Formula 1 has confirmed that the Monaco GP will stay on the calendar until 2035, following the signing of a new four-year contract extension between the Automobile Club de Monaco and FOM, the sport’s commercial rights holder.
The updated agreement, announced on Friday, builds on a previous deal struck in November 2024, which guaranteed Monaco a spot on the calendar through to 2031.
Monaco has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since 1955, with the exception of its cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sporting changes and a new calendar slot in 2026
This season’s event featured a controversial attempt to improve the spectacle through a two-stop mandate. The change was met with mixed reactions and widely viewed as ineffective. Nevertheless, the FIA has already signalled its intention to continue with this rule change for next year’s edition of the race.
Also from 2026, the Monaco Grand Prix will move from its traditional late-May slot to the first weekend of June.
Prestige beyond racing
While the on-track action has often drawn criticism for its lack of overtaking opportunities and processional nature, the event remains an enormous commercial and cultural draw for Formula 1.
Each year, the Grand Prix attracts VIPs, sponsors, and celebrities, making it one of the sport’s most high-profile weekends. For drivers, the race is still considered one of the most difficult and rewarding challenges on the calendar, due to the circuit’s narrow, unforgiving layout and the importance of Saturday’s qualifying.
The event’s popularity has also been boosted in recent years by the presence of Monégasque Charles Leclerc on the grid. The Ferrari driver secured an emotional home victory in 2024 to massive local acclaim.
Key figures react to contract extension
“The streets of Monaco have been echoing with the sound of Formula 1 since the earliest days of the sport,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“It’s an iconic race that is loved by all drivers and fans, with a unique vibe thanks to its location on the world’s most glamorous Principality.”
He continued: “I would like to say a special thank you to His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco, and everyone involved in securing the long-term future of this historic partnership.”
The extension was also welcomed by Prince Albert II, who noted the race’s cultural and economic importance to the Principality: “The renewal of the Monaco Grand Prix until 2035 is in keeping with a sporting and historical tradition to which the Principality remains deeply attached. I can only welcome this renewed commitment… and the unique place that Monaco occupies in the international motorsport landscape.”
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco for his unwavering support, as well as to Stefano Domenicali for his continued trust,” said Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco.
“The Automobile Club de Monaco is delighted with this four-year extension, which reflects the strong and enduring relationship between Formula 1 and the Principality of Monaco.
“This agreement reaffirms, more than ever, our commitment to delivering an exceptional, unmatched, and world-renowned race weekend to the passionate fans who travel from all over the globe to attend the Monaco Grand Prix, first held in 1929.
“I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the F1 community and all the volunteers, as well as that of the Monegasque institutions, whose involvement is essential to the success of this extraordinary event.”
