Source: REUTERS/JAKUB PORZYCKI
[Saba Sports News] Following the conclusion of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner called for a modernization of the legendary track with 75 years of history, warning that refusal to evolve would lead to obsolescence. Moreover, Horner put pressure on the FIA: in the future, perhaps the Red Bull team might refuse to participate in the Monaco Grand Prix. Horner’s proposal directly points to the core contradiction in current F1 — the fundamental conflict between the dimensions of modern racing cars and narrow street circuits. This sparked intense debates among paddock circles over tradition versus innovation. The mandatory two-stop rule introduced this year at Monaco completely failed despite the FIA’s attempt to increase variability through forced pit stops. Actual results showed teams exploiting rule loopholes to play ‘tactical games’. Scuderia AlphaTauri and Williams teams intentionally slowed down one driver to create a pit stop window for teammates, resulting in the formation of ‘moving roadblocks’ on the track. Data supports Horner’s view: the 2024 cars are 76 centimeters longer than those in 2009, yet the narrowest part of the Monaco circuit is only 7 meters wide. This makes it almost impossible to overtake even with a 3-second lap advantage. For this, Max Verstappen bluntly commented: “This feels like Mario Kart, but without even banana peel props.”