27/05/2025 12:30
Chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association Alex Wurz has presented potential changes to the Monaco circuit to boost overtaking. The historic track has long proved challenging to overtake around due to its narrow nature. F1 attempted to increase the unpredictability last time out by introducing a mandatory two-stop strategy - but it failed to boost the spectacle. Changing the layout of the Monaco track appears to be the most feasible way to provide overtaking opportunities - however due to its location and environmental limitations, such alterations would prove tricky. Wurz, who has 69 F1 race starts to his name, presented his ideas to increase the show around Monaco. Turn 6 - Fairmont Hairpin The first change around the lap would take place at Turn 6 at the famous hairpin formerly called 'Loews'. Wurz has suggested widening the entry of the hairpin by at least 2.2 metres on the inside, creating more room for a driver to make an overtake attempt. "It means drivers coming down have an easier opportunity to do a divebomb," he said. "It means the lead driver will have to defend more, so he will be slower." Changes would also be conducted to the exit to ensure the car on the outside has room to keep a potential battle going. "The hairpin is very tight, so we need to also enlarge the track on the exit, lose the kerb, and have asphalt all the way to this physical wall, so we have the turning radius," Wurz added. "The real ideal racing line will not change from what it is. It will not change the character of the corner. "It will just lead into a little bit more defending. Therefore this corner will actually initiate the overtaking into the new chicane." Turn 10 - Nouvelle Chicane As Wurz alluded to, the change at the hairpin would then lend itself to alterations at the Nouvelle Chicane. The corner is seen as the best overtaking opportunity on the track, even if chances at the corner are few and far between. Coming out of the famous tunnel, Wurz has suggested extending the straight by an extra 80 metres before creating a sharp 90-degree corner. "I am very convinced, from my own experience watching the races and talking to my fellow drivers, that moving the chicane later, which physically with the constraints any city has, should be possible," he said. "That means the defending for this corner - which is quite easy to do, with the kink and the bumps - will become more difficult." Wurz highlighted the importance of the Tabac corner at Turn 12, labelling it as his favourite around the circuit. His proposed redesign would ensure the corner would not be flat out and remain a great challenge for the drivers to navigate. Turn 17 - Rascasse The final proposed change from Wurz is at Turn 17, or Rascasse. This would move the apex out by two to three metres to create a sharper turn while also widening the exit to allow for cars to run side-by-side. "When this apex comes further out, the entry line will definitely change. "You will open the corner much more for a divebomb, and that means any driver ahead will either have to defend or accepts he leaves the door open. "If you're defending, you will come out much slower, so you're creating a train behind you, and the pressure on all of the drivers will simply increase. "This is a small trick, quite easy to realise, but should at least engage in more fighting, more intense pressure, and perhaps overtaking."
