Rumors about the possible departure of the Monaco Grand Prix from the calendar have gathered momentum in the four-wheel racing paddock, with some sources suggesting teams have already been told that it is likely to happen in 2023.
Monaco, moreover, has always retained the right to create and promote television broadcasting, and to fill the surroundings of the circuit with its own sponsors, although some of them collide with the main partners of F1.
Stefano Domenicali’s recent statement to the teams about the regionalization of the calendar also made it clear that, regardless of any other matters, Monaco could be forced to abandon its traditional end-of-May date, to allow Miami and Montreal to be held back-to-back. .
Home crowd favorite Charles Leclerc insists the race must remain on the calendar.
“I think now would be a bad move for both sides,” he said. “I have never known Monaco without F1, apart from the obvious reasons, because of COVID in 2020.
“And F1 without Monaco for me is not F1. I think F1 has a history, it has some historic tracks like Silverstone, Monza and Monaco too, and I think they should stay on the calendar,” added the Monegasque.
Commercial issues aside, one of the usual complaints about Monaco is the lack of overtaking at a track that hasn’t changed for many years.
Asked about the possibility of modifying the distribution, Leclerc admitted that this matter could be complicated.
“I’ve thought about it more than once, if it would improve overtaking a lot,” he said. “I don’t know, maybe before the tunnel you can go left and do a big straight there. But how feasible is that?” the Monegasque wondered.
“I’m not sure. Of course overtaking is difficult, but I think what we all love as drivers is the challenge, especially in qualifying to do that lap.”
“There is no track that comes close to the adrenaline rush we have in Monaco, and for me it is part of F1 history and should stay in F1,” the Ferrari driver concluded.
