From Monaco, with Love

By Thiemo Albers-Daly

I want you to think about some of your favourite things. Your favourite film for example, or your favourite car. Why do you love it so much? Is it perfect? Chances are, probably not. But that’s ok, it doesn’t have to be. The reason that whatever it is is your favourite thing is because it some has kind of quality about it that you can’t quite put your finger on. There’s some secret ingredient in it – an X Factor if you will. It’s because of this that you love your favourite thing more than you probably should and can justify it so well. Too many people, this is how they see the Monaco Grand Prix.

It’s important to state here as well that Monaco doesn’t have to be your favourite racing venue – just that you agree there’s something magical about it, something that you can’t quite put your finger on.

Following the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, many fans, both new and old, criticized the glamourous street circuit and despite the final podium result, declared it as a boring race. And to be fair, for large parts of it, it was a dull race. But I don’t think that the Monaco circuit it to blame for that. Sure, it’s more difficult to overtake in Monaco than in most places but that’s also part of the appeal, especially for the drivers.

Qualifying is key but even clinching Pole Position is never a guarantee that you’ll win. Come race day, you still have to endure a roughly seventy lap race which arguably requires some of the most intense mental concentration on the Grand Prix calendar. One false move, one minor mistake and that’s it. You’re out. Jenson Button, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, once said it felt like the walls moved closer to you with every passing lap. Whilst this is obviously not true, it also kind of is. Formula 1 cars over the last decade or so have become increasingly wider which makes overtaking at Monaco very limited. The obvious solution to this would be to introduce a new technical regulation to rectify this. Doing so would not automatically mean that Monaco becomes the Grand Prix with the most overtakes but it would certainly open up the potential for it. Furthermore, overtaking someone at Monaco for a position in the race is an excellent way of sorting the men from the boys.

But to circle back to where this piece started, it’s not Monaco’s fault entirely that it doesn’t always give us, the fans, the most electrifying race of the season (see Formula E if you want that 😉). Monaco is a test of endurance and mental strength. Imagine the mental pressure that comes with the knowledge that one false move, no matter how minor, could be racing ending for you.

Overtaking is a secondary element that you may end up getting pushed to attempt, but again, it will sort out the real drivers of the pack. This seeming lack of action is forgiven by the majority however, drivers included. Why? Because it’s Monaco baby. It’s one of the original classic racetracks and there’s just something special about the place. It’s the jewel in the Formula 1 crown. It’s steeped in awesome Formula 1 history and brings out an even more competitive animal from within the drivers themselves. Besides a home victory, it’s the race that every driver wants to win the most – even more so if you’re Charles Leclerc, especially given his bad luck there.

Some of have suggested it should be scrapped or run as a non-Championship race. To those people I say, jog on! To do that would be like telling Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris that they aren’t allowed talk to each other anymore because they distract each other. You just wouldn’t do it. Monaco is a track that tests the drivers in such a way that no other track on the calendar can do. To have a successful race there, to finish it in one piece – or to go one further and win the Grand Prix – is immensely rewarding. It gives the fans another way to be entertained that they might not be used to. Sure, driving fast and overtaking are key elements to racing – but they’re useless if you can’t focus and get the maximum out of yourself and the car lap after lap. Driving fast in Monaco will help, but if you’re not in control, you’ll be in the wall before you know it.

Perhaps Monaco should be the final race of the season. After a long season, it all comes down to seeing how much mental fuel the drivers have left in the tank. It could throw some awesome last-minute curveballs into the mix and maybe even seriously impact the final Championship standings. Just some food for thought. At the end of the day, Monaco isn’t perfect. But what racetrack is? And when you think about it, if Monaco was removed from the calendar, it just wouldn’t feel quite right, would it? So if you’re unsure about it, give Monaco another chance. I promise sooner or later, you’ll fall in love with it.

What do you think?

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