George Russell calls for Monaco Grand Prix to be axed as F1 star demands chiefs take action

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Ben McCaffrey

By Ben McCaffrey


Published: 26/05/2025

- 07:46

The Mercedes driver said that spectators in Monaco 'don't really care'

The Monaco Grand Prix has once again sparked controversy after Sunday's race failed to produce a single overtaking move despite attempts to spice up Formula One's prestigious event.

Mercedes driver George Russell has called for the race to be axed and replaced with two qualifying sessions following the processional nature of the contest.



The front four drivers finished the 78 laps in exactly the same positions they started on the grid, with Lando Norris converting his pole position into victory.

Russell, who finished a disappointing 11th, has proposed a radical overhaul of the Monaco weekend format.

George Russel

George Russel finished 11th in Monaco this weekend

Reuters

Russell outlined his vision for a new Monaco format, saying: "You do one qualifying session on Saturday, one on Sunday, and the guy who qualifies pole gets some points and gets a little trophy.

"And the one on Sunday gets some more points, because that's what we love most."

The Mercedes driver also took aim at the event's atmosphere, adding: "99 per cent of the other people in Monaco are here sipping champagne on a yacht, so they don't really care."

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George Russel

George Russel said that spectators in Monaco 'don't really care'

Getty

This year's race featured a mandated second pit stop in an attempt to add strategic interest, but this failed to create any meaningful changes to the running order.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has proposed a different solution, suggesting modifications to the track layout rather than changing the race format.

"Changing the layout is the only way to encourage any form of [overtaking]," said Horner. "You need to create more braking area either on the exit of the tunnel or Turn One."

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Horner acknowledged the circuit's heritage but insisted it needs to evolve: "Everything has to move with the times.

"It's an iconic, historic circuit and you want to preserve that. But you would not need to do too much. There just needs to be one area that you can have an overtake.

"Everyone knows the race was pretty much done in qualifying on Saturday."

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who finished fifth for Ferrari, offered his perspective on the Monaco event.

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Christian Horner

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said 'Everyone knows the race was pretty much done in qualifying on Saturday'

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While he praised the practice and qualifying sessions around the challenging street circuit, he was less enthusiastic about race day.

Hamilton, a three-time winner in Monaco, simply stated: "Sunday is the day you almost want off."

The Automobile Club de Monaco, who organise the grand prix, claim that revamping the layout is impossible. This stance comes despite growing criticism of the race format.

Formula 1 signed an extension last year to keep the Monaco Grand Prix on the calendar until 2031, without demanding any changes to the configuration.

Despite the criticism, the Monaco Grand Prix appears set to remain on the Formula 1 calendar in its current form.

The mandated two-stop strategy introduced this year was described by Horner as "an improvement" that made the race "strategically more interesting" with "more jeopardy," but he acknowledged it "did not address the fundamental problem" of overtaking impossibility.

The Red Bull boss pointed to Monaco's history of adaptation, noting "how much land they've reclaimed from the sea in Formula One's 72 appearances here" as evidence that change is possible.

However, with the race contract secured until 2031 and no configuration changes mandated in that agreement, the iconic but processional nature of the event seems likely to continue.