LONDON – Formula One’s new owner Liberty Media has been forced to axe one of the sport’s most famous races, the Monaco Grand Prix, with the 2019 event to be turned into a three-day event with the street race moved to May.
The decision to cut the June race from its traditional slot in the summer weeks of June and July means its switch to May will coincide with the start of the Monaco Gatsby and their high-society party festival.
Formula One CEO Chase Carey told journalists, however, that F1 had other plans for the city where the sport has been based since 1950 and that it had no intention of giving up the Mediterranean principality.
“There is absolutely no thought to taking Monaco out of Formula One. Monaco will always be part of Formula One,” he said.
“We think this change is going to create the most fantastic fan experience. We think it is going to highlight Monaco and bring the best tourists to Monaco and that is exactly what we want.
“We are going to do more, of course, than switch the race out. We are going to announce additional plans for Monaco later on.”
Next year’s race is on June 24, while the May race in 2019 will be in May, in the third week of May, which coincides with the Gatsby week.
Carey also said Formula One, which also includes races in Brazil, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Abu Dhabi and Russia, was continuing to push for a return to Indianapolis, although there was no certainty that would happen.