Following last year's cancellation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, F1 is returning to Monte Carlo this weekend. Although a limited number of spectators are allowed in the stands, the principality will likely be much quieter than it normally is during race week.
After being canceled due to the global pandemic of coronavirus last year F1 will be returning to Monte Carlo this weekend. Monaco will allow a limited number of spectators to watch the event from grandstands, but the principality is expected to be much quieter than normal.
Because the Monaco GP is defined as much by its off-track prestige and luxury as by the competition, Ricciardo feels the overall energy of the event will be quite different this time.
According to Ricciardo, the sheer intensity of the circuit ensures that the racing experience remains at a maximum level, so the thrills felt while driving will be just as strong as ever.
Normally, the process of navigating through cheering crowds and fans to get to the pit lane and into the car is a frantic experience that starts the adrenaline pumping long before the green light.
He mentioned that usually, your heart rate is already spiking before you even hit the track. Because of the restrictions, he thinks there might be an unusual sense of calm before the race begins.
Ricciardo is thrilled to be back in Monaco, but he's worried that the lack of the typical buzz—the yachts lining the harbor and the parties in the streets—will change the aura of the event. He suspects the venue will feel somewhat empty without that festive energy, though he believes the actual racing side of things will be unaffected.
Lando Norris, Ricciardo's teammate at McLaren, also thinks the vibe will be off and that the weekend might lack its usual grandeur. He pointed out that this is their first return to a street circuit since the pandemic started. While drivers have grown accustomed to smaller crowds, Norris believes that in Monaco, half of the excitement comes from the surrounding spectacle rather than just the race.
Despite knowing it won't be as lavish or spectacular as a traditional Monaco GP, Norris is still looking forward to the event, maintaining that it remains one of the highlights of the F1 calendar.