George Russell Urges Monaco GP to Be a Thrilling Qualifying Battle

The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix highlighted ongoing frustrations with the race’s lack of overtaking and limited on-track action.

Mercedes driver George Russell offered a bold idea after finishing 11th this year, suggesting that Formula 1 might need to shift the iconic race’s focus to qualifying rather than the traditional Sunday race format.

After several years of processional racing at Monaco, F1 and the FIA’s sporting regulations tried a new rule for this event: every driver had to use all three available tire compounds, turning the 78-lap race into a planned two-stop contest.

The goal was to create uncertainty and give teams more room for creative strategies. Despite the rule change, the contest still played out much as before.

The top four cars on the grid occupied the same spots at the checkered flag. The little movement in the order was mostly from teams using slow-phase tactics, as Racing Bulls and Williams drivers deliberately slowed down to open gaps for their teammates’ pit stops.

George Russell got stuck behind Williams’ Alex Albon as a result. Frustrated, Russell cut the chicane and ended up with a drive-through penalty from the stewards.

He explained after the race that he felt boxed in and wanted to push flat out, even if it meant taking a penalty, since he was already out of the points. Russell stated that qualifying in Monaco is the most exciting part of the weekend for both drivers and fans.

He questioned whether the event should keep the current race structure, given the difficulty of overtaking on the tight street circuit. Russell even floated the idea of splitting Monaco into two separate qualifying-based competitions, with drivers earning points and trophies on both Saturday and Sunday based primarily on their qualifying speed.

This year’s Monaco GP was much like those of recent seasons, with only occasional surprises provided by changeable weather, such as in 2022 and 2023. Overtaking remains nearly impossible in the dry, with modern F1 cars now too wide for Monaco’s narrow roads.

Russell pointed out that driving several seconds off the pace is relatively easy at this track, and even a slower Formula 2 car could block a faster F1 rival under certain conditions. This problem, he argued, seriously dampens what should be one of F1’s showpiece events.

Penalties and race management also stood out. Russell’s attempt to enjoy the unique nature of Monaco by running at full performance kept him engaged, but he admitted that without taking risks, he would have finished even lower.

After the race, Williams’ team boss apologized to Mercedes for the role their team’s strategy played in Russell’s struggles, highlighting the tensions these new tactics can create between teams. Additional reactions across Formula 1 included Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who compared the Monaco strategic ruling to something from a video game, underscoring how divisive the new approach was in Red Bull Racing’s official race debrief.

Debate continues within the sport about what could make the Monaco Grand Prix more thrilling for everyone. Some favor bringing in more radical shake-ups, while others worry about changing the event’s unique character as it approaches its 100th running.

The 2025 Monaco GP proved that even innovative rule changes may not be enough to energize the race. As the event nears its centenary, Formula 1’s official strategy group and drivers will have to decide if a bigger change—possibly one that turns Monaco into a qualifying contest—is the answer to preserving the glamour and excitement of racing in the principality.