Once a spectacle, now a bore: How Formula 1 fights for the "Monaco myth"

In Monaco's iconic harbor, luxurious yachts are lined up close together, and the principality is getting busier by the day. The special nature of the Formula 1 spectacle on the Côte d'Azur becomes clear even before the first race on Friday. Hardly any other sporting event in the world is as much in the spotlight among the rich and famous in spring as this one.

Monaco – that's luxury: seeing and being seen. But recently, in terms of sport, it's been one thing above all: pretty boring. That's finally set to change on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky) .

For the first time, and initially only for the first time, this Grand Prix will require two mandatory pit stops for all drivers. The FIA, the world motorsport governing body, is reacting to last year's race and hopes to increase the excitement by offering more tactical options.

Thanks to a red flag, the drivers were able to change their 2024 tires on the first lap, thus fulfilling their requirement to use at least two tire compounds. They then completed the race without a break, essentially in the same order. Action? None!

On the narrow strip of asphalt in Monaco, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc secured an unspectacular home victory. Previously, the most special Grand Prix of the season featured periods where there were no stops at all, drivers used only one set of tires, and the starting grid usually determined the order at the finish. Will everything be different this year thanks to the special rule?

"Monaco has always been like this, that's a fact," said the only German driver, Nico Hülkenberg of KTM Sauber, regarding the few overtaking maneuvers: "I'm open to trying new things and am excited to see what it will be like this time." The 37-year-old also illustrated the special challenges for the drivers: "It's a ride on the razor's edge. Here, every driver has to step out of their comfort zone and push themselves to the limit. With the barriers, it's as intense and as extreme as anywhere else; no other track has that."

The fact is: Nowhere is overtaking as rare as in Monaco. There have been an average of just twelve maneuvers per race since 1984. Quite a few would like to see this change – and there are speculations about it. Renovation with a new overtaking zone, for example, at the legendary swimming pool, could remedy the situation. Changes have also failed due to the unwillingness of the organizers, the Automobile Club de Monaco, who are often perceived as arrogant.

And so, in the principality, the driver who starts first usually still wins. Qualifying on Saturday is particularly important, because on the 3.337-kilometer track, the shortest on the racing calendar, overtaking with the wide and long cars is almost impossible. Despite these problems, the contract with the track has already been extended until 2031.

"The streets of Monte Carlo are unique," said Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali: "The Monaco Grand Prix remains a race that all drivers want to win."

Despite all the justified criticism, Monaco is a venue like no other for Formula 1. Superstars from Hollywood and the world of sports sit in the stands and enjoy one of the oldest and most traditional races in motorsport, amidst the special atmosphere of the sunny Côte d'Azur. Almost everyone is familiar with the Grand Prix, with its enormous driving challenges. Juan Manuel Fangio, Niki Lauda, ​​Ayrton Senna, and Michael Schumacher have all triumphed on these narrow streets.

In this upscale town with only around 39,000 inhabitants, the driver is challenged every second, as the barriers are very close, and mistakes are punished harshly. "You can feel it, your heart rate is always a little higher on the qualifying lap than on any other track. There's a lot of adrenaline," said World Champion Max Verstappen. The drivers love it, which is why his teammate Fernando Alonso also emphasized: "Monaco should always be on the racing calendar."

Monaco hosted the first Formula 1 race in 1950, and the classic has been part of the annual program since 1955. As recently as the previous year, there was speculation that Monaco could quickly lose its regular spot, perhaps only hosting the race on the Mediterranean coast every two years. But despite new, high-budget contenders for World Championship races entering the market, forcing old ones to make way, the principality remains committed.

Monaco enjoyed financial advantages in the past, paying significantly lower entry fees than other venues. Even though no new figures have been officially released, there's every indication that this is changing, and that the Grand Prix will be held at least seven more times, thanks in part to higher payments. Anyone who wants to take part will have to dig deep into their pockets anyway. The berth fee for a week in the harbor can exceed €120,000 for the largest private yachts, and VIP packages for three days including practice, qualifying, and racing cost up to €20,000—not including hotel accommodation, of course.

"Monaco is here because of its heritage and history. That's all," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner had criticized before the recent contract extension, calling for changes: "Even the crown jewel has to move with the times. If you stand still, you go backward." The new pit stop rule can therefore only be a beginning.