The great Monaco GP: Iconic or outdated?

Uneventful Monaco

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

Lando Norris took home an important win at the Monaco Grand Prix, inching closer to Oscar Piastri in the Drivers' Standings. But despite the victory, the race itself was a bit of a snooze—78 laps with very little action. Fans are starting to wonder if the magic of Monaco is fading, and whether the iconic track still delivers the excitement it once did.

Since 1929

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

According to the BBC, Monaco has been an iconic event in motorsports since its inaugural race in 1929. The Circuit de Monaco was part of the pre-WWII European Championship and later featured in the first Formula 1 World Championship in 1950.

Where is the racing?

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

There has been discussions in recent years on whether the streets of Monte Carlo have developed into a “stagnant track,” leaving little room for action on the tarmac, per Motorsport.

Max speaks up

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

“This is really boring… I should've brought my pillow,” shared Max Verstappen with the local press after the 2024 Monaco GP, where he finished 6th.

Little action

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

It's an extremely challenging race that leaves drivers little room for overtakes throughout the 3.3 km (2.05 miles) long track. Furthermore, modern F1 car builds are much wider than previous years, making it extremely challenging to overtake overall. During the 2024 race, we only saw four overtakes within the top 10 drivers throughout the 78 lightly contested laps.

More regulation changes

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

Prior to the 2025 race, the FIA added a new rule exclusively for Monaco, forcing two mandatory pit stops per driver. “For the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, drivers must use at least three different sets of tyres,” shared the FIA in a statement.

Rolling roadblock

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

The bizarre two-stop mandate forced teams to rethink their strategies, leading to some unconventional race tactics. In the 2025 race, Red Bull Racing used Liam Lawson as a rolling roadblock, intentionally holding up drivers behind him to give his teammate, Isack Hadjar, enough of a gap. This allowed him to schedule his two stops ahead of the rest of the grid. Naturally, this unleashed chaos in the paddock, with engineers and team directors scrambling to adjust their strategies on the spot.

Changing strategies

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

Williams mirrored a similar strategy with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon who finished the race within the points (9th & 10th), all thanks to their rolling roadblock strategy. Nevertheless, this is not entertaining for drivers nor fans.

A unique track

Uneventful Monaco, Since 1929, Where is the racing?, Max speaks up, Little action, More regulation changes, Rolling roadblock, Changing strategies, A unique track

“There is not much you can do. It could be a little bit boring as well, you just need to bring the car home and things like that,” shared the two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was unable to finish the race due to engine failure. “Monaco is unique and the best moments of the season,” added the Spaniard, with a hint of irony.

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