Lewis Hamilton has given his opinion on the format of the Monaco GP, saying it must change.
The seven-time champion believes overtaking is very difficult on the track, and hence F1 should introduce a different format for the race.
“Bigger cars which have become much faster over the years leave drivers with almost zero opportunity to overtake in a race”, Hamilton explained. “It’s been the case for some time and in my opinion, it needs to change.
“We’ve had the same format for years. It is the best venue. It is the most beautiful place that we get to race at. But you already know that it’s never exciting for the fans. It’s a one-stop race with these hard, long stints that we get to do. On the list of difficult places to overtake it is off the scale, highly unlikely you’re ever going to get an opportunity to do so.
“I don’t think fans enjoy that. I don’t know what the solution is, but I’m hoping when we are looking forward to future generations, it can be a more exciting race for people,” he concluded.
However, the Brit admitted his admiration for the illustrious track.
“Practice, just driving the track, going through the tunnel, up into Casino, the whole experience for the weekend is mesmerising. And that never changes,” he said. “The feeling of winning here is never any less. Every year is unique and special if you are lucky enough to get the opportunity.”
Different opinion
But Fernando Alonso, a former world champion in his own right, has a different opinion. According to him, the races of today will be appreciated as much as those from the seventies and eighties.
“I don’t think we can compare cars and years, championships and driving styles,” he said. “I think those years were amazing to drive those cars from Monaco. I can only imagine how hard it was and how tricky it was at the same time.
“Now we have cars that they go 15 or 20 seconds faster than that time. So they’re still the same challenge and you maximise a package that you have in your hands. It doesn’t matter if you’re running in 1’30s or in 1’10s, at the end of the day is the same spirit into the driving and the same challenge to maximise that.
“So I respect a lot what the past in Formula 1 did achieve and how they were able to drive those cars. And now I think it will be the same respect in 20 or 30 years’ time when they see the races that we were doing now,” he reiterated.
The F1 paddock heads to Monaco this weekend for a crucial race. Despite contrasting opinions, it will still be an important race that will throw up early favourites and threats.