The Monaco Grand Prix is arguably the most historic race in Formula 1. It has been run every year since 1929 aside from in 2020. It’s the track most people think of when you talk about race cars in general. I can’t imagine Formula 1 without the Monaco Grand Prix. The problem is that I also can’t imagine myself enjoying the event anytime soon either. After watching the latest GP hoping that COVID-19 might have changed something, I found I was still bored out of my mind. While watching I thought of an idea to spice up the racing without ruining the heritage of the event. Let’s dive in. 

As the cars have become safer throughout the years, they have also become much larger. Monaco however has not. This results in the most boring race of the season. The cars are far too big to give any passing room, so the race usually finishes in a similar order to the qualifying order. My idea would involve making Monaco more of an exhibition type race using smaller cars. If the teams were to use a Formula 2 or 3 type car, the racing could return to Monaco and make for some epic racing again. I have a few specific ideas though that would need to happen to make this worthwhile for the fans and for the teams. 

The most important thing is that these cars should all be uniform. To keep costs low and the event entertaining, they should operate this race similar to the cars in the W Series (LINK TO W SERIES). The cars are all the same when they arrive, but the teams set them up differently and play to the strengths of their drivers. Close, tight-knit driving is what made Monaco impressive. If these cars were all the same, it would make them cheap to run for the one race. As the cost cap is now enforced, this could be a roundabout way to let teams “skip” a race from a development standpoint. Lower costs and an even playing field would no doubt be a recipe for amazing racing. I love the idea that a back-marker driver could potentially win a grand prix if they get the opportunity.

The teams need to be enthusiastic about it. At the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix, Mclaren used a one-off retro livery that looked absolutely at home in Monaco. If other teams were to build retro style liveries on their cars and bring back this classic vibe. I picture this event could be similar to when a Football or hockey team plays in retro jerseys for one game. The classic look would be a fun way to celebrate the history of Formula 1. The event could almost be like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with fans dressing the part and really leaning into the immersive experience. I would have such a good time attending a race with the current driver list but old school looking cars and vintage fashion. It would be perfect for Monaco.

The last hurdle for this to work is that the FIA would need to step in and make this event part of the current championship. Give the teams Championship Points just like any other race. If this is taken seriously by the teams and drivers, they will give it their all and make this an epic event for the fans. Seeing these classic looking cars rip around the streets with real competition would make this even more of a fan favorite. 

At the end of the day, the Monaco Grand Prix is a boring race and if it was any other location, it would have been removed from the calendar already. I would never suggest we do that, but it needs to change if the race is to survive. It gets harder every year to get the current cars on track and there needs to be a change to make the event more lucrative, without dismissing the reasons why fans travel from all over the world to attend. A classic one-off style race would let the teams embrace creativity and reignite rivals, and if all goes well, throw a huge wrench in the championship battle.