George Russell did not enjoy Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.
After an unfortunate exit in Q2 during qualifying, the Mercedes driver spent the race stuck behind the Williams duo of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, and in a train of cars led by Liam Lawson’s Racing Bull.
Both Williams and Racing Bulls played a perfect team game, using the new requirement to run three sets of tyres in the race, thereby taking two mandatory pit stops, to score a double points finish with their respective drivers.
Unfortunately, however, it didn’t lead to the greatest of spectacles for fans, with Russell consequently floating a particularly intriguing change that Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, should perhaps take notice of.
George Russell says Monaco should become a ‘Qualifying Race’
Speaking to the media after the race, as reported by motorsport.com, Russell lamented that the requirement to run three sets of tyres “did not work at all,” adding that “we definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco.”
It was here that the former F2 champion proposed a novel idea that Monaco could become “a qualifying race.”
Russell explained: “For all of the drivers, qualifying is the most exhilarating moment of the weekend. There should be no race, and it’s a qualifying race.”
The 27-year-old continued: “You do one on Saturday, one on Sunday. The guy who qualifies pole gets some points and gets a little trophy, and the one on Sunday gets some more points.
The Mercedes driver finished: “That’s what we love most. I think that’s what you guys enjoy watching the most.”
Formula 1 and the FIA should strongly consider George Russell’s suggestion
Saturday has always been the most important day across the weekend at the Monaco Grand Prix, a track notoriously difficult to overtake at.
However, as modern Formula 1 cars have become bigger and bigger in recent years, it feels as though overtaking has gone from difficult to impossible.
Indeed, without the jeopardy of the weather, it means most Monaco Grands Prix are, these days, simply processions.
By contrast, Saturday at Monaco is one of the best days on the F1 calendar.
Seeing the top drivers in the world thrash their cars around the tight and twisty street circuit, knowing that one mistake, one inch off-line, would throw them into the barriers, is some spectacle.
Russell’s suggestion could even be amended so that there can only be a maximum number of drivers on track at any given time, allowing them to push the limits on F1’s most iconic circuit even further, simultaneously giving fans the chance to watch the lap times tumble.
With that in mind, the Briton might just be on to something.