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F1 Midweek: The Monaco Grand Prix Needs Tweeks, Not Radical Change
(Photo: Antonin Vincent / DPPI / Ferrari)

F1 Midweek: The Monaco Grand Prix Needs Tweeks, Not Radical Change

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If one thing can be learned from the FIA’s mandatory two-pitstop rule instituted specifically for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25th, it’s that it didn’t make the intended impact on the race. It definitely impacted the race, but instead of creating more exciting racing up front, it fostered Liam Lawson holding up traffic on purpose, rather than accidentally. Among other things. 

What the rules created was a race involving the fastest drivers in the world not driving their fastest, to take advantage of the rule at the expense of competition and excitement. At Monaco, a premium is placed on defense as opposed to offense, and this was even more evident in 2025 with the introduction of the new rule. 

In many instances, drivers were turning laps 2-3 seconds slower than their cars’ maximum pace. Williams’ driver, Carlos Sainz, said he was going so slow that it afforded him time to ponder how F1 could solve the Monaco issue. That leads me to believe that Sauber drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg did nothing but think about solutions to the problem.

I don’t fault the FIA for attempting to shake up the monotony of Monaco with a rule change, but maybe just the minimum amount of initial research into how teams would react to and, most importantly, strategize in response to the change would have been prudent. You know, survey a number of former and current race strategists and ask what their potential race plan would be given the new rules. If 80% or more had replied “This rule would be highly exploitable and would probably result in even more ‘processional’ racing,” then the FIA could have gone back to the drawing board. It seems like the FIA’s new rule was implemented in hopes that it would be a quick fix. It was quick, yet nothing was fixed. 

It’s a complicated issue, and the almighty and omnipotent FIA thought they were smart enough to rectify the issue on their own terms, without asking for the input of those that know best what would make racing at Monaco more appealing—-the drivers. Every driver, except for the one who wins the race, would say that Monaco needs to change.   

The simplest answer (keep in mind, “simplest” is a relative term; no change made to the Monaco Grand Prix would be simple) is to reconfigure the track layout, or more realistically, one section of the track layout. Of course, you can’t change anything at Monaco without sacrificing an iconic chicane – because every chicane in the circuit is iconic. 

Removing a chicane or chicanes to create a longer straight-line section and new DRS zone would be a good starting point. Currently, the only DRS zone is the main straight, which is one of the shortest, if not the shortest, on the F1 calendar. Or why not move the grid back and make the run-up to Turn 1 longer? In the current layout, only the driver starting second on the grid has a chance, albeit a very slight one, to overtake the pole sitter. Moving the grid back would open the door for possibly two other drivers to challenge for the lead. Ninety-five percent of the outcome at Monaco is determined in qualifying; the remaining 5% is determined at lights out and the run up to Turn 1. Altering that breakdown to 80%-20% would be a vast improvement.  

Whatever change is made does not have to be radical. “Radical” would be what some drivers jokingly suggested after the race.

Max Verstappen whimsically suggested that F1 cars be outfitted with Mario Kart-like gadgets that would allow drivers to toss banana peels into the paths of competitors. I, like most people, would be 100% behind that proposition, especially at Monaco, but let’s be realistic here, you know some teams with inferior banana peel-throwing technology would complain to the FIA about teams with better banana peel-throwing technology.   

George Russell had a similarly comical suggestion, saying drivers should have a button on the steering wheel that would trigger sprinklers on the track. At Monaco, the most expensive and opulent stop on the F1 calendar, the “Make It Rain” suggestion makes a lot of sense.

And while we’re being silly, the words “Grand Theft Auto: Monaco Grand Prix” would indicate that the FIA maybe went a little too far with their Monaco updates. 

There is always the option to not change anything, to the circuit or to the rules, at Monaco. As it is, a victory in the Monaco Grand Prix is one that is most coveted by drivers. Just because lead changes during the race are virtually non-existent doesn’t diminish Monaco’s importance to drivers and teams. 

And isn’t the desire to improve racing at Monaco done purely for the benefit of television viewers? I doubt anyone wealthy or lucky enough to be in attendance in person at Monaco would have any complaints about the racing, mostly because they couldn’t see much of it from the yacht or balcony from which they are viewing.  

In short, if nothing at all is changed at Monaco, three things will also remain unchanged: 1) winning it will still remain the crown jewel of a driver’s career, 2) Monaco will still be a dream destination for fans, and 3) viewers will still tune in to watch. And if something is changed, it will not, under any circumstances, diminish those three factors at all. 

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