The Formula 1 calendar is rapidly being modernised and races are being introduced all over the world.
The 2024 F1 season is going to be the longest in the sport’s history and unsurprisingly, drivers and teams aren’t keen on that number growing any time soon.
The Concorde Agreement currently allows for a 25th race to be added to the calendar, but only if every team agrees on that decision which seems extremely unlikely.
It means every race whose contract is set to expire in the next few years is under increasing pressure to prove that it belongs in Formula 1.
The Monaco Grand Prix is one race that no longer has to worry about whether or not it will exist in a few years.
A new contract was signed extending its stay on the calendar until at least 2013, although Monaco was under threat of being dropped before that announcement.
Commentator David Croft was speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast about the news that Monaco will continue to dazzle guests off the track while being rather predictable on it.
Croft has now shared what has to change about the race to make it more exciting and justify its place in Formula 1 beyond being a luxurious destination.
David Croft explains what needs to change about the Monaco Grand Prix
Asked about the track’s new contract, Croft said: “Monaco, I think, by the way, great that Monaco is on the calendar for another six years.
“Now let’s sit down and have a chat about how we can improve the overtaking there and try and get some overtaking.
“There is some reclaimed land that has been built upon in Monaco. We could do something by the Nouvelle chicane.
“I think it is up to the Automobile Club to Monaco to look now at ways that we could have some overtaking or overtaking spots on the track.
READ MORE: Five worst moments of Daniel Ricciardo’s F1 career including Monaco Grand Prix misery
“I know it’s hard, the cars have got wider and they’ve got longer and they’ve got heavier. But have a look at that.
“We love Monaco. We love the history. We love the great races there over the years.
“We don’t want to watch a procession every single year and we don’t want it all to be decided by qualifying.
“I think we need to look at that.”
Why the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix broke some unwanted Formula 1 records
Monaco is one of several street circuits in Formula 1 that are incredibly space-limited.
The layout of the track in Monte Carlo has barely changed since the race was first run nearly 100 years ago.
While plenty of work is being done to build a new marina in Monaco, adapting the narrow streets for Formula 1 is extremely difficult.
READ MORE: Seven unforgettable Monaco GP moments from Michael Schumacher’s parking to Senna vs Mansell
Qualifying has become the main event in Monaco now with drivers given enough space to push their cars to the limit until a red flag inevitably comes out.
This was the case in 2024, when for the first time ever, a race finished with the top 10 drivers all maintaining the positions they started in from qualifying.
Not a single overtake was recorded between those drivers, with a first-lap crash between Sergio Perez and the two Haas drivers allowing every driver to change their tyres, meaning even the jeopardy of pit stops was removed.
Monaco has a place in F1 going forward, but more races like the 2024 edition will see fans quickly lose patience with the Grand Prix in the principality.
Leave feedback about this