Let’s be honest — the Monaco Grand Prix is long overdue for a facelift.
Sure, it’s dripping in luxury, royal legacy, and cinematic history, but the racing? Not quite as thrilling.
If Formula 1 wants to keep Monaco as its crown jewel, it might be time for the track to make some real changes.
Now, I say this as someone who loves the place.
If I had to pick just one Grand Prix to experience in person, it would still be Monaco — no question.
It’s a magical mix of old-world charm and modern motorsport, with ghosts of greatness like Princess Grace and Graham Hill still hovering in the background.
Hill, by the way, allegedly partied so hard one year he ended up racing with a champagne flute stuck in his leg. Only in Monaco.
Michel Boeri’s Legacy and the Need for Change
On Thursday, Monaco-Matin sat down with none other than Michel Boeri — the 86-year-old titan who’s been running the Automobile Club de Monaco for over half a century.
He’s not stepping aside anytime soon, and honestly, his loyalty to the tradition is admirable.
But even the most devoted leaders need to adapt with the times.
Boeri’s long tenure has brought plenty of benefits to Monaco and Formula 1.
Bernie Ecclestone himself once said Monaco gives more to F1 than it gets in return.
But here’s the catch — that was when the cars were smaller, overtaking was actually possible, and the race felt like a competition rather than a procession.
One Overtake Is Not Enough
Last year’s Monaco Grand Prix gave us one overtake. Just one.
That’s why, this year, the rulebook is trying to shake things up with a mandatory second pit stop.
Critics say it feels too artificial — but isn’t forcing drivers to use two tire compounds already kind of artificial? At least this time there’s a shot at strategy playing a real role.
But the bigger issue isn’t tire rules — it’s the track itself.
Watching on TV, you don’t get the ballet of high-speed turns through the swimming pool section.
You just see cars following each other like a high-speed parade, unless the rain or a safety car shakes things up.
Mercedes’ George Russell even said his team calculated he’d need a 4.5-second speed advantage just to have a 50-50 chance of overtaking. That’s not racing. That’s math.
Monaco Can Expand — If It Wants To
Let’s not act like Monaco is helpless here. They’ve been reclaiming land from the sea for decades.
Adding a few more meters of track in strategic places isn’t impossible — it’s just inconvenient.
Yes, there would be legal and planning headaches. But impossible? Not at all.
Formula 1 should’ve made track improvements part of last year’s contract renegotiation.
They bumped the annual hosting fee to about £25 million, so surely there was room to request a little more action on race day, too.
Lewis Hamilton’s Smile in Imola Hides a Tough Reality
Switching gears — literally — Lewis Hamilton seemed pretty upbeat after finishing fourth in Imola.
But dig a little deeper, and the picture gets murkier.
He started 12th, dropped a spot, and made little progress — until the safety cars played in his favor.
Suddenly, he found himself in fourth, and even called it one of the best races of his life.
Really? That’s not the Lewis we know — the Lewis who’s spent years chasing perfection and podiums.
Sure, he soaked in the love from the Ferrari fans, and he did finish ahead of his teammate, which always puts a smile on his face.
But Hamilton celebrating a lucky fourth — and being so far off the leaders — wouldn’t have thrilled the Lewis of old.
Remembering Richie Benaud in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Monaco’s not just about motorsport. Once upon a time, a bunch of us journalists stayed right in town for the Grand Prix — near Casino Square, where traffic whistles start before sunrise and don’t stop until late.
These days, the prices are so sky-high that I moved my base to Beaulieu-sur-Mer down the coast.
That’s where the late, great cricket commentator Richie Benaud used to spend his European summers with his wife Daphne.
In this era of loud and fast commentary, Benaud’s calm voice is still missed.
Charles Leclerc’s Local Hopes and Ferrari’s Frustrations
Now back to the racing — and local hero Charles Leclerc.
Last year, he made history as the first Monegasque to win on home soil.
But don’t let the postcode fool you — Leclerc didn’t come from privilege.
His family was more blue-collar Monaco than Monte Carlo glitz, with a hairdresser and a garage owner raising one of Ferrari’s brightest stars.
Unfortunately, hopes of another win look slim this year.
Leclerc himself admitted Ferrari’s car doesn’t do well on slow-speed corners — which, unfortunately, is all Monaco is.
When asked when things might turn around, he could only shrug: “What’s wrong with this car? I wish I knew.”
Max Verstappen Skips the Spotlight for Family Time
Speaking of stars — Max Verstappen is now the guy who can skip obligations and still call the shots.
When F1 hosted the Monaco premiere of its new Brad Pitt-starring movie “F1,” Max didn’t show. Neither did Lance Stroll.
Verstappen was honest about it. He just wanted to spend time with family.
“Everyone knew I wasn’t going to be there,” he said.
“The movie comes out in June anyway. I’ll watch it later.”
Is Monaco Living in the Past?
Here’s the bigger picture. F1 is a global sport with millions watching, and Monaco needs to serve more than just the privileged few who line the yachts on race day.
Yes, it’s dangerous, and yes, the atmosphere on-site is electric.
But if the rest of the world only sees a boring procession, what’s the point?
The fix is obvious — and it’s possible. What’s missing is the will to make it happen.