The iconic Monte Carlo street race will remain on the Formula One calendar for the next decade after securing a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone, despite recent suggestions from the sport’s commercial supremo that it could be dropped from the calendar.
Ecclestone – who previously suggested Formula One did not need a Monaco grand prix, saying "they don't pay enough" - agreed the deal in London yesterday with Automobile Club de Monaco’s Michel Boeri.
The next Monaco grand prix will be held on May 29 in 2011. The only other races confirmed beyond 2016 are the British grand prix at Silverstone, and a US grand prix at the new Austin circuit, due to hold its inaugural race in 2012.
The Monaco grand prix – which was this year won by Red Bull’s Mark Webber - dates back to 1929.
In an interview with Hardtalk on BBC News this morning, Sir Stirling Moss stated that Grand Prix racing was no longer a sport, but a major commercial undertaking thanks to the efforts of Ecclestone.
Moss added that today's Grand Prix races were becoming boring for the spectators since there was not enough action. He said that he would like to see low concrete walls built around the tracks so that drivers were forced to make less mistakes, but if they did it would be much more spectacular. He added that today's drivers were no better than those of years ago when he and the "legend of Grand Prix Racing, Fangio" were competing.
"The cars are today technologically more advanced and that today's drivers had a lesser did not play the same role in the driving of the car as 40 to 50 years ago".
Moss said that the size of the engine in a Formula 1 car would nopt necessarily make it slower. "Toda's technicians are able to get as much power out of a smaller engine as they are if the engine is bigger," he said.
He did have some nice things to say about Bernie. "He has had a major influence on Grand Prix racing and the fact that drivers are able to race on the best tracks available was due to his influence. Just look at what has been done to Silverston ", he added.
Asked about the payment of Formula 1 drivers, Moss was of the opinion that they were hugely overpaid.
Asked who he thought the better driver was, Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button, Moss said that Hamilton was better. "He is a very late braker and it takes a lot of skill to control the car at high speed if you brake that late. On certain days Button would beat Hamilton, but all things being equal Hamilton is the better of the two".
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