Changes to the Monaco Grand Prix are once again the talk of the F1 paddock with big names calling for a range of drastic modifications that would materially alter the iconic event forever.
In attempting to spice up the maligned race after 2024’s procession, organisers implemented a mandatory two-stop policy, while introducing a new, more fragile Pirelli tyre compound.
While the changes were successful in creating more points of intrigue in the midfield, and a sense of jeopardy for the leaders, they dramatically failed in boosting the amount of overtakes, or exciting strategic battles.
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As such, the failure has given way to another round of discussion about more nuclear options to shake-up the event in the principality.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said that while 2025’s race was an “improvement” on the spectacle, the “only way to encourage any form of overtaking” is to change the track layout.
“I don’t think I saw a single overtake in the race,” he added.
“So, trying to create a bit more braking area, either on the exit of the tunnel or, you know, Turn 1. If there was any way of creating a longer braking zone somewhere we should really investigate it.”
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The Monte Carlo street circuit has seen minor tweaks over the years, such as the introduction of corners around the swimming pool precinct and La Rascasse bar. However, the layout hasn’t been dramatically changed since its first F1 race in 1950.
Writing for Telegraph Sport in 2024, former Jordan and Jaguar designer Gary Anderson suggested that it’s possible to add a second hairpin before the tunnel, which would be an overtaking chance, while also giving cars a longer run to the chicane, which would become another clearer opportunity.
“It would probably only be an extra 500 metres in total but it would be something that would give you an opportunity if it was laid out correctly,” Anderson wrote.
“That would be my only tweak to the circuit. The rest of it is very demanding and its traditions should be protected. It can be a good race.”
Former driver Alex Wurz — whose work now also includes track design — on Tuesday provided his own suggestions on X, saying it’s possible to move the chicane outside of the tunnel later, and to also widen the entry into Rascasse.
A key reason that has made overtaking on the sinewy circuit increasingly difficult is the growing size of F1 cars. It’s why former driver and Sky Sports pundit Naomi Schiff joked on the weekend that the drivers should be forced to compete in smaller F3 cars for the weekend.
However, Mercedes driver George Russell believes that the answer should see F1 double down on what does work during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend; qualifying.
His radical suggestion is to have no race at all, but rather one qualifying session each on the Saturday and Sunday.
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“We definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco,” Russell said after spending much of his race stuck behind Williams cars on deliberate go-slow tactics.
“I appreciate trying something this year in the two-stop. Clearly, it did not work at all.
“For all of the drivers, qualifying is the most exhilarating moment of the weekend. Do we accept that? There should be no race, and it’s a qualifying race. You do one on Saturday, one on Sunday. The guy who qualifies pole gets some points and gets a little trophy, and the one on Sunday gets some more points.
“That’s what we love most. I think that’s what you guys enjoy watching the most. And 99% of the other people in Monaco are here sipping champagne on the yacht, so they don’t really care…
“Driving four seconds off the pace here is dead easy. You effectively can put an F2 car out there and they’ve got a chance of holding up an F1 car. I don’t know what the solution is. We were lucky in ‘22 and ‘23 that the wet races offered some excitement.”
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