Source: REUTERS/ALI.HAIDER
[Saba Sports News] Helmut Marko, an advisor to the Red Bull racing team, made shocking comments before the Monaco Grand Prix, stating that the once heralded “jewel in the crown of motorsport,” the Monaco Grand Prix, has now become “a complete farce.” The 82-year-old F1 veteran pointed out that the excessive size and weight of modern F1 cars have made overtaking almost impossible at the Monaco circuit, and the results of qualifying races will directly determine the outcomes of the main race. Helmut Marko, who has raced nine times on the Monaco track, recalled, “In my day, there were no crash barriers here, making it a real test of drivers. But now, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are driving slower than F3 cars.” These remarks were echoed by current champion Max Verstappen, who criticized the current cars as “too big, too hard, too heavy,” losing all vitality on street circuits. Data shows that the average number of overtakes in recent Monaco Grands Prix is less than five, often turning the main race into a “high-speed parade.” With the promise of new regulations in 2026 to reduce the size of the cars, this year’s Monaco Grand Prix may become the final performance of the “ground effect era.”