After qualifying for the Monaco GP, there was a lot of commotion about loose ‘advertising banners’ placed on the crash barriers around the Monaco circuit. There are fears that they could determine the outcome of the Monaco GP.
During qualifying, advertising banners stuck to the crash barriers came loose in various places, including Mirabeau. These loose advertising banners, a kind of large stickers that are stuck on the crash barriers, became stuck on the cars of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, who had to make a pit stop to have the advertising banners removed.
“What happened in Q1 is something that should not happen, it does not meet the high standards that apply on a race circuit,” said McLaren team boss Andrea Stella. “The car picked up several meters of advertising banners, it got stuck under the car and the car lost a huge amount of downforce equivalent to three seconds per lap.”
“The problem has been there since the first practice session, it is not that advertising banners suddenly came loose during qualifying, it has happened every session and it must be resolved.”
“It has affected Lando in a fairly catastrophic way, as well as Leclerc and some other drivers.”
“What will determine the race result? Are you lucky or not to pick up an advertising banner with your car? Or do we want the race to be decided based on the quality of the drivers, the car and the teams? Something has to happen.”
In response to the complaints from the teams and drivers, advertising banners have already been removed in several places.
Monaco is bringing down the add banners #monaco #monacogp pic.twitter.com/fPSkm0Lfwf
— JJones24 (@TwitJones24) May 26, 2024
UPDATE: The FIA has confirmed that some of the banners have been removed in some small areas ahead of today‘s race.
“We’ve now decided to completely remove branding in small areas for (today).”#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/k9086AIcko
— Ahmet Cirakman (@AhmetCirF1) May 26, 2024
Let’s do a comparison of sponsorship placement before and after FOM took over that role for the Monaco GP
Notice how in the past, barriers susceptible to be hit wouldn’t have any banners on top of them to avoid filling the track of rubbish. Maybe FOM should take note of that https://t.co/itVMpNsd7g pic.twitter.com/W9sUsDjeum
— Ofitus21 (Diego) (@Ofitus21) May 25, 2024