After an iconic run of 65 years, Formula One will not feature the Monaco Grand Prix this season. With races being canceled or postponed left, right and center this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race has now been officially axed from the calendar this year due to “the situation” being “no longer tenable”.
The Monaco Grand Prix, one of the most iconic races in the calendar year has been a part of the Formula One calendar since 1954. It is often considered as a part of racing’s famous “Triple Crown” which also includes the Le Mans 24 Hour Race and Indy 500. The race winds along the streets of Monaco banked on one hand by the sea and on the other by the penthouses of the uber-rich.
Formula One and the FIA, the sport’s governing body had initially decreed that the race would go on but the recent clarification from the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) ensured that it would not happen this year. The statement read:” The current situation concerning the worldwide pandemic and its unknown path of evolution. The lack of understanding as to the impact on the FIA F1 World Championship 2020, the uncertainty with regards to the participation of the teams, the consequences with regards to the different measures of confinement as taken by various governments worldwide.”
In Image: A section of track of Monaco Grand Prix
"The multi-border restrictions for accessing the Principality of Monaco, the pressure on all implicated businesses, their dedicated staff who are unable to undertake the necessary installations, the availability of the indispensable workforce and volunteers (more than 1500) required for the success of the event means that the situation is no longer tenable."
With the season already delayed till May due to the coronavirus outbreak, it remains to be seen how many races will actually happen this year. Until we get more information, we advise everyone to take care and follow safety precautions issued by the WHO to prevent themselves from being infected by the coronavirus.
