Monaco F1 GP Date: Getting Out of Indy 500's Shadow Could Be Its Salvation

      Mark Thompson

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      At this time every year, the motorsport community is bombarded with a surge of articles, social media discussions, and analyses criticizing Formula 1‘s iconic event, the Monaco Grand Prix. The common theme across these pieces is the term "boring." This past Sunday was no exception, despite F1’s latest efforts.

      Since F1 made its debut in the U.S., it has had to contend with its closest rival, IndyCar, and particularly with its showcase event, the Indy 500. When both competitions take place on the same Sunday, followed by NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, comparisons between F1’s prestigious race and “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” are inevitable. As F1 struggles to establish a foothold in the principality, with discussions about possibly removing the Grand Prix from the 24-race schedule, shifting the Grand Prix to the first weekend in June starting next year could be beneficial for its future prospects.

      Sunday, a day eagerly anticipated by racing enthusiasts throughout the year, unfolded on the narrow, twisting streets of Monte-Carlo. This year, F1 implemented a mandatory two-pitstop regulation to address fan complaints that the much-anticipated annual race resembled a leisurely Sunday drive more than a competitive race. The greatest hurdle for Monaco, as the sport, its regulations, and vehicles have evolved over the years, has been overtaking—or rather the lack of it. In 2023, F1 drivers managed to overtake the car in front only 22 times, nearly double the previous year’s total. The following year, that figure dropped to just four.

      Despite the new race format providing viewers with more engaging racing content and appearing less like a procession than in prior years, it did not create significant changes in placement as anticipated. Lando Norris, who started from pole position, concluded the race in first place, followed by the same top four from qualifying: Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen. While a handful of drivers capitalized on the new rules—like Oliver Bearman, who started last and climbed to P12—most competitors remained close to their original starting positions.

      After the race concluded and spectators returned to their yacht celebrations, drivers expressed their dissatisfaction with the new regulations. Carlos Sainz remarked that it slowed down the already sluggish 78 laps and led to fabricated racing scenarios: “Previously, manipulating a race incurred significant penalties. Ultimately, although we are not crashing, we are driving so slowly that we are effectively orchestrating the race.” Sainz and fellow Williams driver Alex Albon took turns obstructing the two Mercedes to allow both to pit without falling out of point-scoring positions. Verstappen shared a similar view, stating, “You can’t race here, irrespective of your strategy. Whether you do one stop or ten stops,” and humorously suggested that obstacles akin to those in Mario Kart would enhance the race.

      More than 4,500 miles away, the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 offered the thrilling racing experience that F1 sorely lacked. The Indy 500 can be encapsulated in one statistic: it is the largest annual single-day non-religious gathering of people worldwide. (Though for a city with a singular focus like Indianapolis, the "non-religious" qualifier might be debatable.) While Monaco also has a strong motorsport tradition, the two locations offer contrasting viewing experiences. One epitomizes the luxury associated with F1’s multimillion-dollar drivers and the tax-exempt coastal paradise they inhabit. The other presents a more modest atmosphere infused with classic Americana. Despite their differences, both are keen to attract more American viewers.

      IndyCar has sought to replicate F1’s success in America, whether by producing its own docuseries or depending on content creators and influencers to stay relevant in fans’ social media timelines—all the while asserting it cannot be compared to its European counterpart. Despite F1’s star-studded roster, glamorous trackside charm, and international presence, it has cultivated a dedicated following in the U.S. that IndyCar hasn’t quite matched. Even though IndyCar often outshines F1 in U.S. TV ratings—averaging 1.7 million viewers per race on NBC in 2024 compared to F1’s 1.11 million on ESPN—F1’s popularity has surged, with a 2022 survey indicating that 28 percent of American adults considered themselves fans. By 2024, it had become the most popular annual sporting series, boasting 750 million global fans, as reported by Nielsen Sports.

      Yet, despite the series' commercial success in the U.S. over the past six years—following the release of Netflix’s popular behind-the-scenes look at the lives of F1’s 20 drivers—the European racing series has yet to mount a challenge on the