Three ways F1 can fix major Monaco GP problem after Sunday’s dreadful procession… including SMALLER CARS
FORMULA ONE has a sizable problem and it’s called the Monaco Grand Prix.
While MotoGP basked in yet another epic race and the Indy 500 sprint to the line was heart-in-the-mouth stuff, Sunday’s F1 procession in Monte Carlo was dreadful.
I always say that you know it has been a decent race when you hear people in public talking about the weekend’s action.
As I queued for my flight home at Nice Airport, the discussion among fellow passengers is usually all about where people watched the race, but yesterday all I heard were moans and groans.
Take nothing away from Charles Leclerc and his maiden win in his home race, but F1 has a problem when the leading driver is told to “slow down” to save his tyres.
It was also the first time in F1 history that the top 10 cars all finished in the same order they started.
In total there were two overtakes. TWO.
Yes, you can argue this was a result of the first-lap accident involving Sergio Perez that saw the race stopped and all the leading drivers change on to the hard tyre, however, when the world’s eyes are on it, the sport simply cannot afford to have a situation where it is made to look so silly.
So what can be done? There are a number of options.
The preferred choice would be to have smaller cars.
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The current models are too wide and heavy that overtaking is not possible on such a narrow circuit.
But given Monaco is unique, perhaps another element would be a bespoke set of tyre compounds which force teams to make more frequent pitstops.
It would certainly liven up the strategy side of things, but that all feels someone manufactured and a case of simply papering over the cracks.
Another option is to change the circuit.
This was suggested by Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who pointed out that the Principality is reclaiming land from the sea and should consider ways of expanding the track.
He said: “It’s something that we should collectively have a look at. It’s not racing as such when you’re just driving around three or four seconds off the pace because the other car hasn’t got any chance of overtaking.
“Monaco is such a great place to come racing.
But the cars are so big now that we just need to look at ‘can we do something that introduces an overtaking area’ or at least the potential of an overtake.
“Monaco keeps reclaiming land! It’s such a great place, so much history here, but everything evolves.
“The cars are so big now, if you compare them to cars of ten years ago they’re almost twice the size.”
And finally, the other option of smaller cars, alternative tyres and an improved track aren’t viable – then let’s bin it altogether.
There are no shortages of venues queuing up to host F1 races and, judging by the comments of my fellow passengers, there is a feeling that Monaco is no longer fit for purpose.
CHARLES LECLERC said he treated himself to a pizza on the eve of breaking his Monaco duck, so perhaps he should stick to it more often.
After his victory, he said: “I ate like crazy on Saturday night. I actually got in late at home and it was too late to couldn’t cook, so I ordered my favourite pizza.
“It’s not the best preparation to race normally, but I was like, ‘OK, maybe mentally it will help me to take the pressure off a little bit’. And yeah, that’s it. I slept really well.”
When asked what pizza he went for, he added: “Pizza Margherita with prosciutto crudo. Never pineapple.”
RED BULL will total up the cost of Sergio Perez’s huge crash in Monaco, which miraculously saw him escape with just a grazed arm.
The first lap shunt sent F1 photographers scrambling for cover, as the wreckage was flung in their direction.
Fortunately nobody was seriously hurt, although one casualty is the gearbox on Perez’s car, which was competing in its final GP before being replaced and had been christened ‘Donna’ by the team’s mechanics.
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA won a thrilling Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya at Barcelona.
The MotoGP world champion made an error during the Saturday sprint race but made amends on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez continued to enjoy his revival by taking third place, despite starting P14 on the grid.
The Gresini Racing rider now has three podiums in a row.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN won the Indy 500 with a last lap overtake on McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.
Newgarden is the first back-to-back winner of the Indy 500 since Helio Castroneves 22 years ago and gave Roger Penske a 20th win in the famous race.
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