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Nico Hulkenberg tells Monaco GP critics to stop whining

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Highlights

  • Nico Hulkenberg urges critics to โ€œstop cryingโ€ about Monaco GP.
  • Monacoโ€™s tight layout keeps overtaking challenging every year.
  • Mandatory two-pitstop rule introduced to boost on-track action.
  • Fernando Alonso defends Monacoโ€™s unique appeal against criticism.
  • 2025 Monaco GP had among highest crowd numbers ever recorded.
  • Discussions on circuit changes continue, but prestige remains strong.

Nico Hulkenberg, the Sauber Formula 1 driver, made his position clear about the ongoing criticism of the Monaco Grand Prix. Speaking to reporters in Barcelona on Thursday, Hulkenberg said that critics of the historic event should โ€œstop cryingโ€ about it.

Questions about dull races due to the circuitโ€™s tight layout come up nearly every year, as overtaking remains especially challenging around the Monaco streets.

Hulkenberg noted that complaints about the lack of action at the Monaco GP are not new and that people know what to expect before race weekend begins. He advised drivers and teams frustrated with the difficulties of the race to focus on qualifying if they want a better result, since track position has always played a crucial role at this venue.

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In his words, โ€œIf you want to do better, you just have to qualify better. Stop crying.โ€

This yearโ€™s event included a mandatory two-pitstop rule, part of ongoing efforts to encourage more on-track action. However, Grand Prix Driversโ€™ Association president Alex Wurz and others in the paddock suggested additional ideas to improve the spectacle for fans.

Despite these talks, the Monaco Grand Prix continues to attract large crowds, celebrities, and maintains its status as a high-profile event in the F1 calendar.

Fernando Alonso weighed in on the discussion as well, pushing back against the criticism by pointing out that the focus has shifted too much toward highlighting faults rather than appreciating Monacoโ€™s unique qualities.

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Alonso pointed to the enduring appeal of Monaco, emphasizing that even with calls for change, fans and celebrities continue to pack the grandstands each year. He also mentioned that drivers from earlier eras, like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the 1980s, faced similar challenges and were often less diplomatic in their own responses.

Hulkenberg questioned when the last truly โ€œspectacularโ€ Monaco race actually took place, implying that processional races are part of the tradition. The raceโ€™s difficulty is a feature, not a bug, for many drivers and team personnel.

Crowd numbers for the 2025 weekend were reported among the highest ever, supporting claims that the eventโ€™s allure remains strong despite ongoing debates.

Recent history supports the arguments made by current drivers. Last Sundayโ€™s Grand Prix followed the trend, with limited overtakes and most of the field finishing in their starting positions after an early crash caused a long red flag delay.

Lap times remained close through the field, and qualifying on Saturday set the running order for nearly the entire race.

Discussions about modifications to the circuit or format, including ideas like reverse grids or altered pitstop rules, continue in F1 circles. Yet for now, the sense among several grid veterans is that Monacoโ€™s prestige, glamour, and technical demands outweigh its struggles with race drama.

The Monaco Grand Prix remains one of the most watched events in the championship, and drivers like Hulkenberg and Alonso seem happy to defend its place on the calendar.

* The featured image is not a real photograph โ€” it was created using AI.
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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.

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