The Monaco Grand Prix has been a supply of anger and frustration for a number of of F1’s largest stars over time
George Russell beforehand labelled the Monaco GP ‘a qualifying race’ (Picture: Getty) This text comprises affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
The Monaco Grand Prix is arguably probably the most iconic and celebrated race on the Components 1 calendar. It is usually probably the most divisive. This yr’s race will get underway on Sunday afternoon, with Kimi Antonelli claiming pole place forward of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Regardless of being one in all sport’s most spectacular events, the circuit has attracted fierce criticism from drivers, with George Russell even calling for the occasion to be ‘scrapped’.
Grievances have mounted over the restricted alternatives to overhaul on the legendary observe, largely as a result of trendy vehicles are too large. With Cadillac’s participation this season, 22 vehicles will navigate the slim streets for the primary time since 2016, solely amplifying the frustration, with quite a few drivers labelling the race “boring”. The Monaco GP is nonetheless set to stay on the calendar till 2035. Right here, we study what a number of F1 stars have needed to say in regards to the Grand Prix.
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Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc claimed his maiden Monaco Grand Prix victory in Could 2024, but Lewis Hamilton was left dissatisfied with the procession-like nature of the competition.
He stated: “It was non-eventful. Everybody drove so slowly. It did not matter what tyre you had been on. We had been driving seconds off the tempo. I do not know what it was like watching however I’m certain individuals had been falling asleep. We’ve got to search out methods of spicing it up a bit extra, possibly three necessary stops?”
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Talking after the 2018 version, he stated: “We had been simply cruising round from lap six, actually cruising. So it wasn’t actually racing. If that was thrilling so that you can watch, no drawback.”
Hamilton described the race as “the longest 78 laps ever”, telling BBC Sport: “It was a super-unexciting race for everybody. We’re driving at excessive pace, there’s not a number of motion, you are simply attempting to carry it residence, for 56 laps. Oh my God, it was lengthy. Forty laps to go, I used to be like, ‘Oh God, please’. When it completed, I used to be like, ‘Thank goodness.'”
Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari at Monaco (Picture: AP)
Max Verstappen
4-time world champion Verstappen additionally voiced his frustrations through the 2024 race, radioing his workforce whereas working in sixth place: “F*** me, that is actually boring. I ought to’ve introduced my pillow.”
He subsequently stated: “We’re driving actually half-throttle on the straights, in the next gear than you’ll usually do, 4 seconds off the tempo. That is probably not racing.
“Everyone knows in Monaco what it’s like. In the previous few years it’s much more troublesome with the width of the vehicles however it’s nothing new. First I want to change if doable just a few little issues as a result of it will make will make it extra thrilling.
“General the weekend is de facto cool nevertheless it’s the Sunday race that could be a little bit boring. The surroundings continues to be nice but when we might discover a option to race higher that may be my most well-liked resolution. And in the event that they requested for my opinion I’d attempt to see what is feasible.”
Max Verstappen was talking forward of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix (Picture: Getty)
Fernando Alonso
The 2018 version proved notably contentious, as drivers intentionally eased off the throttle to make sure the ‘hyper-soft’ and ‘ultra-soft’ tyres accomplished the required stint lengths.
The victory went to Daniel Ricciardo, with Sebastian Vettel ending second and Hamilton in third. Fernando Alonso made no try to disguise his dissatisfaction with proceedings. He stated: “Extraordinarily boring. That is in all probability probably the most boring race ever.”
The seasoned Alonso insisted Monaco had at all times produced similar races, arguing that the bulkier trendy vehicles weren’t the basis trigger. He stated: “I by no means overtook any automotive. You see one overtake each 10 years.”
Lando Norris
Showing at Thursday’s pre-race press convention, the McLaren driver was quizzed on how demanding the circuit would show throughout qualifying with all 22 drivers out on observe concurrently.
Lando Norris received the Monaco Grand Prix in 2025 (Picture: Anadolu through Getty Photos)
Norris stated: “In all probability fairly [challenging]. I imply, effectively, I’ve three in a apply session with much more vehicles on observe. It’s going to be robust. It is already been robust in earlier years with individuals not getting out of the best way in the correct locations and issues. It is tough.”
Reflecting in 2025 on potential enhancements to the Monaco race, he stated: “I do not suppose you’ll be able to actually change the race aside from for those who make the vehicles half the scale of what they’re now.
“I do not suppose it wants to alter that a lot. It is by no means been the rest than what it has been now. So I believe individuals ought to simply be proud of what it’s.
“Monaco has by no means been a race that is been good on Sunday. By no means has. But it is the race everybody desires to win. It is at all times been like that. Even a number of the greatest races that you’ve got ever seen, zero overtakes.
The Monaco Grand Prix will get underway on Sunday (Picture: Getty)
“I do not suppose you are ever going to get it to be a fantastic race. It is by no means been, not saying it might probably by no means be, I am simply saying it by no means has been. But everybody nonetheless is aware of it as simply one of the best race of the season.”
Lance Stroll
Within the aftermath of the 2024 race, the Aston Martin driver was forthright about his frustrations, declaring that the organisers “really want to do one thing with the observe.” He additionally labelled the Sunday races in Monaco as “horrendous.”
Alex Albon
All through the 2024 race, Alex Albon spent 78 laps trapped behind Yuki Tsunoda’s intentionally sluggish automotive. He made his irritation identified over the radio and subsequently defined that the intense tyre-conservation techniques make the race dangerously tedious for these behind the wheel.
“It is really onerous to remain targeted if you’re going that slowly since you’re simply not even close to something. You are not close to any limits,” he complained.
George Russell
Regardless of vehicles this yr being smaller, narrower, and lighter than in 2025, feedback from Russell final yr suggesting that the race ought to be cancelled altogether have resurfaced.
“For all of the drivers, qualifying is probably the most exhilarating second of the weekend,” Russell stated. “Will we settle for that? There ought to be no race, and it is a qualifying race.”
Talking in 2025, Russell stated: “Monaco has at all times been the identical. I believe I’ve seen a number of the proposed observe adjustments that positively is not going to make it worse. The small drawback you’ve in Monaco is the one overtaking alternative, which is out of the tunnel.
“The pure racing line is you are going from the left, braking via the center of the observe and you then pull over to the correct. So it’s totally straightforward for a driver to place his automotive.
George Russell has strongly criticised the circuit (Picture: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photos)
“However I actually proper now I haven’t got the reply. Perhaps the guide override can be an answer and you recognize you have to do all of this administration via the race and for those who’ve received much more energy simply to move someone in an unconventional area, it is not going to make the present worse.
“However a part of me simply thinks we have to settle for Monaco for what it’s. Components 1 is healthier by having Monaco on the calendar. It’s the most exhilarating qualifying of the season. And the race is at all times fairly boring, nevertheless it additionally makes us recognize the opposite races as effectively.”
Charles Leclerc
Leclerc has remained insistent that the expanded area will show problematic for drivers throughout qualifying at his residence Grand Prix. The Monegasque stated: “I believe it is an issue. I imply, 22 vehicles on such a brief observe I believe might be fairly tough, particularly as a result of with these vehicles.
“I imply, a bit much less now, nonetheless at any time when you might be like three, 4 seconds on tracks like this, you lose a little bit of time. So it’ll be tough, nevertheless it’s the identical for everyone and we’ll must adapt to it. Nevertheless it’s not best for Q1, I believe.”
Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari seems to be on throughout apply (Picture: Components 1 through Getty Photos)
Oliver Bearman
Rising British expertise Bearman branded Monaco “boring”, insisting that the actual spectacle unfolds through the build-up to the long-lasting race.
“I believe individuals simply want to just accept that the fun of Monaco is on Saturday in qualifying,” he stated final yr. “It is at all times going to be a boring race with a observe of that measurement and sadly with the vehicles of this measurement, nothing’s going to occur.
“I believe smaller vehicles might be higher however I do not suppose it’ll repair every thing as a result of 20, 30 years in the past it was the identical situation, not many overtakes. Quali is the place the enjoyable is in Monaco and I believe that is much more cause to qualify effectively, then you aren’t getting caught within the prepare.”
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