Memorable Monaco: Part 2

After we looked at the interesting/funny incidents in the history of the Monaco Grand Prix, now it’s time to know about some of the more controversial and unfortunate incidents that took place in the Principality. Deaths were very common in the sport before a raft of changes were introduced after Ayrton’s Senna death in 1994. So, we start with the two fatal accidents which took place during the early races at this track:-

Fagioli and Bandini: The two unfortunate Italians

When the Formula One World Championship began in the 50′s, safety was at a bare minimum and with Monaco being so narrow and a single mistake making the driver a passenger before the car crashes into anything that’s beside the track, fatalies were bound to occur. So was the case in 1952 and 1967 when Luigi Fagioli and Lorenzo Bandini lost their lives- Fagioli while driving a sports car (F1 races were not held there from 1951-1954) and Bandini during an F1 race.

The accident during the Monaco Grand Prix which led to the death of Ferrari driver Lorenzo Bandini, 7 May 1967

In the beginning Fagioli’s accident didn’t seem quite a serious one but he later succumbed to internal injuries in a hospital. Bandini’s accident was much more spectacular with the fuel spilling out and causing a huge fire. An explosion followed but before that Bandini had been brought to safety but the rescuers couldn’t save the Italian from significant amount of third-degree burns and he breathed his last three days later.

Moss, you are disqualified

The 1952 Monaco Grand Prix weekend was definitely not a one to remember for the right reasons with another controversy on race day. After having started from pole, Sir Stirling Moss had opened up a significant lead only to be blocked by the stopped Aston Martin of Reg Parnell. When Moss restarted, he was black flagged for using outside help.

Bernie in the mix yet again!

You can’t separate Bernie Ecclestone from F1, can you? Let’s go back to the early 70′s when Bernie had just started to make his mark in the commercial matters of F1- having been more interested in the racing spectacle in his youth. And straight away he stamps his authority. He was associated with the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) – many would have heard about the FISA-FOCA war, yes this is that same FOCA- and entered into a dispute with the organisers Automobile Club de Monaco(ACM) regarding the number of cars that should start the race. With 26 cars allowed to start at other venues, Ecclestone wanted the same to happen here but because of safety concerns the organizers hadn’t let the number increase to more than 18. But that changed in 1972 when ACM yielded and 26 cars were allowed to start. But after another 2 years, ACM was able to exercise its authority to decrease the number to 18 again.

FFSA president Jean-Marie Balestre (R) hugs Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone

The FISA-FOCA war is such a vast and complicated topic that it will be impossible to explain here, so we concentrate only on what effect it had on the 1985 race. King of dealing Ecclestone had helped ACM make a separate individual television rights deal with US broadcasters ABC. This was against an agreement enforced by the FISA that stated any television rights deal would be done centrally. So, FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre excluded the 1985 Monaco Grand Prix from that year’s world championship but after ACM won the court battle on appealing against the decision, the race was included back in the championship.

1984- Senna vs the French

Who would forget the 1984 race where Senna was deprived of a well deserved win after the race was red flagged after race leader Alain Prost waved to the officials on the previous lap. Monaco was French territory and the FIA was top-heavy with French people: every chance of French driver Alain Prost having his way against the relatively unknown Brazilian rookie driver Ayrton Senna.

Schumacher controversies in 2006 and 2010

Views would be divided on this topic. After all Michael Schumacher won here 5 times and gave Ferrari their last victory in Monaco way back in 2001. Schumacher was involved in heavy controversy during the 2006 and 2010 races. In 2006, towards the end of the qualifying session he parked his car at La Rascasse blocking the track thus preventing Fernando Alonso – who was doing purple sectors – from beating his provisional pole time. The FIA paid no heed to any of Schumacher’s excuses and straight away removed his name from the timesheets. Result: Start from the pitlane.

Michael Schumacher of Germany and Ferrari in action during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at the Monte Carlo Circuit on May 28, 2006

In 2010 though, the matter was not so straightforward. On the last lap when the Safety Car came in, 6th place Alonso was caught out at La Rascasse due to wheelspin and was overtaken by Schumacher before the chequered flag. The rules state that on the last lap when the Safety Car comes in, cars should maintain their position from the Safety Car line to the finish line- the exact wordings which caused confusion then. Ferrari argued that they had instructed their drivers not to overtake while Mercedes said they had told their drivers that overtaking was allowed along with the fact that the SC signs and the yellow flags had been withdrawn and green lights shown (which indicates racing in normal conditions).

With the wordings of the 2010 regulations such that they could be manipulated, the FIA was itself in a bit of a difficult situation but finally decided that Schumacher and Mercedes were wrong and handed them a 20-second penalty thus handing back the 6th place to Alonso. Later the wordings were modified and now state that “As the safety car is approaching the pit entry the yellow flags and SC boards will be withdrawn and, other than on the last lap of the race, replaced by waved green flags with green lights at the Line.”

These were some of the major incidents that took place during the past race weekends in Monaco and as we see, some of them were really complicated but that is what makes them memorable and F1 as a sport more attractive. Nothing in Formula 1 is simple after all!