 "Mercedes driver George Russell proposes radical change to Monaco Grand Prix: 'They don't really care'")
Mercedes driver George Russell wants the Monaco Grand Prix to be axed from the Formula 1 calendar after the 2025 race ended without a single overtaking move despite changes to the rules. Russell is not the only driver who isn’t in love with the Monaco track; even seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari has expressed displeasure.
While McLaren’s Lando Norris won the 2025 Monaco GP starting from the pole, Russell finished 11th at Monaco. He now wants a radical change to the weekend format.
Russell wants only qualifying races in Monaco
The 27-year-old has proposed two qualifying sessions instead of a race where overtaking is almost impossible.
“We definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco,” he said. “I appreciate trying something this year in the two-stop. Clearly, it did not work at all.
“For all of the drivers, qualifying is the most exhilarating moment of the weekend. Do we accept that? There should be no race, and it’s a qualifying race. You do one on Saturday, one on Sunday.”
Russell added that the fans who turn up to watch the races in Monaco won’t mind the changes. “99 per cent of the other people in Monaco are here sipping champagne on a yacht, so they don’t really care.”
Hamilton, who has won thrice in Monaco, had a much simpler response when asked about the Monaco race and track. “Sunday is the day you almost want off,” Hamilton said.
Impact Shorts
View AllHorner wants changes to Monaco GP track layout
Red Bull boss Christian Horner feels a few modifications to the track layout can help and the race format doesn’t need to be tweaked.
“Changing the layout is the only way to encourage any form of [overtaking],” said Horner. “You need to create more braking area either on the exit of the tunnel or Turn One.”
The oragnisers of the Monaco Grand Prix, Automobile Club de Monaco, have said that any changes to the layout are not possible. The Monaco GP has also been extended till 2031 by Formula 1 and the clause doesn’t ask for any changes, which means the organisers are free to continue with the current layout.
The fact that the Monaco race takes place on narrow city streets of Monte Carlo, La Condamine and Monaco’s harbour, makes it difficult for overtaking and quite often the pole sitters have won the race.
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