The future of the Monaco Grand Prix still threatened?
If the 79th Monaco Grand Prix which took place at the end of May was a real success, with a higher number of visitors than in 2019, its presence on the calendar of the 2023 world championship is still not assured.
No doubt, the Monaco Grand Prix always makes Formula 1 fans dream. “The best Grand Prix of the season” for some people, “the most legendary” for others. Among F1 fans, the prestigious circuit of the Principality is always rewarded.
Historic Grand Prix threatened for the benefit of business?
As with some drivers, Charles Leclerc obviously the first. ” Formula 1 without Monaco is not Formula 1, he said at the end of the race. Formula 1 has a history, historic circuits like Silverstone, Monza or Monaco and for me, they must stay. »
Since 2017 and the arrival as owner of F1 of the American group Liberty Media, which owns the commercial rights to the discipline, several European Grand Prix have been threatened. The French Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix are still in the hot seat, as is the Spanish Grand Prix and therefore the Monaco Grand Prix.
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If the president of the Automobile Club of Monaco, Michel Boeri, wanted to reassure the fans a few weeks ago by guaranteeing that “the Grand Prix rewarded to take place”the uncertainty around the presence on the 2023 calendar of the prestigious Monegasque meeting would still be present.
“We are in a difficult negotiation because we have gone from a ‘European’ style negotiation with Bernie Ecclestone, to a more ‘business’ negotiation with the company with which we deal, which is purely Americanexplained Michel Boeri for Monaco-Matin.
When the Grands Prix were created in Europe, and guided by Europeans, there was a concept of tradition and history of each Grand Prix. Money was certainly important but it was not the main thing. Today, if you take the Gulf countries, they are quite prepared to pay a plateau of around 50 to 100 million dollars. »
A slightly modified route in the future?
What to worry about Charles Leclerc, why, who is still chasing after his first success at home. Regularly pointed out for the lack of spectacle in the race, the route of the Monaco Grand Prix could undergo some modifications to make the races more attractive next year. In any case, this is the opinion shared by Charles Leclerc.
” I agree that in racing you can change a few things here and there to try to make overtaking easier, because the cars have changed and evolved and it might not be the best track to overtake , recognizes the Monegasque driver. But in terms of driver challenge, it’s one of the toughest for us in the year.. »
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On this point, it is difficult to contradict the Scuderia Ferrari driver. Hoping that Liberty Media will take this argument into account and that the pressure from the fans and the weight of the Automobile Club of Monaco will be enough to keep the most legendary car race going. Because for Michel Boeri, each Grand Prix must keep its specificities and not be distorted.
“When they manage to attract a new Grand Prix to themselves, they (Liberty Media, editor’s note) manage the track, the exploitation of fame, press accreditations, absolutely everything. But the specificity of each is essential. And for us, the image of Monaco is not only characterized by the circuit alone, but also by its exceptional setting, its tradition, its decorum and the quality of its welcome. »