Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has suggested that Monaco needs to investigate whether tweaks can be made to its layout in order to promote better racing.
Monaco has historically been one of the worst circuits on the calendar for racing due to its narrow nature and absence of genuine overtaking opportunities.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton spent the period after the red flag stuck behind Alpine’s Fernando Alonso, who was lapping several seconds off the pace in a bid to protect his tyres.
While Alonso eventually picked up the pace he classified 34 seconds behind Lando Norris by the end of the race.
“What we need to look at is Monaco,” said Wolff. “If a car can really slow down by almost five seconds and hold everybody up it’s just a shame for the racing here.
“Maybe we can look at the track layout and things we can do so we’re not having a procession and it’s not just a strategy game or a qualifying race.
“This is a fantastic venue and spectacle – but it would be great if the racing could be at the same level.”
Mercedes finished with George Russell in fifth, after he used the undercut on slicks to pass McLaren’s Lando Norris, while Hamilton came home where he started in eighth.
“It was a strong afternoon for George – and a really frustrating one for Lewis,” said Wolff.
“There were the laps stuck with Esteban [Ocon], who got penalised for the collision, then the slow pace from Alonso, without which Lewis could have been racing Lando and George.
“It was another reminder that track position is everything – and that we are the third team on the road.
“We have learned some important lessons about the car this weekend, and that learning will be the basis of rebuilding our performance to fight again at the front of the field.”
Monaco currently does not have a contract for 2023.
It might seem crazy but how about running the circuit in the opposite direction ease some of the tight corners that just stop the flow maybe then we can have some areas where you can out brake . Worth putting in the simulator to see anyway and look at options to change the layout . The direction now clearly has curving breaking Zones that are not working to allow any class to race.
I’m not sure it would make much difference, track width would still be limited, but, to be fair, it is one of very few tracks where that would be practicable, because there are no gravel traps and suchlike, which would become wrongly sited by reversing the direction. The run-offs at Saint Devote and Mirabeau would be lost, but equally, the chicane then just before the tunnel would open up a little on approach, and that probably sees more runs-through than the other two.
Might be worth a trial day at some point to find out.
Interesting looking on street view running the circuit the wrong way coming out the tunnel if you run on there is great roundabout that could be used and provide overtake and room for more grandstands before returning to the current layout. There is also plenty of run off roads at all the key points . The silly chicane before the tunnel needs a rethink but being so traction limited up the hill into tunnel might be interesting. The track could be made wider in several places just by moving armco back in the swimming pool area but I guess it needs the will to do it . Or we could all decamp to Mugello circuit yes please.
Running Monaco counter-clockwise? Downhill, to 210 mph into St Devote? 210 mph out of the tunnel into Portier, no runoff? You’re an idiot. That is the stupidest idea I’ve seen on this web site, this week.
Clearly you are a Barbi girl in a Barbi world if think 210 mph is achievable anywhere in Monaco and there are runoffs you clearly have not been there without the race furniture ?
At least I think out side the box maybe you should get back in to your box if you can only throw insults around where is your idea?
This is just Wolff wanting to bend the rules to suit his purposes, as usual. The circuit has been as it is for decades, and is rightly hailed as the ultimate challenge for the drivers. If Alonso was so slow, and Hamilton is so good, he should have been able to find a way to sneak by. But, of course, neither of those is true, Wolff’s griping is that of a poor sport, who expects things to be gifted to his team because they can no longer win every race. I don’t recall complaints on any of the many occasions they won there.
Thanks, wolff is a newby compared to Monaco and he’ll gone and Monaco will still be there. If doesn’t like it he can stay home.
Nonsense. Surprised that someone would make the effort to write such a blatantly wrong statement. Christian Horner is the one team principal who has regularly done what you accuse Wolff of doing. Horner even openly says it’s because he has to try anything to gain an advantage against Mercedes. Wolff on the other hand has displayed class, and is a brilliant leader who calls it like it is. My friends know that for years I’ve complained that they should drop Monaco because overtaking is impossible with these newer wider, longer F1 cars — any true Formula 1 race fan would agree. Unless it rains, Qualifying has the only exciting racing, against the clock.
You’ve complained? So what? Nobody cares what you’ve done. The point is that Wolff never complained. As for dropping Monaco, bloody hell, no wonder you’ve fallen for Wolff’s bullshit if that’s an indication of your understanding of Formula One. Monaco is the race all the drivers want to win, because it’s the greatest test, the greatest challenge. You can’t appreciate that, yet you think Wolff behaves with class. Wolff is one of a long line of dodgy Austrian leaders. You’re beyond help.
… Monaco became obsolete, 1966, first year of the 3 litre formula. Short of ceding it to Formula E, nothing can be done to make Monaco a bona fide Grand Prix –