F1 chief Stefano Domenicali is giving up hope of remodeling the iconic Monaco circuit after plans to update the track were quickly rejected by organizers
- The Formula 1 chief had hoped to redesign the Monaco circuit
- There have been calls to keep the iconic track updated with new changes
- However, the organizers have confirmed that no changes will be made to follow
Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has given up hopes of remodeling Monaco’s famous street circuit after plans to do so were strongly rejected by organisers.
The thorny subject of the absence of overtaking came to light again on Sunday, when only the rain saved a processional race from the constraints of the narrow streets of the principality.
Christian Horner, boss of winner Max Verstappen’s Red Bull team, hailed the site as a jewel in the sport’s crown, but spoke of the need for changes to keep it up to date.
He requested that the first corner, Sainte Dévote, be slowed down or that the circuit be lengthened to include a significant braking zone.
But Mail Sport have been told those plans are dead in the water, although former F1 boss Ross Brawn has drawn up proposals to influence change. His initiatives were rejected by the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), which is organizing the event.
F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali has given up hopes of remodeling Monaco’s famous street circuit
There have been calls to keep the famous track up to date with modern modifications
An F1 spokesperson said: “It’s something we have tried to change in the past and pushed for it, but unfortunately the situation there and the limitations are very restrictive.”
It is understood that the ACM is so cutting edge that an overhaul is not even expected to be part of the renegotiation until the final edition of the race under his current contract, which expires after the 2025 race.
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has managed expectations for their major upgrade package, introduced in Monaco.
Helped by a decent pit lane call as the rain poured down to switch to intermediate tyres, Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and George Russell fifth, although a definitive interpretation of the hoped-for improvements will be postponed until next week’s race on the most representative track of Barcelona.
However, Wolff ruled out a night and day recovery, saying: “We have to be careful. We will collect more data in Spain. I don’t expect us to knock out Ferrari and Aston Martin there, but it’s about understanding what this car does and how we tune it.
“We are good at grinding. Last year the package was terrible at the start of the year but we won a race at Interlagos so we will get there.
