George Russell has called on Formula 1 to fundamentally reassess the structure of the Monaco Grand Prix, after this year’s mandatory two-stop rule failed to inject the excitement fans and teams hoped for.
The ‘Crown Jewel’ of the sport has long been criticized for its lack of on-track action, with its tight, twisty streets making overtaking nearly impossible.
In an attempt to spice up the action by shaking up strategies, the FIA introduced a mandatory two-stop rule for last weekend’s event. However, the experiment fell flat, leaving drivers frustrated and fans underwhelmed.
Russell was among F1’s most vocal critics, the Mercedes driver, who finished just outside the points in the Principality, delivering a scathing assessment of the race and the new one-off rules, urging Formula 1 to rethink its approach to racing in Monaco.
Frustration in the Pack
Starting from a disappointing 14th on the grid, Russell quickly gained a position to slot into 13th but soon found himself mired in traffic. He was caught behind a train of cars led by Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, with the Williams duo of Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto adding to the congestion.
As the race unfolded, strategic plays by other teams only compounded the Briton’s frustrations. Mercedes opted to keep both drivers out past the halfway mark, hoping to capitalize on a longer stint, but Williams played their cards early, pitting their drivers and disrupting the flow of the race.
The situation worsened as Lawson deliberately slowed the pack to aid his teammate Isack Hadjar, creating a significant gap. Carlos Sainz, in turn, was instructed to help Albon’s progress, further complicating matters for those stuck behind.
Russell, growing increasingly frustrated, made a bold move to go straight on at the Nouvelle chicane in an attempt to break free. The stewards, however, were unimpressed, slapping him with a drive-through penalty.
After completing his mandatory two stops, Russell crossed the finish line in a disappointing 11th place.
Russell’s Scathing Critique
Post-race, Russell didn’t hold back, delivering a blistering critique of the Monaco GP’s format and the FIA’s failed attempt to spice up the show.
“We definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco,” Russell said. “I appreciate trying something this year for two stops; clearly, it did not work at all.”
For the three-time Grand Prix winner, the new rule only served to highlight once gain deeper flaws in Monaco’s ability to support modern F1 racing.
“No, I’m not talking about just the two-stop in general, it’s too easy to have Lawson [taking] the 40-second gap to help [Isack] Hadjar, and that was comfortable for him,” Russell explained.
“Then Sainz did another 40 seconds, driving four seconds off the pace here is dead easy.”
Russell went further, backing up his criticism with hard figures about the futility of overtaking in Monte Carlo under current conditions.
“Our strategy said anything less than three seconds, the pace advantage is a zero per cent chance of an overtake,” he said. “You need four and a half seconds for a 50 per cent chance of an overtake.
“So you effectively can put an F2 car out there and they’ve got a chance of holding up an F1 car.”
Read also: Williams drivers slam Monaco two-stop rule: ‘Terrible day for racing'
The 27-year-old noted that qualifying remains the highlight of the Monaco weekend – both for drivers and for those watching.
“For all of the drivers, qualifying is the most exhilarating moment of the weekend,” he added.
“I think that’s what you guys enjoy watching the most, and 99 per cent of the other people in Monaco are here sipping champagne on the yacht, so they don’t really care.”
Searching for Solutions
In recent years, wet conditions have added unpredictability to the Monaco GP – something Russell hinted may be the only reliable way to spice up the event under current constraints.
“I don’t know what the solution is,” he admitted. “We were lucky in ‘22 and ‘23 that the wet races offered some excitement. Do they wet the track? I don’t know.”
Russell’s comments will likely reignite a long-standing debate in the F1 community about the Monaco Grand Prix’s place on the calendar.
Though rich in heritage and glamor, the race continues to be a source of growing frustration for drivers, fans, and stakeholders alike who crave more meaningful on-track battles.
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