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Formula 1's most famous race, the Monaco Grand Prix, will stay on the calendar until at least 2031 - but the deal’s not without significant compromise.
Monaco's future on the F1 calendar was somewhat uncertain with its previous deal set to expire in 2025, but this new deal keeps it around for at least another six more seasons.
To do so, the event has compromised, as from 2026, the race will take place on the first full weekend in June rather than its traditional end-of-May date.
It might only be a one-week difference, but that's significant for a number of reasons...
Part of a wider calendar shake-up
F1 has long had plans to radically shake up its ever-expanding calendar. There's a desire to group races more geographically, something that's slowly started to be realised in the last couple of years.
That's no easy fix, though, with each individual race promoter having their own vested interest and other commitments and political, sporting and commercial restraints to work around when agreeing on a race date.
But Monaco shifting to June from its previously ironclad end of May slot, should pave the way for the Canadian GP to be moved forward from its current mid-June date.
That means Canada can now pair up with the Miami GP in May, meaning the European leg kicks off in June rather than the current continent crisscross of having Miami in early May, then over to Europe for Imola-Monaco-Barcelona, then back to North America for Canada before the European leg continues.
The continuing calendar growth that is already set to include a new Madrid street race in 2026 means rotation of some European races is inevitable, with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali telling the most recent Liberty Media earnings call that there would be "news to share very, very soon with regard to the possibility in the mid-term to have some rotational European grands prix and some other new options coming later".
The Race understands Spa, Zandvoort, Imola and Barcelona are the prime candidates to be rotated with further new races expected to be added to the calendar before the end of the decade.
Monaco is safe (for now)
The deal effectively draws a line under the debate of whether Monaco still has a place in modern F1 with consistent complaints from some fans each year that F1 cars have now outgrown the twisty streets.
It remains a favourite among most drivers because of the unique driving challenge that's still largely unrivalled, and there's the historical element of its value that may feel particularly pertinent in F1's 75th anniversary celebrations next year.
You could argue that now it’s secured a new deal Monaco doesn't need to change. But equally, the date compromise might be a good-faith sign that Monaco is willing to change to remain relevant to modern F1.
F1's certainly taken back a bit more control over the event, having already taken over the TV direction of the race in 2023 (Monaco was an odd, often frustrating outlier before) and shifted it to the standard Friday-Sunday schedule from 2022 after practice used to take place on a Thursday.
Monaco-Indy 500 clash is no more
Two of motorsport's most iconic races will no longer take place on the same day from 2026.
While another F1 race could still clash with the Indianapolis 500, it won't be the Monaco GP.
The already slim possibility of an F1 driver doing the Indy 500 is already made near-impossible by the current date clash - unless there are exceptional circumstances like Fernando Alonso's McLaren-Honda F1 stint going so badly it let him skip it to make his Indy debut in 2017.
While the races rarely overlapped, it means fans will be able to enjoy both events on different days and there is an increased potential for crossovers - even if that's F1 personnel attending Indy, should there not be a different clash and visa versa.
With the Le Mans 24 Hours taking place on the second weekend in June, it means motorsport's triple crown events will likely take place on three consecutive weekends from 2026.
