F1 urged to improve overtaking chances at Monaco GP

MONACO (AP) — Red Bull boss Christian Horner added his voice to those calling for ways to improve overtaking at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Formula 1's wide and heavy cars have almost nowhere to pass, and often follow each other around the tight and sinewy 3.3-kilometer (two-mile) street circuit.

“They’re so big now, arguably they’re too big to be racing around these streets because you can barely get two side by side," team principal Horner said on Friday. “Could we open up some areas that could potentially create at least an overtaking opportunity, and what would it (take) to achieve that? I think that’s something that Formula 1 is acutely aware of."

F1's iconic race has been part of the principality’s history since 1929 and remains a firm driver's favorite; with huge status for sporting and historical reasons.

The late Ayrton Senna won Monaco a record six times; Michael Schumacher and Graham Hill did so five times each. Other multiple winners include Lewis Hamilton, Stirling Moss, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio — all F1 greats.

The race is arguably as much engrained in Monaco's identity as Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier; as the famed casino, or Prince Albert’s grandiose palace perched high over the start-finish line.

Film and sports stars still flock to Monaco on race weekends, some dashing over from the nearby Cannes film festival. Filmmaker George Lucas, for example, has been a regular attendee over the years.

It's the place to be seen for the rich and famous, with huge yachts bobbing around the harbor, glamor on display, and Champagne flowing.

“We race here because of the history, the heritage, and it’s a phenomenal venue. There’s a great deal of prestige in winning this race," Horner said. “But to protect the next 70 years here, I think that there needs to obviously be some evolution.”

That's mainly because the race often has an anti-climactic and processional feel to it.

There is almost nowhere to launch an attack, cars slow down heading into every anxiety-inducing turn close to a crash barrier, and strategy is reduced to a minimum.

The most exciting action is usually on Saturday, when drivers get the pure thrill of tackling Monaco at higher speeds and where getting pole position makes such a difference.

“By and large this race will be won tomorrow afternoon in qualifying," Horner said. “In these cars now, you’ve got to be very lucky to pull off an overtake."

Horner's comments echoed those made by seven-time world champion Hamilton. While the Mercedes driver has a great fondness for Monaco, which he has won three times, he says the skinny course nullifies racing.

“I wish we had bigger roads and the track could be wider,” he said. "But I don’t think that’s ever going to be the case in Monaco, because it’s just a small place.”

Hamilton agrees the spectacle needs be improved.

“They should come up with some new formula for it rather than it just be the same,” he said. “Maybe having special tires for this race so you have more pitstops would create more variability."

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. offered his view.

“If there’s an opportunity to create an overtaking spot around Monaco, have a look at the city, have a look at the layout," he said. “Make an effort to make that happen.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz of Spain steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz of Spain steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the first free practice ahead of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Friday rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to weigh a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten said the wording the legislative council suggested is “packed with emotion and partisan meaning” and asked for what he called more “neutral” language. The measure aims to expand abortion access from 15 weeks to 24 weeks – the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

It would allow exemptions to save the woman’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would also prevent the state from adopting or enforcing laws that would forbid access to the procedure.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who is a co-chair of the legislative council, said the group will appeal the court’s decision to the state Supreme Court.

“The ruling is just plain wrong and clearly partisan,” said Toma, a Republican.

Aaron Thacker, communications director for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, noted that the final decision on the ballot itself remains in the air.

“There’s still a lot of scenarios at play," he said. "Even after the secretary certifies the signatures, the courts have to decide if counties can put it on the ballot or not."

Arizona for Abortion Access, the organization leading the ballot measure campaign, sued the council earlier this month over the suggested language and advocated for the term “fetus,” which the council rejected.

Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a motion to submit an amicus brief that “fetus" and “pregnancy” are both neutral terms that the council could adopt.

“It’s incredibly important to us that Arizona voters get to learn more about and weigh our measure in objective and accurate terminology,” said Dawn Penich, communications director for the abortion access group.

Democrats have centered abortion rights in their campaigns in this year’s elections. Organizers in five other states have also proposed similar measures that would codify abortion access in their state constitutions: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Arizona organizers submitted more than double the amount of signatures needed for the measure to appear on the ballot.

FILE - Arizona abortion-rights supporters deliver over 800,000 petition signatures to the capitol to get abortion rights on the November general election ballot July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. A judge on Friday, July 26, rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to decide on a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)