Countdowns to race weekends are always a highlight of the week, and the anticipation has been especially high lately. With teasers suggesting that teams like McLaren and Ferrari might finally be catching up with Red Bull, fans have been buzzing with excitement. Compared to last year, when Red Bull and Max Verstappen were so far ahead in points that the championship outcome was a foregone conclusion, this season feels much more competitive. Charles Leclerc is only 31 points behind Max, and the fourth team in the Constructors’ Championship has more points than last year’s second-place team at this time. It’s clear: this season promises more action and closer races.
But then came the MonacoGP, and what a downer it was on our rising expectations and excitement. While the championship battle is alive and well, Monaco reminded us why it often gets labeled a snoozefest. It’s a track where the real action happens in just three instances. First, there’s qualifying. In Monaco, grid position is everything, and once you’re on the track, you’re likely to finish exactly where you started. The narrow streets and increasingly larger cars make overtaking nearly impossible.
The second instance of action is the first lap. With the first corner immediately after the start, drivers make a mad dash to gain positions early. This raises the chances of a red flag or safety car, and you want to be in the right place at the right time. Finally, there’s the rain. If it starts raining during the race, it’s all about timing and tire choices. Who will be the first to pit? Who makes the right call on tire changes? But even these moments are rare and fleeting.
This year’s MonacoGP saw a red flag on the first lap, but it all came down to grid positions, and the action lasted only a few seconds. No wonder fans and drivers alike consider it one of the most boring races on the calendar. Even with Charles Leclerc’s long-awaited first win in two years—and his first home race victory—it lacked the excitement of Lando Norris’s maiden win. Leclerc was barely shown on screen, as he wasn’t involved in any real action despite two standing restarts. (Side note: It’s great that Charles got that win out of the way. There’s nothing like a home race victory.)
Monaco is a classic race, a jewel in the F1 calendar, and the FIA seems keen on keeping it. However, they need to make adjustments. Whether by widening the track or revising regulations to make the cars smaller, something has to change. Even the richest of the rich, who flock to Monaco for its glamour, will soon start demanding more action.
So, let’s make some noise and remind the FIA that this is motorsport—the pinnacle of racing. When money talks, perhaps they’ll listen and make the necessary changes. For now, the countdown to the CanadaGP starts now. Let’s hope for some real racing action there!