F1 News: Lewis Hamilton On Losing Monaco Grand Prix

7-time world champion isn't happy about potentially losing the Monaco Grand Prix as the sport expands.

As more tracks have been added to the F1 line-up such as Miami for the current season and Las Vegas for the 2023 season, the Monaco Grand Prix has been rumoured as one that might be cut, and Lewis Hamilton is not happy about it this potential decision.

Hamilton claims that the Monaco track is the “crown jewel” of the F1 calendar and it is not only him that has started to worry about the track's future as fans have also shown their distaste in potentially losing the legendary track.

Trying to squash rumours, Automobile Club de Monaco has confirmed they are currently renegotiating their contract with F1 with it soon coming to an end. But Hamilton is still standing by his opinion that the track shouldn’t go anywhere, even though he has admitted he isn’t a huge fan of the racing there.

He said:

“It’s one of the crown jewels of our sport. So I’m not really sure it would be great to lose it.

“There are good bits… I guess that the difficult part is that the racing itself is not that spectacular.”

He continued:

“Everyone that goes enjoys it. It is a prime location.

“Adjusting the track is not easy because it’s the second smallest country in the world so we don’t have a lot of space there.

“Many of us live in Monaco. But it is just that iconic status it has, the history that it has, that is so appealing to drivers but also to those that are watching.”

Backing up Hamilton is McLaren driver, Daniel Ricciardo, who has explained that like the 7-time world champion, he is happy that more races are being added in new locations. But he agrees with Hamilton that this shouldn’t mean we lose the old fan favourites. 

Ricciardo explained:

“Monaco is special.

“The thing is, I love the addition of some of these new circuits, new cities that we’re going to.

“I’m all for it because it’s also new experiences and engaging another audience which is fun, and it keeps the sport growing.

“As Lewis touched on earlier, it’s sharing the sport with more of the globe, and ultimately sharing our passion with more people.

“There are those core F1 venues and circuits such as Monaco. It’s a special weekend.”

Ricciardo interestingly also commented on the driving experience at Monaco, mirroring what Lewis had to say, but not surprising fans in the meantime:

“It’s one of the trickiest circuits on which to overtake.

“I’m not sure it provides the ultimate viewing experience on a Sunday but the weekend experience, and just everything that is Monaco, is special and unique.

“Winning it or not, going there as an F1 driver and having that and experiencing all the emotions that go with competing in Monaco, it’s unique.

“I’m very, very happy to have that, and have experienced that in my career. I guess I would wish the next generation to also experience that because it is special.”