Prince Albert forced to ‘intervene’ in battle to keep Monaco GP on F1 calendar
dailystar.co.ukFormula 1 bosses Liberty Media attempt to thrash out a new contract.The current deal for the race is expiring, meaning there are no guarantees it will be on the calendar next year.
Just a couple of years ago that would have seemed unthinkable, but with F1 keen to embrace exciting new destinations, long-standing venues like Monaco can no longer be considered safe from the chop.The tight and twisty street circuit, which has barely changed in decades and sees virtually no overtaking, has come in mounting criticism from fans. READ MORE: F1's most strangely-named races - including Grand Prix 50 miles away from border Meanwhile, the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) and F1 are also reportedly at loggerheads over the TV coverage of the race, which is controlled by ACM’s in-house broadcasters rather than F1’s production operation, and the unique commercial arrangements the race has long enjoyed.Negotiations are such a delicate stage that even Prince Albert of Monaco has even got involved as a mediator, according to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, who is a resident of the principality.“The prince even intervenes in these talks himself, because the Automobile Club continues to take this hard line,” Rosberg told Motorsport-Total.com. Should the Monaco Grand Prix stay on the F1 calendar?
Have your say in the comments section below.“You need a bit of a mediator to bring people together now, i.e. Formula 1 and the Automobile Club.
The Prince is very involved and I’m hopeful, because Monaco has to stay on the calendar.”But Rosberg accepts the race organisers must be more accommodating to F1.“This is racing history and it’s the most glamorous race of the year, so that has to go on,” he said.
Read more on dailystar.co.uk
