Drivers 'too nice' when asked about Monaco changes
Fernando Alonso says Formula 1 drivers are "too nice" in politely fielding questions about whether the Monaco Grand Prix needs changing.Several drivers have criticised the rule change that was introduced for the event last weekend that required drivers to make two pit stops at Monaco.The Aston Martin driver, a two-time world champion and double winner in Monaco, said: "There is this constant talk of how bad is something, instead of how good is something."This is Monaco. Maybe there is a couple of ideas between all involved in the sport we can think of for Monaco, but I don't think there is any need to think of anything."It is only because there is a lot of content now to be created and drivers we are too nice so we answer to every question."If 40 years ago you ask (Ayrton) Senna and (Alain) Prost about Monaco after one week and they are fighting for the championship, they will be less polite than we are."Alonso, the most experienced driver in F1 history, said that in Monaco "you see one overtake every 10 years".He added: "I am always a little bit surprised about the negative comments from Monaco on Monday."Don't worry next year we will go to Monaco and on Wednesday we will be so excited, and on Friday we all say it's the best track of the season and we all want to win Monaco, and then on Saturday we are all super-excited and the adrenalin on those laps is unique. And then on Sunday we will be disappointed once again. It is what it is."Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman Alex Wurz posted on Instagram this week some changes to the track , externalhe believed could make racing better there, including moving the harbour front chicane and reprofiling the Loews and Rascasse corners a little.Mercedes driver George Russell, a director of the GPDA, said the changes "would definitely not make it worse, but added: "Monaco has always been the same. I don't have the answer. Part of me thinks we should just accept Monaco for what it is."F1 is better for having Monaco on the calendar. Qualifying is exciting, the race is boring but it makes us appreciate some of the other races."Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who won in Monaco in 2024 and was second this season, said: "Do we need to make absolutely every possible effort to make it better on the Sunday? Definitely. "But Monaco has always been like that. Monaco has always been the kind of race where the Sunday not much is happening or a lot less compared to other races. "The qualifying in Monaco is unbelievable, and that's what makes Monaco so special."
Will wing change make a difference?
F1 introduces stiffer tests on front wing flexibility at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, aimed at preventing teams deliberately exploiting wing flex to enhance aerodynamics.Flexing front wings helps teams balance the cars between high speed and low-speed corners and Red Bull have been hoping these could hamper McLaren.But McLaren driver Lando Norris, who won in Monaco on Sunday, said his team were not worried about them."No, not at all," Norris said. There are little tweaks here and there but nothing that will change how we have to do anything."Oscar Piastri added: "I've not run the front wing, but Lando's already run the front wing before this year, so we're confident. "That's not our magic bullet. We don't have a magic bullet, but that's not our main strength."Norris trails his team-mate Piastri by three points in the championship and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is a further 22 adrift.Verstappen said of the wing changes: "More has to happen for our side to have proper success. All will be a little impacted, some a little more than others, but it is not going to change the world."
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