In Monaco, Max Verstappen is leading the race ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
After one lap of excitement in Monaco, the rest of Sunday’s 78-lap Grand Prix was so boring Max Verstappen wanted his “pillow” and Timo Glock was “glad” he wasn’t commentating.
Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix began with a bang, literally, as Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Perez collided on the opening lap with the Red Bull destroyed as it smashed into one barrier after another.
Max Verstappen was bored in Monaco, very, very bored
Fortunately, all individuals involved escaped any major harm, although a trackside photographer had to be transported to the Medical Centre for a thorough examination before being discharged.
However, that is both where the drama commenced and ultimately concluded.
The race was reset on lap 3, allowing all drivers to have a free pit stop to change their tire compounds. However, the outcome on Sunday was not influenced by pit stop strategies.
Verstappen remained unenthusiastic throughout the race as he maintained his position of P6 from start to finish.
“He exclaimed to his team over the radio, ‘This is incredibly tedious! I wish I had brought my pillow.'”
After the race, he expressed his boredom again to his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase and then stated to the media, “The experience out there was rather dull.”
“We are currently driving at half-throttle on the straight sections, using a higher gear than usual, and we are four seconds behind the expected pace. This doesn’t truly feel like racing.”
According to the Dutchman, Formula 1 should implement modifications to enhance the excitement level of the race.
He continued, stating that while the weekend as a whole is enjoyable, the Sunday race tends to be a tad dull. He acknowledged the stunning scenery but expressed a desire for an improved racing experience. If given the opportunity, he would gladly offer his opinion and explore potential solutions.
Lewis Hamilton, his fellow World Champion, concurred that the race was “uneventful.”
“The pace was incredibly slow,” commented the Mercedes driver. “It didn’t make a difference which tire you were using. We were trailing several seconds behind. I can’t imagine how boring it must have been to watch; I’m certain people were dozing off.”
“I can’t help but imagine. We need to come up with ideas to make it more exciting, perhaps by adding three required stops?”
Key takeaways from the Monaco Grand Prix
Monaco GP data: Mercedes ‘survival’ strategy conditioned by Alonso’s traffic denies fight for the win
Monaco Grand Prix driver ratings: Charles Leclerc’s day of glory as Perez & Magnussen shock
Not only the people on the track were bored.
Ralf Schumacher, a former F1 driver turned pundit, expressed his support for Hamilton’s suggestion of having additional compulsory pit stops. He stated to Sky Deutschland, “The matter at hand is whether we should implement another mandatory pit stop.”
The problem lies in the tire, which must eventually break to allow for overtaking. Currently, teams are forced to drive slowly as overtaking is not feasible in this situation.
“I believe Formula 1 is facing a risky situation. It’s undesirable and challenging to analyze and express. While the teams’ performance matters, I personally prioritize the excitement of racing.”
Timo Glock, his fellow pundit who wasn’t assigned to commentate in Monte Carlo, was relieved and thankful for that fortunate circumstance.
“He said he was relieved not to have to commentate,” he remarked, acknowledging that Ralf and Sascha had endured a challenging time.
“If I were to reflect on the past and had been requested to drive four seconds slower, the likelihood of me being involved in an accident would have significantly increased.”
“It goes against my natural inclination. We have no desire to witness it. Our preference lies in witnessing intense action and fierce battles, not a sluggish train. I nearly fell asleep; it was challenging to stay engaged at times.”
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