Formula 1 Monaco GP
Hamilton suggests F1 experiments with Monaco GP format
Lewis Hamilton has suggested Formula 1 tries to come up with an experimental Monaco Grand Prix format to avoid dull races on Sunday.
Filip Cleeren
Published: May 24, 2024, 9:10 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Monte Carlo's iconic street circuit is nearing its 100th birthday in 2029 and amid annual complaints about its cramped facilities and anachronistic nature, the track itself is still a drivers' favourite.
Saturday's all-deciding qualifying session is held in the highest regard, as a defining driving experience not found elsewhere on the congested 24-race calendar.
But with overtaking pretty much impossible and strategic options minimal, it has led to drivers thinking out loud about ways to improve the show on Sunday.
"Monaco continues to be Monaco, it's not really changed much," Lewis Hamilton replied, when asked by Motorsport.com about what he would change to help safeguard the event's future relevance on the calendar.
"The cars are getting bigger and you can't really overtake down the pits without a huge risk of colliding.
"I wish we had 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."
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W14
Photo by: Erik Junius
The Mercedes driver, twice a winner around Monaco, suggested: "Maybe having special tyres for this race so you have more pitstops would create more variability.
"They can definitely come up with a specific weekend, you've got the sprint weekend that they have added, but this particular weekend I think they should come up with some new formula for it rather than it just be the same.
"Do you guys not fall asleep on Sunday watching the race? Yeah, so create something else somehow, I don't know how you do that."
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz said "no one will ever beat Monaco" as an event, but acknowledged the need to spice up race day.
"I want to push a bit, in the sense of if there's an opportunity to create an overtaking spot around Monaco, have a look at the city, have a look at the layout, and make an effort to make that happen," the Spaniard said.
"It would make Monaco an even better track, so it will leave us all still waiting for Sunday, rather than knowing that nothing happens on Sunday.
"Knowing that Monaco is the best and will always be the best in that sense, in the glamour side of things, I wouldn't underestimate changes that Imola, Monaco, these kind of circuits can do for the future."
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Why Williams may not be such a crazy F1 choice for Sainz
Next article FIA says maternity leave will definitely fall outside F1 2026 cost cap
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Filip Cleeren
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1 7 h
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Winners and losers from F1's Singapore Grand Prix
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Winners and losers from F1's Singapore Grand Prix
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
21 h
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Latest news
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 33 min
GT World Challenge Portimao: All you need to know about season finale featuring Max Verstappen
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 51 min
13 Autosport retains unchanged lineup for 2027 IMSA campaign, eyes global expansion
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 1 h
Bourdais, Moss headline second batch of Sebring's 75 all-time greatest drivers
IndyCar driver and Fox Sports reporter Jack Harvey announces cancer diagnosis
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
IndyCar driver and Fox Sports reporter Jack Harvey announces cancer diagnosis
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe