Yet Monaco receives a fair amount of criticism in the modern era. Formula One fans point out that it's slow or, as far as safety is concerned, is not fit for a modern Grand Prix. However, the 2.092 miles of winding armco in qualifying remains the greatest challenge known to the Formula One driver. Personally, I would be happy in the idea of having 17 qualifying sessions here each year.

Qualifying is obviously not the only reason Formula One comes to the principality. The race, which traditionally starts at 2:30 PM local time, produced an outstanding and somewhat unpredictable result for the second year running. In the dry, Monaco can be a tedious race in which the victor is decided by the first turn into Sainte Dévote. But, in the wet, it's a whole other planet of determination, challenge and ultimately, racing.

Because of the tradition and mystique of Monaco, the track will remain an eternal part of Formula One. Yet, if the same conditions existed anywhere other than Monte Carlo, the venue wouldn't exist for very long.

The obvious problem with Monaco, not to mention most street circuits, is speed. It is the constructors aim is to push the upper limit higher each time their creations on four wheels are unleashed. As any fan realizes, this is the nature of the sport. It is, however, also the haunting beast. The cars are built faster. They may be built safer. But, at the end of it all, the weak link is still the human body and the forces it encounters when the car runs out of room to stop.

It's hard to describe what makes Formula One great. The cars could be made fast enough to exceed 300mph. A Williams, someday, may be able to corner at over 200mph. The challenge, however, would be negated if you found yourself having to brake in the middle of the Monaco tunnel for a chicane. The run-off and safety facilities at the tracks just can't provide for this kind of speed in a safe manner.

In the last 4 years, we have lost such fantastic corners as the Lesmo's at Monza, turn 8 at Estoril, Tamburello and Villeneuve at Imola. If Formula One is to continue at the rate of over a 2 second per lap jump, then the sport will lose more of these challenging corners. The circuits and their unique challenges make what is Formula One. Without them, having fast cars racing around 1st gear corners and chicanes will be exciting to no one. The FIA do not wish to slow Formula One down and make things easier for the drivers, but to safeguard the future of what are some of the finest tracks in the world.

I have no desire to see 17 races a year on circuits such as Aida or the "clinical" Jerez. These tracks are not in the spirit or nature of Formula One. The cars might be fast, but in such places they cannot shine.

As tracks go, it is inherently obvious that the streets of Monte Carlo would be one of the first victims to fall should the current increase in speeds continue unchecked. There is a point when you can do no further to a circuit to slow it down and reduce the risk, and Monaco has been that way for a long, long time.

It's time to make a choice between the ultimate speed of Formula One, and the challenge that the courses provide. I'll take Monaco anytime.