Monaco: Stay or Go, Will It Survive?

There is much chatter around at the present of who will stay and who will go. Talk also of who will come and join the grids for the 2010 F1 season.

Really, will more teams benefit F1. The racing thus far this season has been refreshing. And wev'e not yet reached the traditional European circuits. While we're on circuits are Monaco's days numbered.

As mention in an earlier article the Monaco circuit has been around since 1929 missing just four years of F1 racing. It has delivered some fantastic results and is a circuit that will allow for a predictable or unpredictable race.

If there is to be an upset result for a season it generally comes at Monaco. Who will ever forget Olivier Panis's 1996 victory-his only victory-and Ligier's last. Or the 1982 victory for Riccardo Patrese, his first.

The Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), has at times jeopardised their own race by stipulating grid numbers, in 1972 the race was almost cancelled due to this issue.

The Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) won out but two years later the ACM got their way and the grid was reduced. A court case was needed in 1985 to allow the  race to go ahead after a issue between FISA and ACM.

The jewel in the crown is how F1 describes Monaco, and that makes sense. Each year the race has high attendances, most there for the  extravagance that the principality produces, and the only race that a majority will attend for the year.

Many fans and drivers have stated that because of the circuits tight and twisty layout Monaco is a processional race. To think that between 1984 and 1993 only two drivers won the race. Alain Prost and Ayerton Senna. That statistic could well have been longer if not for the events of 1994. 

So will Monaco survive the onslaught of the Asian and Middle Eastern countries lining up to stage a Grand Prix? There is no doubt that if polled purists would vote no. Celebrities would vote yes. Fans would be divided.

Monaco deserves to remain as it has been a regular and is mentioned in the same breath as Monza and Silverstone. Everybody knows that Monaco stages a Grand Prix, though most would struggle to know where Silverstone is. 

Oddly Monaco has produced just one F1 driver, Louis Chiron, racing from 1950-1958. He scored a third position in his first home race in 1950 and failed to qualify for his last home race, this being the last race of his career.

For the sake of history lets hope that Monaco does survive the circuit choppers aim and we can watch history being made at the circuit for many years to come.