By Simon
The Monaco Grand Prix is this weekend and I’m going to say it—is it time to put a fork in this event?
Yes, the Monaco GP is a fantastic spectacle…
Yes, the Monaco GP shows off a driver’s talent…Yes, the Monaco GP tests a car to its limits…
Yes, the Monaco GP is romantic…
Yes, the Monaco GP is challenging…
…But it doesn’t make for open racing. Qualifying determines the winner more often than not because passing is nearly impossible. In its worst case, Monaco is high speed gridlock, not a race. Mechanical reliability is also major contributing factor. F1 cars have long since outgrown and out-muscled the limitations of Monaco's tight street course. Nelson Piquet described driving a Grand Prix car in Monte Carlo as like trying to ride your bicycle around your living room—and that was back then. I will say Monaco is a great demonstration of driver skill and concentration. There's no physical or mental respite and for those reasons alone may justify the race’s existence. But for me as much as I love the glamour and glitz of Monaco, I’m not sure it deserves its spot on the F1 calendar anymore. I think romance has overwhelmed practical racing sense.
What do you think? Am I wrong? Let me know.
You are entirely right BUT still I would hate to see the Monaco race dropped until they replace it with something equally glamorous/romantic/dramatic. Seems like the only race even a little like that is the night race in Singapore.
ReplyDeleteI know, but I don't know of anything that would come close.
DeleteI don't think "racing" has entered the mind of the average F1 official in some time. It's all about the "event" these days and Monaco is tops in that regard.
ReplyDeleteHarsh but true....
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