Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen had the same views after the chequered flag at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have both insisted that the Monaco Grand Prix needs to change in the future following a dull spectacle around the streets of Monte Carlo. The pair, who combine for 10 World Championships, were restricted to running around in P7 and P6 respectively after disappointing qualifying sessions.
While Charles Leclerc’s maiden home race win was a popular result among most in the paddock, the Monegasque’s delight only served to mask a general air of frustration following the most underwhelming spectacle of the season so far.
For the first time in F1 history, the top 10 from qualifying finished in that order on the race track with an early red flag allowing most drivers to adjust their strategies and in the case of the top four drivers, make their mandatory stops, allowing them to run to the end with no problems.
Offering his thoughts on the racing, Hamilton said: “It was non-eventful. Everyone drove so slowly. It didn’t matter what tyre you were on. We were driving seconds off the pace. I don’t know what it was like watching but I am sure people were falling asleep. I can only imagine. We have to find ways of spicing it up a bit more, maybe three mandatory stops?”
The seven-time world champion later added: “Because of the crash, everyone switched over to the other tyre and just managed at a really slow pace. So definitely one of the dullest races I think I’ve been in. But that’s Monaco for you.”
These comments aligned with the opinion of Verstappen, who was so bored during the 78 laps around the Monte Carlo street circuit that he dialled into the team radio to tell race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase that he “should’ve brought my pillow”.
“We are driving literally half-throttle on the straights, in a higher gear than you would normally do, four seconds off the pace,” Verstappen vented. “That’s not really racing. We all know in Monaco what it’s like. In the last few years, it is even more difficult with the width of the cars but it is nothing new.
“I would like to change if possible a few little things because it would make will make it more exciting. Overall the weekend is really cool but it’s the Sunday race that is a little bit boring. The scenery is still great but if we could find a way to race better that would be my preferred solution. And if they asked for my opinion I would try to see what is possible.”
