Former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore is confident that Monaco will continue to have a place on the formula 1 calendar this year, and expects a deal to be done soon.
F1 is beginning to branch out to new demographics, and the inclusion of races in Vegas and Miami are a telling sign that the American market is one that the pinnacle of motorsport is evidently keen to go down.
That being said, the expansion to new venues around the world leaves long-standing fixtures such as Spa, Monaco, Silverstone and Monza at risk in the coming years.
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Spa is one of the races that does not have a contract beyond 2022 along with Monaco, Austria, France and Mexico, so there is a possibility that last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix may be the final one at least for some time.
However, speaking to Martin Brundle on his grid walk before the start of the race on Sunday, Btiatore remarked that he is confident that a deal will be struck in the next “two weeks.”
Indeed, L’Equipe in France report that “negotiations are underway” for a new deal that would extend the race by another “three or five years.”
Prince Albert of Monaco, who handed the winner’s trophy to Sergio Perez for the first time last weekend, affirms that many historic F1 moments that will live long in the memory were made in Monaco, so no words are needed to explain why it should remain on the calendar.
“Our history speaks for us,” he said.
Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur labelled Monaco as “important” for the sport, but concedes that changes likely need to be made to facilitate overtaking in order to make the race more appealing.
“For sure Monaco is important for us,” said the Frenchman.
“We know perfectly well that it’s an historical grand prix. But at the end of the day, it will have to come from them, because they can’t stay old fashioned.
“And I’m not just thinking about Monaco. It’s a good lesson for all grands prix.”
Max Verstappen won the race in the Principality last year and finished third on Sunday behind Perez and Carlos Sainz, and he stated that, while the circuit does not lend itself brilliantly to racing, it has become synonymous with F1.
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“If a new circuit with this layout came along now, it would not be accepted anymore, but Monte Carlo is a part of history. And this circuit has written so many stories that it deserves a place in Formula 1,” he said, quoted by GPblog.
Perez’s victory last weekend now means that there have been 35 winners in 68 championship races at the famous event.