What Monaco can teach Azerbaijan

These days, if a country's wallet is big enough, it can buy a place on the Formula 1 calendar. Russia came on board last year and Azerbaijan is pencilled in for a debut in 2016.

Developing a location into an F1 venue that fans, teams and drivers love is much tougher - just ask the promoters who attempted races in Valencia or South Korea.

So perhaps they could have learned a thing or two from Monaco, one of F1's oldest and most popular venues.

Strolling out of the train station, nestled into the hills that overlook Monte Carlo, on Sunday morning you're very much aware that the grand prix is in town.

On arrival at the first corner, Ste Devote, the streets alongside the track are flanked by market stalls packed with F1 merchandise, while shop windows are imaginatively dressed with racing memorabilia.

Head towards the final corner, Antony Noghes, and you stumble across an F1 fan village, jammed with simulators, Batak walls, Scalextric, stalls and plenty of food options. The place is buzzing - and it's only 8am.

Onwards and the Rock of Monaco comes into view, on the side of which fans perch shoulder to shoulder to enjoy arguably one of the best views in Monte Carlo, for a fraction of the price of a grandstand ticket.

High-rises and the Ligurian Sea, not gravel traps or run-off areas, line the layout © XPB

Into the harbour, which is rammed with an array of yachts gently bobbing in the crystal blue water.

In the distance, people can be spotted leaning out on balconies, peering over from rooftop bars and craning their necks from a table in one of the many swanky restaurants.

It's over the top. Of course it is. But it's Monaco. It couldn't be further away from Yeongam.

"It's the one track we have which is special on another level and it generally turns out to be one of the most amazing weekends of the year," says Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. "Not only for us, but for people who get to come and enjoy the weekend."

The track itself, though, is the star. At the Swimming Pool, cars jink left, coming within a hair's width of the barrier, before flicking right. There is nowhere in the world that you can get closer to an F1 car.

Move further along the harbour to Tabac, pitch yourself on the apex and watch the drivers hustle their cars through, their eyes almost meeting yours as they turn in. The sheer commitment required, with every turn of the wheel, is clear to see.

Raikkonen got too close to the barriers and was reminded of the fact they bite © XPB

Around the edge of the harbour, up towards the chicane and into the tunnel. The ground shudders as a car flies past, sending a vibration rocketing through your body. The concoction of burning rubber and petrol fumes tickles your senses. And the noise. Oh, the noise - and these are only the V6s.

"This is probably the best track not only to drive on, but because the fans get close," adds Hamilton. "There's a lot of races where the grandstand is 100 metres away from the side of the track. People are having to use binoculars to watch the cars.

"It's so much more exciting when you can get close up. I was watching the Formula Renault 3.5 cars going round at Rascasse and I was standing right by the barrier. I think this is the best place to come and watch."

Technically, there is no more demanding a race track on the calendar. Sure, it's not the challenge it once was, but it still punishes errors. Just ask Roberto Merhi, who was caught out in practice on the exit of the tunnel, tearing off the front end of his Manor. Or Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen - a veteran of this track - who consigned a wheel rim to the scrapheap when he glanced the barriers at Ste Devote.

"Monaco is one of those circuits that's in its own league," says McLaren's Fernando Alonso. "Although it's almost impossible to overtake, it still produces one of the most impressive and exciting races on the calendar.

"The most important thing is concentration - the streets are so narrow and twisty that there is no margin for error. Mentally, it's a tough challenge but that's what makes it even more rewarding when you hook up a perfect lap."

After Mercedes' Hamilton blunder, it was going to be hard to unseat Rosberg © LAT

The problem, many say, is that Monaco is all too often a procession. Qualifying is the important day. Secure pole and the chances are you're going to win the race. To be honest, they are probably right.

But there is always that sense of the unknown, the kind of which occurred on Sunday when the Toro Rosso of Max Verstappen crashed into Romain Grosjean's Lotus, bringing out the safety car, which was the catalyst for Hamilton losing what was a nailed-on win.

Monaco is never going to feature lots of overtaking, but does it need to? Its unique selling point is the driver challenge, one they all crave. That's why Hamilton was so upset when he saw another Monaco win slip through his fingers.

"This is a race that has been very close to my heart for many years," he said afterwards. "Everyone wants to win this race. The same can't be said for many other races on the calendar."

These days most new, purpose-built tracks are all the same: a long straight, followed by a hairpin. They're so wide, too, which makes it easy to pass and much less of a risk because there's acres of run-off. The result is plenty of overtaking, and now many are complaining it has become too easy.

Monaco continues to attract big numbers, both at the circuit and on TV © LAT

The Monaco GP used to be one of the races the BBC showed live in the UK - it was one of the early picks when it came to dishing out the live races between itself and Sky. But that's no longer the case, with the race becoming one of those shown as a highlights package in the last few seasons.

Why? It's understood that other races pulled in more viewers when shown live, with Monaco remaining popular, performing well as highlights because of a more agreeable timeslot on what is usually a bank holiday weekend in the UK.

Monaco might not feature much overtaking, but it does provide a proper challenge in a unique setting. And it's the one F1 fans, broader sport enthusiasts and the general public are most enthusiastic about. Azerbaijan and those waiting in the wings, such as Qatar, would do well to take note.

Of course, we can't have 20 Monacos. But nor should we. Instead we need as many different types of venues with their own specific charm.

Singapore has nailed it, Austria came back with a bang with its festival atmosphere and Austin is on the way to becoming a favourite with its cracking track and self-proclaimed title of Live Music Capital of the World. So it can be done.

Amid all the soul-searching that is currently engulfing F1, perhaps the focus should be on cultivating the right venues before tinkering with the rules.