George Russell thinks a radical Monaco Grand Prix format change may be wanted after a failed System 1 guidelines experiment.
After years of struggling via Monaco processions, F1 and the FIA agreed to trial a guidelines experiment by mandating the usage of three tyre units, successfully turning the 78-lap race right into a two-stopper.
The thought was to create extra strategic variance and jeopardy, however in the long run the highest 4 from qualifying nonetheless completed in the identical place, whereas different place adjustments had been brought on by some drivers going intentionally slowly to create a niche for his or her team-mates forward.
That tactic, predominantly employed by Racing Bulls and Williams, enormously pissed off Mercedes driver Russell as he tried to struggle his method again into the factors after a technical concern in qualifying.
Having been hopelessly caught behind a cruising Alex Albon, Russell determined to straight-line the chicane and take a penalty reasonably than giving the place again, which backfired because the stewards escalated the standard 10-second penalty to a drive-through.
Whereas Russell appreciated F1 was attempting one thing totally different, he felt a extra radical shake up is required to salvage the race which has lengthy outgrown the narrows streets of the principality because it approaches its one centesimal birthday.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs through Getty Photographs
“We undoubtedly have to have an actual take into consideration what the answer is right here in Monaco,” Russell sighed, after ending in eleventh behind each Williams vehicles. “I admire attempting one thing this yr within the two-stop. Clearly, it didn’t work in any respect.
“For all the drivers, qualifying is essentially the most exhilarating second of the weekend. Will we settle for that? There must be no race, and it is a qualifying race. You do one on Saturday, one on Sunday. The man who qualifies pole will get some factors and will get slightly trophy, and the one on Sunday will get some extra factors.
“That is what we love most. I believe that is what you guys take pleasure in watching essentially the most. And 99% of the opposite folks in Monaco are right here sipping champagne on the yacht, so they do not actually care…
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“Driving 4 seconds off the tempo right here is lifeless straightforward. You successfully can put an F2 automotive on the market they usually’ve received an opportunity of holding up an F1 automotive. I do not know what the answer is. We had been fortunate in ’22 and ’23 that the moist races supplied some pleasure.”
Explaining his cheeky try and clear Albon, Russell mentioned: “I’ve received to be sincere, I did not actually care as a result of I used to be out of the factors. I did not get the possibility yesterday to take pleasure in Monaco. And I simply mentioned, screw it, I need to take pleasure in Monaco. I need to take pleasure in driving this observe full gasoline. It is among the best circuits on this planet. And that is what I did.
“The final 25 laps was essentially the most enjoyable I’ve had all weekend. Fairly exhilarating. I used to be actually pushing the boundaries, testing myself. And paradoxically, if I did not do that, I’d have completed perhaps fifteenth or sixteenth.”
On this article
Filip Cleeren
System 1
George Russell
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