F1 should make Monaco GP a qualifying race

George Russell thinks a radical Monaco Grand Prix format change might be needed after a failed Formula 1 rules experiment.

After years of suffering through Monaco processions, F1 and the FIA agreed to trial a rules experiment by mandating the use of three tyre sets, effectively turning the 78-lap race into a two-stopper.

The idea was to create more strategic variance and jeopardy, but in the end the top four from qualifying still finished in the same position, while other position changes were caused by some drivers going deliberately slowly to create a gap for their team-mates ahead.

That tactic, predominantly employed by Racing Bulls and Williams, greatly frustrated Mercedes driver Russell as he tried to fight his way back into the points after a technical issue in qualifying.

Having been hopelessly stuck behind a cruising Alex Albon, Russell decided to straight-line the chicane and take a penalty rather than giving the position back, which backfired as the stewards escalated the usual 10-second penalty to a drive-through.

While Russell appreciated F1 was trying something different, he felt a more radical shake up is required to salvage the race which has long outgrown the narrows streets of the principality as it approaches its 100th birthday.

“We definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco,” Russell sighed, after finishing in 11th behind both Williams cars. “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. The guy who qualifies pole gets some points and gets a little trophy, and the one on Sunday gets some more points.

“That’s what we love most. I think that’s what you guys enjoy watching the most. And 99% of the other people in Monaco are here sipping champagne on the yacht, so they don’t really care…

“Driving four seconds off the pace here is dead easy. You effectively can put an F2 car out there and they’ve got a chance of holding up an F1 car. I don’t know what the solution is. We were lucky in ’22 and ’23 that the wet races offered some excitement.”

Explaining his cheeky attempt to clear Albon, Russell said: “I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t really care because I was out of the points. I didn’t get the chance yesterday to enjoy Monaco. And I just said, screw it, I want to enjoy Monaco. I want to enjoy driving this track full gas. It’s one of the best circuits in the world. And that’s what I did.

“The last 25 laps was the most fun I’ve had all weekend. Pretty exhilarating. I was really pushing the limits, testing myself. And ironically, if I didn’t do this, I would have finished maybe 15th or 16th.”