Don't write off the Monaco Grand Prix just yet.
NurPhotoGetty ImagesWas that Monaco’s last race? Probably not. It is expected to stay but a formal agreement has not yet been reached.
Race promoter Automobile Club de Monaco operates with an aloofness that has frustrated Formula 1, which has been emboldened by the growth of the sport, success of Miami and the coup of nailing a Las Vegas race from 2023. Senior figures recognize the appeal of Monaco but it is no longer the unparalleled jewel in the crown of decades past.
Key issues concern the financial aspect, as Monaco pays a significantly lower race fee than other events, the TV direction, for the locals direct the race and provide a substantially worse viewing experience than the usual Formula 1 Management crew, as well as Monaco’s ability to sell its own sponsorship trackside. That has meant that Monaco’s official watch partner is in direct competition with Formula 1’s own watch partner—and that does not go down well. It is also not a race that can attract many fans, with a grandstand capacity of only 24,000, though that does exclude those on balconies and yachts.
The ACM, which acts as if it organizes an event of paralleled brilliance, will need to buckle to Formula 1’s concessions, swallow a bit of pride, and significantly up its game, if it wants its race to continue and subsequently thrive.
Keyword: F1 Monaco GP Organizers May Need to Swallow Pride to Keep Race in '23