Sainz demands an extreme alteration to Monaco = Sainz calls for radical overhaul of qualifying as Monaco traffic raises safety concerns – The glitz and glamour of Monaco may captivate spectators, but behind the wheel it’s fast becoming a logistical nightmare. With overtaking virtually impossible and the walls ever-closer, the streets of Monte Carlo demand perfection.
But, as Carlos Sainz pointed out in a fiery call for change, the current qualifying format is pushing drivers beyond frustration – and into potentially dangerous territory. Williams driver Carlos Sainz has joined a growing chorus of criticism over the traditional full-field qualifying format used at Monaco, insisting it is time to adopt a split-session approach similar to that used in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
Sainz says enough is enough
“As soon as you have 15 to 18 cars on the track, it becomes chaotic,” said Sainz after Friday’s practice.
“Everyone is out at different times, trying to find space, and with 20 cars circulating, it becomes almost impossible to get a clean lap. It’s torture.”
Sainz, who joined Williams this year after his high-profile exit from Ferrari, believes that splitting the grid into groups would drastically improve fairness and safety on the famously tight circuit.
“Monaco is always a special case,” he continued. “Group qualifying would make things a lot easier – and more importantly, fairer for everyone.”
The Spaniard’s suggestion comes as his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr, is reportedly mounting a campaign to become FIA president – a role that would give him significant influence over the future structure of F1 weekends.
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Alonso and Verstappen add fuel to the fire
Sainz is far from alone in his assessment. Fernando Alonso, another driver who has mastered the streets of Monaco over the years, echoed the concerns after narrowly avoiding several collisions during Friday’s sessions.
“Traffic was a problem in practice,” said the Aston Martin driver.
“But in qualifying it’s going to be a lot worse. These cars are huge compared to the width of the track – sometimes you can’t even fit two of them next to each other in certain sections!”
Alonso went further than Sainz in calling for a crackdown on obstructions during qualifying.
“We need harsher and more consistent penalties for blocking. Otherwise we’ll just keep repeating the same mistakes. You need rhythm and confidence to push in qualifying. If you get blocked or distracted, that lap – and potentially your weekend – is over.”
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Verstappen: ‘It’s getting dangerous’
Never one to mince his words, Max Verstappen didn’t hold back after Friday’s chaotic sessions. The four-time world champion had several near misses while attempting fast laps, including one where he was blocked by teammate Yuki Tsunoda and another with Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
“It’s always tricky here, but today was borderline dangerous,” warned Verstappen.
“I had two close calls in FP1 and another in FP2. If you’re not fully switched on, or if someone misjudges where you are, you can end up in the barriers in a really bad way.”
For the Dutchman, who has made pole position at Monaco a near-must in his usual quest for victory, the current approach simply doesn’t suit the modern Formula One car.
“These cars are wide, long and incredibly difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces like Monaco,” he continued. “It’s not ideal. If qualifying goes on like this, we’re just waiting for a big accident.”
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The group format: Tried and tested
What Sainz is advocating isn’t theoretical. Formula 2 and Formula 3 already split the field into two groups for qualifying at Monaco – a method that dramatically reduces traffic density and gives drivers a fighting chance of a clean lap.
In F2 and F3, the odd-numbered drivers (from the championship standings) go into one group and the even-numbered into another, with the fastest overall lap of both sessions taking pole position. While this format has had its fair share of criticism, few would argue that it isn’t fairer for the notoriously tricky Monaco circuit.
Adopting this approach in F1, however, would require more than just a tweak to the format. Broadcasting schedules, sponsor commitments and team logistics would all have to be adjusted. But with more and more drivers voicing their frustration every year, the pressure is building on the FIA to act.
A weekend on the edge
This year’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend was already fraught with tension. Not only is the championship standings tight at the top, but the layout of the circuit is unforgiving. Even the smallest mistake or momentary lapse in concentration can end a session – or a season.
While the fans enjoy the old-school challenge of Monte Carlo, the drivers are left to thread the needle through traffic, blocked lines and yellow flags. The situation is particularly dire in Q1 and Q2, when the full field of 20 cars is still in play, leading to desperate attempts at track position, last-minute dashes and, inevitably, unwanted interference.
Red Bull’s internal radio was on fire during Friday’s sessions, with Verstappen complaining in profanity about his blocked lap in the pool section.
“It was ridiculous,” he fumed after losing a crucial lap to backmarkers. “If I go a metre wider, I’m in the wall.”
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More than just whingeing?
Critics of the group qualifying idea argue that part of Monaco’s appeal is the unpredictability of qualifying and the drama that comes from chaos. But in a championship increasingly defined by tenths of a second, where grid position at Monaco can decide the entire race, many believe it’s no longer tenable to stick with the status quo.
“If we’re serious about safety and if we’re serious about fair competition,” said Sainz, “then we need to change this. What’s the point of collecting data on Friday and simulating the race if qualifying is just a lottery?”
With Verstappen, Alonso and Sainz – three very different drivers from very different backgrounds – all united on this issue, it may be the clearest signal yet to the FIA that the time for change has come.
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A growing concern for safety
It’s not just about performance. As Verstappen pointed out, Monaco’s blind corners and high-speed chicanes can turn a miscalculation into a very real safety hazard. “We were lucky today,” he said bluntly. “But luck runs out…”
A qualifying crash wouldn’t just ruin a drivers’ weekend – it could destroy a chassis, jeopardise a title challenge or, worse still, endanger lives. And while the narrow escapes so far have been just that, the warning signs are there.
Pressure mounting on the FIA
So will the governing body take action? The mandatory two-stop test for the race already shows that the FIA is willing to experiment in Monaco. The outcry after Friday’s practice session, coupled with public support from senior drivers, could finally move the conversation from paddock gossip to official debate.
If Sainz’s group qualifying proposal gains momentum, Monaco 2025 could mark the end of an era – and the beginning of a more structured, less chaotic future at the world’s most iconic street circuit.
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This tale will reach its conclusion next week in Barcelona, when the FIA will introduce new stringent tests for flexible body which the likes of Red Bull hope will bring McLaren back towards the chasing pack.
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I feel Monaco is now tactical, there IS no race, given the size of the cars! I switched off last year’s … if I had wanted to watch a procession of cars, I would go to a Goodwood weekend! Tedious beyond belief, and LeClerc had the nerve to celebrate his ‘victory’ as though it was worthy of being called such.
Personally, I can’t believe an extra pit stop will make it any better. Cancel the venue – move on