Reigning Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has called on the organisers of the Monaco Grand Prix to “change a few things” after a “quite boring” 2024 race on Sunday.
In a contest defined by a huge first-lap crash, home driver Charles Leclerc, of Ferrari, took his first win, while Verstappen finished a lowly sixth at a circuit which is notoriously hard for overtaking.
“After the red flag, our strategy was ruined,” Verstappen said, via Pitpass. “I just tried to follow George [Russell] and we were so off the pace trying to manage the tyres.
“That is, of course, quite boring out there, driving literally half-throttle on the straights in some places.
“[You’re in a] gear higher than you would normally do and four seconds off the pace, so that is not really racing.”
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Red Bull’s Verstappen won four of the first five races of the season but has only been victorious in one of the three since, cutting his lead over Leclerc at the top of the standings to 31 points.
Verstappen’s views on the track have equally compelling company: Lewis Hamilton, who has won the race three times and holds the lap record at Monaco, called for change last week.
Nope, it wasn’t a dream 🏆 ❤️#MONACOGP 🇲🇨 #F1 PIC.TWITTER.COM/9XI5CTJMPP
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) MAY 27, 2024
Monaco GP circuit ‘just small’
“They should come up with some new formula for it rather than it just be the same,” said the Mercedes driver.
“Do you guys not fall asleep on Sunday watching the race? The cars are getting bigger. You can’t really overtake without the risk of colliding.
“I wish we had more, bigger roads and the track could be wider, but I don’t think that’s ever going to be the case in Monaco because it’s just a small place.
“I would say maybe special tyres for this race, so you have more pit stops that create more variability.”
Verstappen praised the event itself. “I would like to try to – if there are possibilities – change a few things, because it’ll make the excitement even better,” he explained.
“Overall, the weekend is really cool – just the Sunday is a little bit boring, unfortunately.
“The scenery is still great. If we can find a way to race a bit better, why not? That would be my preferred solution.”
