Following a notably uneventful Monaco Grand Prix except for its opening lap, Fernando Alonso has called for a reevaluation of Formula 1’s red flag tyre rules. The race, which saw minimal changes in positions and was described as “boring” by several drivers, has sparked debate over whether current regulations stifle the sport’s excitement.
Alonso highlighted the impact of the red flag rule on the race’s outcome.
“When there is a red flag and then you change tyres and you go to the end, the only point of interest in a Monaco race is the pit stops that you have to do,” he explained. “If you remove that excitement of a pit stop, then it becomes nothing.”
The veteran driver suggested that the rule should be reconsidered to preserve the strategic element of the race. With only six drivers making an actual racing stop, there was very little interest outside the parade happening on track.
“Maybe it reopens the conversations of when there is a red flag, not changing tyres or be obliged to have the same tyre or something. Because if not, there are certain occasions that the race is compromised,” he added.
Alonso’s weekend was further marred by issues during qualifying, which he attributed to bad luck and traffic after looking like he had a car to make Q3 on the basis of practice.
“In our case it was very unlucky again,” he said. “I think we didn’t have the pace. It was a bad weekend. No doubt about that.”
The Aston Martin driver detailed the team’s challenging strategy in the race. Starting on hard tyres with plans for an alternative strategy, the red flag forced them to switch to medium tyres for the remainder of the race.
“There is a red flag, so we have to fit the medium and do 78 laps with the medium, which is a kamikaze strategy, but it was the only way to try to score some points,” Alonso noted.
During the race, Alonso was focused on supporting his teammate, Lance Stroll, holding up Daniel Ricciardo and a number of other drivers in the process. This did not pay off, however. Stroll hit the barrier at the Nouvelle Chicane and picked up a puncture.
The two-time F1 World Champion believed he had been running in P10 because of that. Unfortunately for Alonso, he was mistaken.
“I was driving for 50 laps thinking that I was 10th. And then when I crossed the line and they told me P11, I said, ‘Oh, so, uh, all that stress for nothing.’ But anyway, it kept me alive,” he shared.
Alonso also expressed frustration over the confusion regarding race positions. “I don’t know in which position I started, and I don’t know in which position I was driving,” he admitted, highlighting the chaotic nature of the event following the big crash on the opening lap.
