Thursday November 14, 2024 by Tom Geurde
Formula 1 has just announced the extension of the contract for the Monaco Grand Prix until 2031. The race, which takes place in the streets of the Principality, will see a date change from 2026.
Indeed, from the first season of the new regulations to come, the GP will be held during the first full weekend of June. However, it will take place from May 23 to 25 in 2025. A year which will mark the 75th season in the history of F1.
The Monaco Grand Prix is seen as one of the most prestigious on the calendar. The driver holding the record for the number of successes in Monte-Carlo is still Ayrton Senna. The late Brazilian legend won six times in the Principality. The first Formula 1 GP to be contested there was held in 1950 during the very first season in the history of the sport. The Monaco Grand Prix has now been present every year on the F1 calendar since 1955.
The temporary urban circuit is located on the banks of the Côte d’Azur. It forces drivers to navigate the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, including tackling the slowest corner in F1, the Grand Hôtel Hairpin. The 3.337 kilometer route also includes other emblematic bends, such as Casino, Piscine, Rascasse and Sainte Dévote.
On the current grid, five different drivers managed to win on this very technical circuit requiring extreme concentration. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) have managed to win the GP on several occasions. For their part, Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) have only won on one occasion on the track. Leclerc, who triumphed in Monaco this year, is also the first Monegasque in history to have won at home.
Stefano Domenicali, the big boss of F1, who recently announced that he was considering a rotation of the European Grands Prix in the years to come, welcomes this extension. “I am delighted that Formula 1 will continue to race in Monaco until 2031. The streets of Monte Carlo are unique and an integral part of the legend of the sport. This GP remains a prestigious race that all drivers dream of winning. I would like to thank HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri (president of the Automobile Club of Monaco) and all those who contributed to the extension of this partnership which is so close to our hearts. This agreement marks a new era of partnership and innovation between F1 and Monaco. Through this, we will be able to create an optimized calendar, reducing the logistical pressure and environmental impact of our world championship, while pursuing our goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.”
Michel Boeri is also delighted with the news: “The signing of this new agreement with Formula 1 until 2031 not only confirms the solidity of our relationship, but also reaffirms our commitment to offering all visitors an unrivaled experience. and top notch during race weekends. The Monaco Grand Prix is the most important sporting event here and continues to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to the Principality as well as a billion viewers around the world. »
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