Monaco has changed over the years. There’s little doubt about that and even though they’ve been racing there since the 1920’s, it hasn’t changed radically since then. In the 70’s they redesigned the track to encompass the swimming pool section. Some modifications for a smaller and faster chicane in the late 70’s. In the mid-80’s they added the Nouvelle Chicane and in 1997 they redesigned the swimming pool section.
After reclaiming some of the land from the bay, they redesigned the pits and pit lane which added more space for the teams which was a welcome alteration for sure. All things given, it has changed a few times with the largest changes adding the Piscine section and the pitlane changes. Still, the track layout has remained very similar to the original. After Sunday’s race, that might not be good enough anymore.
In what Fernando Alonso called the most boring Formula 1 race ever and echoed by Lewis Hamilton, the latter told the press that maybe it’s time to redesigned the Monaco circuit and make it longer.
“It was insane how little l was pushing – the least l can ever remember. There was a point where l was ten seconds behind and l was conflicted because in my heart l was ‘I still want to win the race’ and they were like ‘no, just bring it home’. I just love racing.
“So what can we do to make this one better?”
Hamilton had an answer to his own question.
“I spoke to Prince Albert the other day and said maybe we should make it longer. There are more roads so maybe we can change this great track and make it even better.
“Or maybe the format should change. You shouldn’t be able to do a one-stop race here. There has to be some mixed-up things. Maybe we need two races.
“But that was the longest 78 laps ever!”
I watched the race on Sunday and to be honest, I enjoyed it and found there to be some intrigue and decent passing and defending. There are those who don’t like Monaco and it seems each year they offer more and more complaints about how processional it is and what a boring race it is.
I jumped on social media to see the reaction and from what I could tell, younger fans are among some of the most ardent supporters of changing the circuit.
One enterprising chap decided to post a video of the famous Ayrton Senna lap as an example of how exciting the Monaco GP used to be and how boring it is no, thus, we need to change it because young fans won’t stand for it any longer.
I didn’t want to come across as a jerk but the video he posted says everything you need to know about what really is wrong with Monaco. Daniel Ricciardo claimed pole this weekend and the hard core F1 fans will know that was some stunning onboard lap footage. When compared to Senna’s lap, it’s not the same. When Lewis’s race is compared to that of Senna’s race, it’s not the same…but the track is.
What!!?? Are you a luddite? F1 has always been the pinnacle of technology and that is true but perhaps the cars have advanced so far that the visceral experience of Monaco isn’t the same as it used to be. Driver’s weren’t able to take Eau Rougue flat out either but times change.
So now we have cars with epic technology and downforce and Lewis trundled around not pushing during the Monaco Grand Prix. Perhaps there is room to change the circuit and make it longer but is that the right idea? If you reduced aerodynamic downforce and made the cars more of a handful to manage, I think you would find Monaco to be quite the challenge. But that, some fans would argue, is going backwards and where is the logic in that?
F1 owners have suggested that making some track changes that react in ways conducive to better racing given the current car technology and regulations is a possibility. Would Monaco be a place ripe for that change? What do you think?
I’m not in favor of changing Monaco, or other tracks, to suit the current cars. I feel we’ve swung the pendulum too far toward the engineering spectrum and lost a bit of the driver element in F1. Indycar might be a good example that just because you can do something on a car doesn’t always mean you should. The cars at this year’s Indy 500 were a handful and many drivers lost the rear end of the car. Perhaps using technology to make the cars more of a handful could be a move in the right direction? Maybe not.
Hat Tip: Sky Sports F1
I would rather just get rid of Lewis…
They could just change him, possibly make him a bit longer ;-)
Monaco is absolutely my favorite track. The setting is beautiful. The layout is absolutely unique. The fact that it’s nearly unchanged gives a connection to the history of the sport. Elevation changes. Almost no run-off areas. Literally an inch from disaster. Monaco requires not only perfect, precision driving but also perfect pit stops and perfect strategy. Sure, it is ALMOST impossible to pass there, but that “almost” is what makes it unique. Since I come from that background I have to compare losing Monaco to NASCAR losing Rockingham and other short tracks. I think you can draw a direct line… Read more »
Okay, so let’s at least look at the track. Yes, it’s twisty. Yes, the streets are narrow. No opportunity for going flat out. No opportunity for a pass because there are so many chicanes. There’s been at least one crash in the past nine years. So, how do we make it safe? Well, since the streets are so narrow and there are so many chicanes, it also makes it difficult to navigate, so…looking at the chicanes, I start to think: Do we really need that 90-degree sharp right at Saint Devote? Sure, there’s that pit exit lane there, but you… Read more »
The issue clearly seems to be the size of the cars. When you saw the two rosberg’s go around the circuit the thing that was painfully obvious was that even last year’s Formula 1 car was 20% bigger and wider than his father’s. And we know that this year’s cars are even a foot bigger. Perhaps the answer in Formula One all around the globe is to make the cars actually the size of cars not the size of enlarged monsters.
Memo to LH: that track is not going to change just for you or anyone else. However, it’s time to realize that F1 has simply outgrown the venue and leave it behind to memories and history. Let it become an event like Goodwood where vintage F1 cars can run on its streets in cooperation with the teams as an in-season festival. Has anyone suggested of running the race in nearby Nice? I suppose one could propose the teams build a smaller dimension one-off F1 runner specifically for Monaco but the costs would be at issue.
At Monaco the cars have surpassed the track. Technology has shallowed the apexes and shorted the straights. Drivers simply cannot get the performance built into today’s cars out of today’s cars at Monaco. It would somehow seem blasphemous to significantly change the track, although getting rid of the Nouvelle Chicane may not be a bad thing.
Agreed, in part. The braking performance of the cars has neutralized the one consistent passing opportunity – the Nouvelle Chicane. Getting rid of it wouldn’t actually help, especially since it was a pure safety play – the original left/right flick “harbor chicane” was just too dangerous — just ask Ascari.
Monaco is an event of two halves for me. I love Quali but hate the actual Race. Thank heavens for Indy on the same day. I still come away satisfied on the weekend. Monaco should just be a two day time trial stage before we get to the next race. Quali laps on hypers for two days. Whoever has the best combined time earns the most points. I have not missed Quali in Monaco but have often missed races. Didn’t bother me, at all. P.S. – To Negative Camber, I am enjoying your site and the podcast but don’t enjoy… Read more »
@Broderick1: Maybe I can help. You need to register for a WordPress account. If your viewing from a desktop computer, load ‘theparcferme.com, scroll all the way down on the right hand side and click ‘Register’. On Safari, once I log in to the WordPress account it keeps me logged in for days/weeks/…
Thanks.
I agree Monaco qualification is the most exciting part, and a time attack shoot out event around the circuit in F1 cars would be stunning.
Maybe Liberty Media would be open to mixing the season up with different ‘race types’, time-attacks, sprint races, enduro’s, etc.
Though I’m not sure mixing things up like that would be accepted by the teams as an alternative to series of Grand Prix races.
Tour De France is one of the most historic events in sports and one or two of the stages is a time trial and fans still turn out in droves.
Monaco, with today’s cars, is boring. I guarantee you, Liberty, as clueless and out of touch as they are, are going to listen to the twitter and instagram crowd. Just look what they used to justify eliminating the grid girls.
I doubt anything will happen though. This is Monaco, after all. Probably the most iconic race in motorsports. There will be protests and outcry.
On IndyCar, they will likely tweak the superspeedway aero package in the off season… if not by Pocono. The road/street/short oval aero package is closer to right already. Monaco is adding land down by Portier… extending straight leading into Mirabeau would eliminate Mirabeau, Loews, and Portier… then bring it back down into tunnel at some point. Likely the new land reclaimed from the harbor is all spoken for but perhaps they laid out the streets there with this in mind. Would not miss Loews as too many cars taken out there in my time watching for no added benefit and… Read more »
Markelov in F2 Race 2 seemed to not have so much of a problem passing cars at Monaco. Norris could not get around Fuoco although he seemed to have the faster car.
Artists rendition of new land… the entrance to tunnel in upper middle of photo… new development to left of it. Does not seem to be obvious path from Mirabeau to extend further out then back around and into tunnel…but tall buildings blocking street views.
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Video on the project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=243&v=ZI9Nqvrc6kI
Here it is… maybe if they reduce speed into the tunnel they can get rid of chicane after the tunnel?
“The most exciting development is for the racing fraternity of Formula One, utilizing the new land to create a new section of track, leading from the downhill Portier to a new section with wide road and a tight hairpin, creating an overtaking spot. The track would then rejoin the original circuit just before the tunnel, thus cutting the speed at which cars go through and reducing the dangers of the confined area.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2015/06/25/the-future-of-monaco-man-made-island-and-floating-formula-one-race-track/#283dc6ec634c
If the race was boring, it was because tires were being worn out. I’d also point out that Verstappen was able to pass cars, OK he is in the best car during the weekend. If you want gimmicks, check out hte BTCC, short races, weight penalties and lots of banging around. Really it’s pretty exciting.
just change the bloomin’ cars, aaaaaaaaarrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!
They are crap on just about every circuit ’cause they cant follow.
And while your at it, change the freakin tyres, no more hi deg, and bring in another manufacturer, we need a tyre war.
There. Problem solved for all circuits.
Because every other time the regulations have changed, and there were multiple tyre suppliers the racing was just awesome?
Nice thought, but I don’t think it stacks up.
well yes. just about every era we have had a tyre war we have had epic battles, epic races.
What we actually had when there was more then one tyre supplier was tyre war with un-balanced races which are termed as epic by some.
Again, a nice thought, but if you check back on the history I’m not sure where those epic battles and races occured.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_tyres
It looks like, apart from pre-70’s, typically when there were multiple tyre suppliers, one supplier dominated, and if you weren’t the lead team with that supplier, you weren’t winning races.
the stats dont show the true picture. just like the stats for Alonso. Wins by 1 manufacturer over another does not mean we did not have epic battles and races. Go back through the archives and look at the races.
Epic battles and races have occurred throughout the history of F1, sporadically at the front, but more consistently through he field.
I’ve been watching F1 (on and off) for a few decades, and I’m pretty sure that periods of multiple tyre suppliers didn’t standout as delivering particularly close racing, but if you can show such a link, I’m keen to hear more.
Some guy has posted on reddit possible changes to track layout to improve the racing: variant 1 and variant 2. are shown.
Got a link?
As stated, I have seen both variants as shown.
Thanks for the down vote.
“How to change the track layout to improve the racing at Monaco”
Hey Sunny, are you being blocked on TPF?
I get an email that you’ve responded, but the posts (yours and mine) aren’t visible on the TPF page.
Reply with your email, and I should be able to see that on the response email, and we can catch up from there.
All the best Jako
Yes I have been blogged as requested by about 2-3 people.
Hi Sunny, I’ve asked NC to pass my email address on to you directly.
Cheer Jako
Thanks JAKO, He (NC did just that.
TYRES!!! This is what needs to change, get off my lawn!! lol Okay, the talk of resurfacing tracks is insane. Changing aero? That means a complete car redesign, = cost too. Why are not people talking about tires? First off, the OZ wheels are already spec, castings and hub/axle connections standard. So with HD tires, we are talking about the compound, right? What…are the special Pirelli compound cords rolled on the virgin thighs of Athenian gridgirls? The tire molds are already created…we are only talking about a HD compound change, its akin to ‘gee, lets make his footprint better, so… Read more »
I think my opinion on the tires is relatively well known if you listen or read much around here but I saw a Tweet, can’t recall if it was Matt B. or Mark G., that put it simply. I am paraphrasing what they said, here, but it was along the lines of this. If F1 is all about the car tech and drivers, then the commentary crew spending 80% of their time talking about tires means that something is wrong. This is what I have said since 2014, just not so eloquently, that every race all we’re talking about is… Read more »
Somebody in the know (paddock) said to Martin Brundle “There is no point in trying to analyse any race or upgrade, it is simply about who is generating the right tyre temperatures at any given point”. Keeping the tyres in the “window” is the big part of performance this year. easily half a second per lap difference. There is a major tyre factor in this year’s performance driven by F1 politics.
I’m starting to think more and more that the brakes are the bigger issue. The braking zones are so short now, that even if you brake later than everyone else, it only gives you a meter or two advantage — not enough to make a difference.
Well, really it’s a combination of aero, tires, track design, brakes and everything else, but brakes take a higher percentage for me now than they used to…
I have never missed a race no matter the time differences since I started following the sports and that is a very long time ago, before the advent of TV it was BBC radio out here, after that and for a long time it was 8mm film reals first black and with silent and then super 8mm color and sound always at that time courtesy of BP. This year’s Monaco race was one of the worst I can ever remember, there was something really bad this time which I do not remember the like, three days past the race and… Read more »
yeah there was, the tyres. Vettel and Hamster were nursing their tyres to get to the end. Couldn’t push. Stupid really when the arguably, best drivers in the world in the arguably, most advanced race cars in the world can’t push because the tyres are sub par to the series. I do not blame Pirelli as they are doing what has been requested of them, but seriously, somethings gotta give.
We all want to see the drivers and cars going flat out like a lizard drinking.
And lets not forget, that these issues are not just at Monaco.
Hi Sunny, I love that bit of F1 history, radio, to black and white movie clips, then colour (with sound!), then I guess TV in black and white, then colour TV, and possibly soon, web streaming. That’s an amazing change in a lifetime, even more extreme than the changes in the cars in some ways. My F1 history only covers the black and white tv to current era, but unfortunately, my memory of the specific races and seasons is nowhere near as sharp as yours. I feel in many ways the much greater accessibility to watch F1 and get more… Read more »
Hi Sunny, Here’s the forum topic
https://theparcferme.com/forums/topic/all-our-f1-memories/
As soon as I can (find the time) and provided I am permitted too I will join you and contribute, out to be interesting.
Tyres, like the ECU, is a standard part supplied by a third party and should not be deciding championships.
It’s ridiculous that all we do nowadays is talk about Pirelli and how it is affecting the title fight.
As you said give them the stickiest and most durable tyres and let them race flat out.
I’d rather have someone win Monaco by a minute or two knowing that they were flat out the whole race.
Take the 3rd party supplier out of the title equation.
Tyres being the biggest factor in car racing, a single supplier is the just way to go. the problem is having one single supplier was the chose of the powers that be not because of the supply being just but for the system being easier to manipulate politically a single supplier. We followers talk Pirelli this and Pirelli that, and yes Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier, But in real fact Pirelli is working/supplying tyres to a brief given them by the powers that be, and that brief’s aim is to manipulate the racing.
I’d keep the track as is. What I would do is bring back refueling and put smaller fuel cells in the car. This would prevent teams from preserving tires and force a pitstop. Additionally it is something that would help at most racetracks and would help save weight which has been creeping up over the years.
i really do miss refuelling. The races were broken down to roughly 3 sprints and made for some awesome flat-out racing, and opened up strategy a bit more.
sigh.
@jiji I agree. It also made for interesting qualifying sessions because even the strategies were playing out on a Saturday. In those days, the pole man does not mean that he was the fastest, maybe just the most aggressive in his race strategy and qualified with the least fuel while a driver who qualified third or fourth could still win the race because he took a more conservative approach in his race strategy by qualifying with more fuel, thereby running longer in the race. But we won’t know for sure until race day when it all plays out. Who’s going… Read more »
Unfortunately, refuelling and Todt don’t go together well in a sentence.
If it was all up to him, F1 would have been running 4 cyl Turbo Hybrids around the streets of Monte Carlo last weekend.
In fact, F1 should consider itself lucky to get the V6 compromise, thanks to Ferrari and Mercedes. If not for the compromise, Todt would have asked F1 to merge with Fe by 2021.
The FIA hates fossil fuel.
@sunny stivala Not entirely accurate. Only Renault wanted the 4 cyl Turbo Hybrids. There are numerous articles quoting Norbert Haug, the Merc boss at that time, stating that he wanted to stay with V8s. From AmUS, Feb 1, 2011 “It would have been better to extend the V8 phase a bit,” Haug told auto motor und sport. “That’s a cheap engine.” From Crash.net, Jan 5, 2011 “One potential ally for Ferrari in its quest to reverse the FIA’s decision is traditional arch-rival Mercedes-Benz, whose motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug is well aware that the end of the V8 period may also… Read more »
The 1.5l 4 cylinder turbo in-line was the idea of Volkswagen pushed onto Max Mosely, Mosely turned that into a “FIA world engine” the design of which will belong to the FIA, and later said that those that wanted can manufacture the engine themselves to that design. FERRARI was the only one that said they will not manufacture an engine to somebody’s else design and neither a 4 cylinder engine. Norbert Haug was arguing about the costs and was saying that the present V8 was cheaper. Renault was saying that if the new formula doesn’t materialised they will out F1.… Read more »
@ sunny stivala As I’ve said your post is inaccurate. Mercedes and Renault did not push for 4 cyl Only Renault did because Mercedes were not 100 percent onboard as per Haug’s numerous statements. Mercedes never proposed 4 cyl. BBC – Jun 29 2011 “Then, the plan was to introduce in 2013 four-cylinder engines with a maximum rev limit of 12,000, fitted with extensive hybrid technology. But ONLY Renault of F1’s current engine manufacturers were fully behind the rules and a period of negotiations began. The switch to V6s was partly at the behest of Ferrari, who objected to the… Read more »
“@ sunny stivala as I’ve said your post is inaccurate. Mercedes and Renault did not push for 1,4l. only Renault did”.
Broderick. just because you says my post is inaccurate it doesn’t mean it is.
(THE COMPROMISE PACKAGE 22 JUNE 2011 6:30AM GMT) “The solution is palatable to FERRARI- whose legantary V6 torbo’s powered Gilles Veleneuve in the 80’s- and MERCEDES AS WELL AS RENAULT WHO HAD THREATENED TO LEAVE THE SPORTS IF IT DIDNT MOVE TO SMALL TURBO ENGINE.”
@ sunny stivala
Actually, it’s the facts that make your opinions inaccurate.
All your quote says is that the V6 solution is palatable to all three manufacturers. Nothing else.
It doesn’t say that Mercedes proposed the 4 cyl with Renault as you claim nor does it refute the fact that they sided with Ferrari to get the regs revised to V6.
So your post about Merc and Renault pushing for the 4 cyl. is inaccurate. And your post that says Merc did not help sway the FIA to V6 is still inaccurate.
Blab blab blab will lead to more confused blab.
I said that the V6 was only thanks to FERRARI.
I did not say/claim that Mercedes or Renault proposed the 4 cylinder.
But in my last post I added that both mercedes and Renault had THREATENED TO LEAVE THE SPORTS IF IT DOESNT MOVE TO SMALL ENGINES.
You seem to be very good at one thing, which is “blab, blab, blab” especially when you don’t have the evidence to support your opinions. You said that “Mercedes and Renault wanted the 1.5l 4 cylinder in-line at the time.”, which is inaccurate because only Renault was pushing for 4 cyl. At that time, Mercedes have not made a decision on the size of the engine even if some members of their team, like Brawn, have expressed the need for an engine that “went with the times”. They have never pushed for 4 cyl as you like to push. Haug… Read more »
No my dear blabber I did not say Mercedes and Renault wanted the 1.5l 4 cylinder in-line engine, I said that Volkswagen wanted that, pushed it on Mosley, which in turn turned it into an FIA own design world engine.
I also said my dear blabber, that it was only thanks to FERRARI that we have the 1.6l v6.
Plus to that my dear blabber, I added that Mercedes and Renault threatened to quit the sports if the small engine concept didn’t materialized.
I quoted article of 2011 word for word, you re-arranging the words to suit your arguments.
Can we stop with the name calling? I feel like I’m debating with a child and it is lowering the standards of this forum. It’s Broderick1 and not dear blabber. “sunny stivala sunny stivala #208103 The 1.6l V6 was only thanks to FERRARI insistence and not FERRARI and Mercedes, Mercedes and Renault wanted the 1.5l 4 cylinder in-line at the time. to be fair Newey was also against the 4 cylinder in-line because of it being not adaptive as a structural member. 0 Reply” That’s word for word of your reply to my post. You clearly stated that “Mercedes and… Read more »
Reverted to asking for help? Wait till the oppose-r reads you he will drop in and gives you a hand.
give it a rest sunny
OK JIJI I will.
Help? Lol. Hardly.
I just wanted to know if any grown-ups could help you understand basic sentence structure.
sunny let it go, now you need to
Venting on the FIA and Todt is all very well if it makes you feel better, but ‘the FIA hates fossil fuels’?
I’m calling BS, have a look down the list of events run under the FIA’s administration,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_FIA_events
Across over 30 series all sorts of racing discipline there is one hybrid and one electric series, the rest are fossil fueled.
I think it is likely that the motivation of the FIA and Todt is far different from ‘hatred of fossil fuel’.
BS? Bit harsh for a first reply to someone. Of course, I was talking about Todt and the FIA’s aversion to fuel in relation to F1. Todt has always espoused the virtue of green engines in F1. He loved the idea of a 4 cyl Turbo Hybrid without the need for refuelling. I think if Agog hadn’t started Formula E. Todt would have pushed F1 in that direction anyway in the name of road relevance. He wanted to phase fuel out slowly but has now acknowledged that he might have overdone it with the current PUs. The noise and racing… Read more »
Sorry if you found that comment harsh, it’s not seen as a harsh term in this part of the world.
Thanks for clarifying your intent, but I’m far from agreeing with your assertions about the intentions of Todt, or that he’s imposing his personal agenda on F1.
Personally I support motor sport leading the development of ‘green’ power systems, and the manufacturers (who are the ones prepared to invest huge money into developing these hybrid p.u’s in F1) wouldn’t be there if they didn’t see value in it too.
jakobusvdl I think the most powerful leaders in the world, be it in politics, business or religion, know how to blur the lines between their personal agenda and the goals of the organizations that they are leading. In fact, some would say, that most of them are brought in or voted in because their subjects or followers understand that their leader’s personal agenda will steer the ship in the right direction. Just look at what is happening in the world today. Political parties are becoming more extreme thanks to its leaders and CEOs of major corporations are influencing the way… Read more »
Wow, you’ve brought in some very sweeping generalizations in that response Broderick. Conflating the running of the FIA with the rise in popularist politics in some western countries, and the power and influence of corporations. You may not be aware that after Todt was elected to the FIA presidency in 2009, he was hailed for the level of collaboration and consultation he brought to the role. Mind you that was in comparison to his predecessors, Max Mosley and Jean-Marie Balestre, who operated in a very dictatorial fashion (such as we’re seeing with some current popularist political leaders, perhaps). Also the… Read more »
jakobusvdl Sorry, but I have to disagree. Eliminating refuelling had nothing to do with cost savings. This is a sport which flies thousands of people around the world for 21 races a season, after all. The amount it cost to ship and fly everything to every venue puts paid to rest the cost saving angle. If they wanted to save money they should not have added more races. It is Todt’s and the FIA’s green agenda that will prevent refuelling from coming back to F1. Just two months into his tenure as head of the FIA, Todt declared his agenda… Read more »
Hi Broderick, I thought you might disagree, even when we agree ;-) Here’s the opinion of Mark Hughes from Motorsport magazine, he provides two very sound reasons, cost being one, not impacting overtaking is the other, the FIA hating fossil fuels doesn’t feature. “The strategy group has also been looking at the reintroduction of refuelling – again as a way of making the cars faster in the races. This, thankfully, is almost certainly not going to happen. The group has realised that aside from adding £1.5 million per team each season, refuelling would actually reduce the amount of place-changing. The… Read more »
Thanks for the info from Mark Hughes and the findings of the strategy group. That’s good enough for me. Cheers.
Fix the formula, not the track.