Does F1’s Monaco Grand Prix need changes to liven up ‘boring’ race?

A lacklustre Monaco Grand Prix as soon as once more raised questions in regards to the prestigious race’s place on the F1 calendar and has led to requires adjustments to be made.

For the primary time in F1 historical past, the highest 10 completed as they began in Sunday’s grand prix across the world-famous streets of the principality. Following first-lap chaos that noticed Sergio Perez and the Haas pair of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg worn out in an enormous pile-up, and the Alpine duo come to blows, the race become a snoozefest.

A crimson flag for the incident meant all of the drivers may change their tyres and for a lot of the subject, there was now not a have to make a pit cease. That took away a component of jeopardy and resulted in drivers managing their tempo and driving at an extremely sluggish tempo at occasions to protect their tyres.

It’s broadly accepted that race day in Monaco normally turns into a processional occasion, with Saturday’s qualifying all the time the standout spotlight of F1’s ‘jewel within the crown’. However the notably uninteresting nature of this 12 months’s grand prix prompted questions on whether or not adjustments should be made to enhance racing on Monte Carlo’s tight and twisty streets.

‘I ought to have introduced my pillow’

“F**okay me that is boring. I ought to have introduced my pillow,” was the removed from ringing endorsement from world champion Max Verstappen, who was caught in sixth place for 77 laps. And the Crimson Bull driver was not the one one complaining.

After spending all the race staring on the gearbox of Yuki Tsunoda’s RB, a annoyed Alex Albon stated: “It’s annoying as a result of he had tempo. He has an excessive amount of tempo – he was simply telling us. I used to be like, we are able to all handle. I’m completely satisfied to handle, however we don’t have to handle this a lot.

“It’s truly exhausting to remain targeted while you’re going that slowly since you’re simply not even close to something. You’re not close to any limits. I imply, he completely cleared off on the finish of the race. And I used to be like, you might have accomplished this the entire time, however he determined to not do it.”

Is a structure tweak wanted? 

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll referred to as for adjustments to be made to the circuit’s structure.

“Monaco is simply – they actually need to do one thing with the observe,” the Canadian stated. “These races listed below are simply horrendous.”

However may such adjustments be made? One concept that has been instructed is for the vehicles to show left – as a substitute of proper – at Portier and rejoin the highway resulting in the tunnel additional east, which might make the run to the braking zone for the Nouvelle Chicane longer and probably improve overtaking alternatives.

“Monaco hold reclaiming land, so I believe it is one thing we collectively and Method 1 ought to take a look at as a result of it is such an ideal place,” stated Crimson Bull workforce principal Christian Horner, who added that F1 vehicles getting greater and wider since 2017 has solely exacerbated the problems of racing at Monaco.

“There’s a lot historical past right here however every thing evolves. I believe the vehicles are so huge now. If you happen to evaluate them to vehicles of 10 years in the past, they’re nearly twice the scale, so it is one thing that we have to collectively – as a sport with the promoter – take a look at: how can we simply introduce an overtaking alternative?”

In the meantime, Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff stated: “I believe Monaco as an occasion is spectacular however the racing has been a bit boring perpetually, whether or not the vehicles had been small or huge.

“I’ve stated it earlier than, possibly there’s one thing on the structure we are able to do. Nevertheless it wants the rain or huge technique offsets. We wish to come right here nonetheless. Every little thing round it makes it so particular.”

Particular tyres and extra pit stops

Lewis Hamilton proposed one other concept, suggesting that F1 ought to introduce particular tyres and extra pit stops only for Monaco.

“I’d say possibly having particular tyres for this race, so you’ve extra pit stops, would create extra variability. Whether or not or not we now have Dash weekends, they will undoubtedly come out with a particular weekend,” the seven-time world champion stated.

“This specific weekend, I believe they need to give you some new formulation for it moderately than simply do the identical. That is simply my opinion.”

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate George Russell stated: “I believe if we solely introduced mushy tyres, a mushy tyre would not final the entire race and you might even have to do two stops. Any person would possibly strive a one-stop. I believe simply having the entire weekend on softs would remedy lots of issues.”

Monaco’s present take care of F1 runs out after subsequent 12 months’s occasion, and its future is prone to face additional debate after this season’s moderately tedious grand prix.