Does Monaco have a place in the f1 calendar?
Discussion
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Without a doubt, it was simply one of the single best events I've ever been to and everyone else agreed too.
We're already planning going back next year, though this time we'll drive down and spend a bit more time down there.
Our seats were around 15 feet from where the cars were on track and I just count believe how narrow the circuit was even having visited the town before albeit not when the GP is on.
Agreed, get yourself to the GP and let your jaw drop at what you're witnessing. Seeing F1 cars being driven at Monaco in the flesh is the greatest demonstrator of why F1 drivers get paid the money they do. It's simply unreal, the commitment, bravery and talent on show. Monaco deserves its place on the calendar five times over. We're already planning going back next year, though this time we'll drive down and spend a bit more time down there.
Our seats were around 15 feet from where the cars were on track and I just count believe how narrow the circuit was even having visited the town before albeit not when the GP is on.
Monaco will always be on the calendar.
It is the model Bernie wants long term.
Think about it.
Who wants to go to some track in the arse end of nowhere - whose main income depends on this one event? ( Me of course )
Or... you could make a lot more money of a London GP, Moscow, Shanghai, New York etc.
It isn't about the track... it's about the money. It is all about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION......
It is the model Bernie wants long term.
Think about it.
Who wants to go to some track in the arse end of nowhere - whose main income depends on this one event? ( Me of course )
Or... you could make a lot more money of a London GP, Moscow, Shanghai, New York etc.
It isn't about the track... it's about the money. It is all about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION......
Pints said:
Eric Mc said:
I love Monaco - just for the spactacularness of the place. The opening shots of the film Grand Prix hooked me into the place as an 8 year old back in 1967 and I still love the fact that the circuit is still largely recognisable from that era. Long may it continue.
You're arguing to keep a track on the current, modern F1 calendar purely for the sake nostalgia?I respect your views on most things, Eric, but in this instance I most certainly disagree with you and, based on your argument, I'd suggest you're wrong.
Can't wait until next year.
thatguy11 said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Without a doubt, it was simply one of the single best events I've ever been to and everyone else agreed too.
We're already planning going back next year, though this time we'll drive down and spend a bit more time down there.
Our seats were around 15 feet from where the cars were on track and I just count believe how narrow the circuit was even having visited the town before albeit not when the GP is on.
Agreed, get yourself to the GP and let your jaw drop at what you're witnessing. Seeing F1 cars being driven at Monaco in the flesh is the greatest demonstrator of why F1 drivers get paid the money they do. It's simply unreal, the commitment, bravery and talent on show. Monaco deserves its place on the calendar five times over. We're already planning going back next year, though this time we'll drive down and spend a bit more time down there.
Our seats were around 15 feet from where the cars were on track and I just count believe how narrow the circuit was even having visited the town before albeit not when the GP is on.
I've been to the Monaco GP 3 times and it's simply brilliant. As a race to watch on TV it probably is one of the most boring. As an event to go and see live, it's miles ahead of any of race.
Also, as a driver/racer I think Monaco is the pinnacle of the tracks at which to test yourself. There's no running wide into the gravel or overshooting a hairpin onto nice and safe tarmac run off, do that in Monaco and it's game over. The flip side of that is, get it right and I imagine the thrill of proving yourself is off the chart compared to other tracks.
thatguy11 said:
Agreed, get yourself to the GP and let your jaw drop at what you're witnessing. Seeing F1 cars being driven at Monaco in the flesh is the greatest demonstrator of why F1 drivers get paid the money they do. It's simply unreal, the commitment, bravery and talent on show. Monaco deserves its place on the calendar five times over.
Good to hear that, I'm going next year 
Went for the day last year and it's quite weird to walk the circuit with so many landmarks I know so well watching on TV, without having been before.
Where would you suggest are the best value seats (not watching from a boat).
PompeyM3 said:
Good to hear that, I'm going next year
Went for the day last year and it's quite weird to walk the circuit with so many landmarks I know so well watching on TV, without having been before.
Where would you suggest are the best value seats (not watching from a boat).
Book yourself in to 3 different grandstands for each day Went for the day last year and it's quite weird to walk the circuit with so many landmarks I know so well watching on TV, without having been before.
Where would you suggest are the best value seats (not watching from a boat).
that's what we did a couple of years ago.LHRFlightman said:
I'm in total agreement with Eric. I can take one processional race a year on a circuit like that. I'm just in awe watching those guys inches from the barriers for nigh on 2 hours.
Can't wait until next year.
I'll agree that it's a spectacle to behold seeing them that close to the limit, and if that's the argument for keeping Monaco on the calendar, I'll concur. Can't wait until next year.
However, arguing it should be there simply because it's always been there, or because you remember it being raced during the sixties, is ridiculous.
It may seem ridiculous for you.
It's not ridiculous for me.
Learn to appreciate that others may see things in a different way to you.
I can also appreciate the skills that are required to get around a circuit like Monaco as fast as possible today as much as I did in 1966.
So that point is valid too.
All in all motor sport needs venues that are "different". I would hate to think that the only venues left on the calendar will be dockland or desert circuits with absolutely NOTHING to see apart from tarmac, sand or warehouses.
It's not ridiculous for me.
Learn to appreciate that others may see things in a different way to you.
I can also appreciate the skills that are required to get around a circuit like Monaco as fast as possible today as much as I did in 1966.
So that point is valid too.
All in all motor sport needs venues that are "different". I would hate to think that the only venues left on the calendar will be dockland or desert circuits with absolutely NOTHING to see apart from tarmac, sand or warehouses.
Agree with most of the comments in this thread.
No - it wouldn't get a place on the calendar if it were a new circuit, but we will never be without (unless the royal family decide they don't want it any more).
The money that the event as a whole will bring must be huge, bigger than any other circuit I assume!
I agree it can be boring to watch on TV (no overtakes and very little action) but it always throws up a crash into the barrier or two, something we don't really get to see on other circuits due to gravel pits.
I have been lucky enough to go twice. I admit it doesn't look that quick on TV, but there is nothing more thrilling than see an F1 car scream down the streets of Monaco you were driving the night before at 150mph+!
Monaco itself becomes one massive party over the Grand Prix weekend and as mentioned already it gives spectators the chance to mix with the rich and famous. You can wander round the marina and see the drivers walk from motorhome to motorhome or see the film / music stars hosting parties on the yachts.
Its a great place to go, even if the racing isn't great and the calendar would certainly be worse off without it.
No - it wouldn't get a place on the calendar if it were a new circuit, but we will never be without (unless the royal family decide they don't want it any more).
The money that the event as a whole will bring must be huge, bigger than any other circuit I assume!
I agree it can be boring to watch on TV (no overtakes and very little action) but it always throws up a crash into the barrier or two, something we don't really get to see on other circuits due to gravel pits.
I have been lucky enough to go twice. I admit it doesn't look that quick on TV, but there is nothing more thrilling than see an F1 car scream down the streets of Monaco you were driving the night before at 150mph+!
Monaco itself becomes one massive party over the Grand Prix weekend and as mentioned already it gives spectators the chance to mix with the rich and famous. You can wander round the marina and see the drivers walk from motorhome to motorhome or see the film / music stars hosting parties on the yachts.
Its a great place to go, even if the racing isn't great and the calendar would certainly be worse off without it.
Eric Mc said:
It may seem ridiculous for you.
It's not ridiculous for me.
Learn to appreciate that others may see things in a different way to you.
I can also appreciate the skills that are required to get around a circuit like Monaco as fast as possible today as much as I did in 1966.
So that point is valid too.
All in all motor sport needs venues that are "different". I would hate to think that the only venues left on the calendar will be dockland or desert circuits with absolutely NOTHING to see apart from tarmac, sand or warehouses.
Agree 100%It's not ridiculous for me.
Learn to appreciate that others may see things in a different way to you.
I can also appreciate the skills that are required to get around a circuit like Monaco as fast as possible today as much as I did in 1966.
So that point is valid too.
All in all motor sport needs venues that are "different". I would hate to think that the only venues left on the calendar will be dockland or desert circuits with absolutely NOTHING to see apart from tarmac, sand or warehouses.
As I said at the beginning I would love to see more overtacking etc but F1 is more than that. I have long appreciated that some of the best "racing" goes on in the lower formula's and despite having often enjoyed the formula ford events I've seen over the years, these series have never excited me enough to follow them - maybe I'm not a true motorsport fan?
There is a skill needed to win at Monaco, as there is at all tracks, it is a different skill and I suspect that's why certain drivers do well there on numerous occasions and not always just because they have the best package and are fairly well on top of there game at the time.
Eric Mc said:
It may seem ridiculous for you.
It's not ridiculous for me.
Learn to appreciate that others may see things in a different way to you.
I absolutely appreciate that you're holding a differently view of things to me, and hold my views of those opinions accordingly. I take a head over heart" approach to decisions in life (house, cars, etc.), and my differing opinion of the view that retaining a track purely for nostalgic purposes is "ridiculous" reflects that.It's not ridiculous for me.
Learn to appreciate that others may see things in a different way to you.
Apologies if my use of that word offends. I'm not trying to be deliberately confrontational, it's just the way it's perhaps coming across on screen.
What is life without emotions?
I watch F1 (and motor sport in general) not because I want to be immersed in logic or sense (I have to use these attributes in my day to day life). I watch it for fun, excitement, spectacle and (sometimes) a bit of glamour. In other words - a bit of stimulation to the soul and some emotion. Monaco provides these for me in varying degrees. Circuits like those at Shanghai or Kuala Lumpur by and large, do not.
You may hold different views to me but I would not label your views as ridiculous - just different.
I watch F1 (and motor sport in general) not because I want to be immersed in logic or sense (I have to use these attributes in my day to day life). I watch it for fun, excitement, spectacle and (sometimes) a bit of glamour. In other words - a bit of stimulation to the soul and some emotion. Monaco provides these for me in varying degrees. Circuits like those at Shanghai or Kuala Lumpur by and large, do not.
You may hold different views to me but I would not label your views as ridiculous - just different.
Eric Mc said:
I can also appreciate the skills that are required to get around a circuit like Monaco as fast as possible today as much as I did in 1966.
So that point is valid too.
The Monaco GP is more akin to a hill climb event than a race. I appreciate the fact that it's very challenging for the driver and that the margins for error are very small, but for me an essential requirement for an event to be a race rather than some kind of timed event is the ability for one car to overtake another, and that's barely possible at Monaco. So that point is valid too.
As Hamilton found out on Sunday, you can be potentially 4 or 5 seconds a lap faster than the car in front but you're not going to win unless the other car crashes, breaks down or moves out of the way, that shouldn't be the case in a 'race'.
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