossed, this year’s slippery sleds can actually race there.

    1. Except that Monaco wasn’t actually part of the Triple Crown in the original definition – that is a later, and not universally accepted, reinterpretation. The original definition was to win the World Drivers Championship – it’s why Andretti, for example, is often considered as having completed at least two stages of that somewhat arbitrary accolade, despite never winning at Monaco.

  21. i’d rather monaco than any of he middle eastern races

  22. It’s like Ferrari. You can live without it but boy how much do you want it.

  23. It’s not even a proper championship without the glamour of Monaco.

    Guess there won’t be any more Triple Crowns either, if it goes.

Comments are closed.