Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying Change Proposed to Tackle Impeding Issues
A radical change to qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix has been proposed by the Sky Sports F1 commentary team, according to a report by GP Fans. The proposal comes amid concerns over impeding, which has been a significant problem throughout the weekend’s running so far.
Impeding has been a huge problem throughout the weekend’s running, perhaps exacerbated by the fact that six of the 20 drivers have never completed an F1 race weekend at the Monaco street circuit before. Drivers struggle to find space to complete a hot lap, something that is also expected to be a huge problem in qualifying, when being in the dirty air of the car in front can be the difference between getting out of a particular session or not.
According to GP Fans, 2009 world champion Jenson Button proposed that Q1 of qualifying at the Monaco GP should be split into two separate groups, as to give everybody a fair chance of completing a lap without having a car in front of them. "As long as it’s not just done by the quickest 15/16 cars, the B part of Q1 would always be quicker. So you can just choose half of the drivers from each session, which would work better," Button said.
However, lead commentator David Croft was not so convinced by the proposal. "The spectacle would be halved, and 20 cars all trying to get out the bottom five in Q1 is an absolutely phenomenal spectacle. Year after year we talk about it and year after year they all manage to sort it out and it doesn’t always become an issue," Croft said.
The issue of impeding has already caused several incidents throughout the weekend, including Lewis Hamilton appearing to brake right in front of Liam Lawson heading into the final turn during FP1, something which angered Lawson and his Racing Bulls team. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll veered into the path of Charles Leclerc who was on a flying lap in FP1, causing the Monegasque driver to slam into the back of him.
While Leclerc was able to change his front wing and carry on in the session, Stroll badly damaged his gearbox and rear suspension, and was ruled out of the rest of the session. On top of this, Max Verstappen was seemingly left seething at rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, as those two drivers almost had a collision after the Brazilian had impeded the four-time champion. The hope is that by the time qualifying and the race roll around, drivers will be used to the nuances of the Monaco circuit.
As reported by GP Fans, the proposed change to qualifying has sparked debate among the F1 community, with some arguing that it could be a solution to the impeding issue, while others believe it could detract from the spectacle of the qualifying session. The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most iconic and challenging circuits on the F1 calendar, and any changes to the qualifying format will be closely watched by fans and drivers alike.
The issue of impeding is not unique to Monaco, but the circuit’s unique layout and narrow streets make it particularly problematic. As the drivers prepare for qualifying, they will be hoping to navigate the circuit without incident and secure a good starting position for the race. The proposed change to qualifying may not be implemented, but it has certainly sparked a conversation about the challenges of racing at Monaco and the need for innovative solutions to the impeding issue.
According to GP Fans, the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session is expected to be a closely contested and dramatic affair, with drivers pushing to the limit to secure a good starting position. The session will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with commentary from David Croft and expert analysis from Jenson Button and other former drivers.
In conclusion, the proposed change to qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix has sparked a heated debate in the F1 community. While some argue that it could be a solution to the impeding issue, others believe it could detract from the spectacle of the qualifying session. As reported by GP Fans, the issue of impeding has been a significant problem throughout the weekend’s running, and it remains to be seen how the drivers and teams will navigate the challenges of the Monaco circuit in qualifying and the race.
