Returning for the first time since last year’s Formula One, the first glimpse of the Med brings back wonderful memories.
When balconies were really full
Graham Hill marching up to Casino Square straight into the American Bar at the Hotel de Paris for a very large gin and tonic, or Jackie Stewart doing his famous walk down the hill, hand-in-hand with his wife, Helen, carrying his own helmet!
I don’t think I’ve seen a driver do that in the last ten years.
The discount seats
And journalists could talk to drivers one-on-one, or even ski with them in Switzerland without a PR person present. Happy days.
Now, of course, with TV and, especially, social media, that sort of thing is unimaginable. Even Lewis Hamilton’s dog has his own website.
For example, when Fernando Alonso declared that he was going to race at Indy the whole of Spain started following his progress online. Never mind the race, the Spanish papers sent reporters to cover their hero’s every movement.
So is the Monaco Grand Prix the same after all these years? By and large, no. The one aspect that has changed, and had to change, was that of safety.
As a street circuit, Monaco can never be as safe as some of the new tracks where you can barely see the action because the cars are so far away but Lorenzo Bandini’s horrifying accident in 1967 could not happen today. The cars are stronger, racing suits are still fire-retardant but now more high-tech, helmets have been hugely improved and, certainly fire fighting equipment is much more advanced.
True, accidents can still happen, particularly on the first lap, but while pieces of the cars may fly on impact, the drivers will – hopefully – emerge unscathed.
Ayrton in the pit lane
Happiest Monaco Grand Prix memories? To watch Jean Pierre Beltoise win in the torrential rain back in ’72; to see Her Serene Highness Princess Grace hand over the massive trophy with this little guy standing next to her, who of course was none other than Prince Albert; Ayrton Sienna’s unforgettable fastest lap in 1988, and Michael Schumacher at his majestic best. The list is endless.
The wonderful thing is that, in spite of all the changes on the outside of the track, once the five red lights go out it will be a gigantic battle from the inside.
I know it won’t happen, at least it would be most unlikely, but I’d love an outsider like Sergio Perez (Force India) or Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) win the 75th Grand Prix de Monaco.
Andrew Frankl, 1966
Andrew Frankl, is Grand Prix Editor of FORZA. Article first published May 23, 2017.
Monaco is now home to a new Space Affairs Office, a single point of contact for all things space related. It is also a hub for companies in the industry to base themselves in the Principality.
A new exhibition, Extensions at Sea in Monaco, explains how and why the Principality has expanded its territory through sheer force of will, carving out land where only sea once existed.
Despite leading the pack for a portion of the race, Monegasque Charles Leclerc secured a well-earned fourth place in difficult conditions at the Turkey Grand Prix on Sunday.
Patrick Coote talks artificial intelligence, whether this year’s Monaco Yacht Show lived up to expectations, and what it’s like to head the fastest growing yacht brokerage in the continent.
A new exhibition, ‘Exceptional Albert I’, is giving the public a glimpse into the private life of the first 20th century prince of Monaco through a series of intimate photographs.
Monaco is pushing ahead with plans to incorporate sustainable finance into its banking and financial institutions and will also create a global conference to support efforts.
Monaco received new Ambassadors on Thursday from the countries of Madagascar, Gabon, Switzerland and Turkey in a luncheon ceremony held at the Hermitage Hotel.
0
Sign up to our FREE Newsletter
By signing up you agree to receive daily news emails frommonacolife.net. We respect your privacy and will not spam you!
Much was achieved by RAMOGE in 2019-20 in its fight against Med marine pollution. Now, projects have been set for the years ahead, including a new eco-responsible yachting label.
