F1 Urged To Improve Overtaking Chances At Monaco GP

MONACO  — Red Bull head Christian Horner joined those pushing for methods to improve overtaking at the Monaco Grand Prix F1.

Formula One’s broad and heavy vehicles have little room to pass, and they frequently follow each other around the tight and sinewy 3.3-kilometer (two-mile) street circuit.

“They’re so big now, arguably too big to be racing around these streets because you can barely get two side by side,” team principal Horner said on Friday. “Could we open up some locations that could provide an overtaking chance, and what would it take to do so? I believe Formula One is well aware of this.

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F1 Urged To Improve Overtaking Chances At Monaco GP

F1’s famous race has been part of the principality’s history since 1929, and it remains a solid driver favorite. It has enormous sports and historical significance.

Ayrton Senna set a record by winning Monaco six times, while Michael Schumacher and Graham Hill both won five. Lewis Hamilton, Stirling Moss, Alain Prost, and Juan Manuel Fangio, all F1 legends, have won many times.

The race is as much a part of Monaco’s identity as Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, the famous casino, and Prince Albert’s spectacular house high above the start-finish line.

Film and sports stars continue to throng to Monaco on race weekends, some arriving from the adjacent Cannes Film Festival. Filmmaker George Lucas, for example, has been a frequent visitor over the years.

It’s the place to be seen for the wealthy and famous, with massive boats bobbing around the port, glitz on show, and Champagne flowing.

“We race here because of the history and heritage, and it’s an amazing location. “Winning this race carries a lot of prestige,” Horner explained. “But to protect the next 70 years here, I think there needs to be some evolution.”

This is primarily because race frequently has an anticlimactic and processional aspect.

There is almost no place to launch an attack, cars slow down before every nerve-racking corner near the crash barrier, and planning is kept to a minimum.

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F1 Urged To Improve Overtaking Chances At Monaco GP

The most exciting action normally occurs on Saturday, when drivers experience the pure adrenaline of confronting Monaco at higher speeds and where pole position makes all the difference.

“By and large this race will be won tomorrow afternoon in qualifying,” Horner stated. “In these cars now, you’ve got to be very lucky to pull off an overtake.”

Horner’s remarks reflected those given by seven-time world champion Hamilton. While the Mercedes driver adores Monaco, where he has won three races, he claims the narrow track makes racing impossible.

“I wish we had bigger roads and the track could be wider,” he stated. “But I don’t think that’s ever going to be the case in Monaco, because it’s just a small place.”

Hamilton agrees that the spectacle should be improved.

“They should come up with some new formula for it rather than it just be the same,” he stated. “Maybe having special tires for this race so you have more pitstops would create more variability.”

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F1 Urged To Improve Overtaking Chances At Monaco GP

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. expressed his opinion.

“If there’s an opportunity to create an overtaking spot around Monaco, have a look at the city, have a look at the layout,” he stated. “Make an effort to make that happen.”

SOURCE – (AP)