Hulkenberg tells Monaco Grand Prix critics to “stop crying”

Nico Hulkenberg didn’t mince his words when discussing potential changes to the Monaco Grand Prix track. The Sauber driver told critics to “stop crying” about the historic track, which plays host to notoriously dull races given how difficult it is to overtake there.

“I don’t always understand that drama around it,” he told reporters in Barcelona on Thursday. “People know it’s going to happen, and then they complain anyway. So, it’s something I don’t really spend too much time and energy [thinking] about,” he went on. “If you want to do better, you just have to qualify better. Stop crying.” 

The conversation comes amid Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) president Alex Wurz offering multiple suggestions to make the race more entertaining, following the mandatory two-stop rule that was implemented last weekend.

“Every year we have this,” continued Hulkenberg. “And while my Grand Prix wasn’t very exciting … I feel Monaco has always been a bit like that to some extent. 

“Looking at the grandstands and the terraces, I think it was as busy as I’ve ever seen it. And in terms of guests and in terms of celebrities people still like it, it seems,” the German continued. “But when was the spectacular Monaco Grand Prix? Tell me when.”

Fernando Alonso was also critical of the conversation, suggesting his fellow Formula 1 drivers were being “too nice” when asked whether the track needed changing.

“There is this constant talk of how bad something is, instead of how good something is,” he said. “This is Monaco. Maybe there are a couple of ideas between all involved in the sport we can think of for Monaco, but I don’t think there is any need to think of anything.

“It is only because there is a lot of content to be created now and we drivers are too nice so we answer every question. If 40 years ago you asked [Ayrton] Senna and [Alain] Prost about Monaco one week later and they were fighting for the championship, they would be less polite than we are.”