There is significant redevelopment work going on at Monaco, to completely reconstruct the area around the celebrated Tabac Corner. The quayside and the path of the Grand Prix track will remain unchanged but the area between this and the Boulevard Albert I (the start-finish straight) is to be rebuilt in the course of the next four years. When the work is finished the area will become the new home of the Prince’s automobile collection, which is currently housed in Fontvielle. The original car museum will be redeveloped to create an extension to the shopping centre which is located inside the rock, beneath the royal palace.
When the work at Tabac is completed the harbour esplanade will have been widened to match the work previously done on the south side of the swimming pool, which allowed the Formula 1 pits to be extended some years ago. The car museum will be beneath the esplanade with a second floor beneath this, creating an exhibition area of just under 100,000 sq ft. There will be three levels of parking beneath that. The bottom floor of the parking will be 50 feet below the sea level, but will provide Monaco with another 300 much-needed parking spaces. This should mean that the car collection will attract significantly more visitors than it has in the past and the design will include a central area that will be used for presentations and auctions.
The new extension will also allow for more quayside restaurants and night clubs, but it will mean that there will probably be less seating available for a couple of years while the structural work is done. The aim is to have this completed before the Grand Prix in 2017, with the entire development being completed by 2019.
It is worth noting that the next likely phase of development will be a change to the Rascasse section, with plans being drawn up to create an open area, perhaps with some kind of building in the centre. This will improve the access between the pits and the paddock and provide better viewing. The track could thus be re-profiled a little if that was deemed to be necessary. The famous Rascasse restaurant was bought by the government-owned Société des Bains de Mer in 2009.
Remember also that there is still a major land reclamation project underway on the other side of Monte Carlo, in the Portiers district, which could in the long term provide room for the circuit to be extended in order to create overtaking opportunities. The exact design of the new district is not yet known, but a contract for the work is currently being agreed with the French construction giant Bouyges.
For the moment, however, the track will remain as it is, even if the backdrop will change in the years ahead.
joeblogsf1 
It’s an odd place!
First trip to Monaco for football in a couple of months, I’ll make it there for the Grand Prix on day!
Any maps/diagrams of this Joe?
What will it change as far as the GP is concerned, if anything?
I think if you read the story, you will find the answers to your questions.
It amuses me that the developments are viewed through the lens of the Grand Prix, as changes to the race course rather than to Monaco itself. Is that in fact how they are being approached by the Principality? i.e. from the race course down, rather than as changes to the place which will have an unavoidable effect on the race?
This is a racing blog. What do you expect? It is clear that they are making the changes to improve Monaco in general, but the people who come here to read about it, don’t give a toss about the place. They care about racing. Thus it is logical and inevitable that the reportage would be along these lines. If you want to read about the social effects etc etc etc, I am sure that you can find a suitable website.
Joe, I think you being a bit too quick to perceive a criticism here, I don’t believe helenajust was trying to imply she was amused by the way you were reporting but rather that it would have been amusing that development in the city would be done with the track in mind.
I must admit I got a similar impression and actually thought it was rather charming that that may be the case!
Well win win I’d say: you’ve got the fun – we’ve got the info….
Joe, I do come here for the racing! I must have expressed myself badly, because what I was enquiring about was the attitude of the Principality (or whoever makes the decisions). I was interested to know how important the Grand Prix is to them when it comes to making decisions like this. How much weight do they give to the effect on the race? Might they make changes to Monaco’s infrastructure in order to improve a section of the race course? Conversely, might they decide not to do something, or decide to modify a proposal, because of an adverse effect on the race course?
I assume the Prince’s car automobile doesn’t include any old Metros or Cortinas…
Some of us do appreciate your insights from a gp fan perspective. I have visited monaco gp for past few years and watched from Z1 stand, great area if on a budget. Will watch with interest the developments that you have outlined. Roll on May 2015.
Well, I’ll be there next weekend for the rally. All pictures I’ve seen of Monaco have at least one massive crane on it.
One of the unique highlights of Monaco used to be the engine noise – a truly unique Heaben-sent experience. By comparison 2014 was an utter disappointment. Moral of my comment… don’t get a cheap seat on the mountain, because not only will you not hear anything but you won’t see anything either. And that makes the town more interesting than the race ;-).
Cannot help thinking that time is catching up with the Monaco F1 race?
I have no issues with the qualifying but in more years than not, 10 laps after the start of the race the finishing order is all but settled unless we have unreliability (increasingly unlikely) or some weather to intervene. I would love to see the track tweaked in some way to give at least one genuine opportunity of overtaking but not losing any of the main historical corners or character of the circuit. Maybe not easily done but I believe it is possible.
I also like the idea of trying to make Monaco an evening start with it finishing in the dark like Abu Dhabi. However, I guess that technically impractical and with the light May evenings would also get in the way of the entertaining but it a thought.
I have sort of answered myself in above but I believe it is positive that there is at least some thought going into the longer term track layout.
I think, that if we can have but one more decent street race, like Singapore, and reinstate Spa properly, and regain France, then Monaco could be a more occasional fixture than it is, and we would lose nothing. In fact, maybe less frequency would engender a new appeal? The world has bling and money rubbed into its face, through every media, for too long, now. Exclusivity and rarity, do go hand in hand.
Whether in a procession or a lone driver zagging madly all over the track I find the concept of Formula 1 cars staying within the confines of a Monaco track sets my pulse racing every year.
I would gladly have an extra Monaco GP added to the calendar, though not at the cost of any of the other races. I know many, perhaps most, will disagree, but for me Monaco is etched deep within F1 DNA and I pity the sport if we ever walk away from the principality. Monaco is as important to the F1 calendar as Spa, and Monza (and Nordschliffe). That’s one opinion that I doubt I will ever change.
Interesting stuff. One of my biggest regrets when travelling to all those races in the 80s/90s was NOT going to the principality to see Senna race there (especially 88 in qualifying). Had the chance (when it was almost affordable!) but preferred the other races. Mistake. I’m sure that the place has magic & aura if not a high average speed. Would love to visit one day.
Impressive, though it’s a shame they can’t stretch to providing one overtaking opportunity.
I came to think, long ago, that the purpose of Monaco’s non overtaking circuit, was to let the race fans build up to Saturday, watch a balls to the wall spectacle in quali, then get right stuffed up on drink and babes, come the Sunday party. That, at least, was my impression, when invited by a friend of a business partner, who lived overlooking Rascasse, and turned out to be a honest fan, but who had serious business at his parties to do, also.
Hi Joe, As a long time F1 Fan I.E. F1 A Mosport park in Ontario, Canada before Montreal. Yes I was there to watch Gilles win the first one in Montreal. I would love to see the new cars wit 1200 HP & big fat tires. I think that would make it interesting. Even if they are not really loud.
All the best!!
Iain