The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix will go down in history as the first Formula 1 race where each driver was mandated to use three different sets of tyres in a desperate bid to make the race more exciting.
It was recently announced that the Monaco Grand Prix would be on the F1 calendar until the 2031 season.
While the pageantry around the race is unique among its F1 counterparts, the action on the track has left a lot to be desired in recent years.
Last season’s Grand Prix was a farce, with Sergio Perez’s lap one crash with both Haas cars allowing every driver to change their tyres in the pit lane, and zero overtakes happening among the top 10.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Oscar Piastri |
161 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
158 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
136 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
99 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
79 |
| 6 |
Lewis Hamilton |
63 |
| 7 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
48 |
| 8 |
Alexander Albon |
42 |
| 9 |
Esteban Ocon |
20 |
| 10 |
Isack Hadjar |
15 |
Unfortunately, this season’s new rules created a scenario where certain drivers could simply hold up the pack to benefit their teammates, with Racing Bulls and Williams the biggest beneficiaries.
Alex Albon was one of the most frustrating drivers on the circuit as he and teammate Carlos Sainz played the team game to earn P9 and P10 for Williams.
Mercedes’ qualifying woes meant George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were stuck in the train of cars initially behind Liam Lawson and then Sainz.
Eventually, Russell decided he couldn’t be patient any longer, leading to a hilarious exchange between the pair on social media after the race.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height
Alex Albon pokes fun at George Russell after Monaco Grand Prix antics
Russell cuts the chicane coming out of the tunnel towards the end of the race, and instead of handing the place back to Albon, he drove off into the distance and picked up a drive-through penalty as a result.
It barely impacted his final finishing position, such was the farcical situation created by the sport’s new rule.
Posting on Instagram after the race, Russell said: “Monaco is such a special place but we knew our weekend was over following the failure in qualifying.
“Dinner on you tonight Albono!!!”
Albon couldn’t help but aim a dig at his close friend and racing rival, and in response, he said: “I’ll take you to a drive thru.”
The Thai driver did hold up his end of the bargain that evening, and in a photo on Instagram, he demonstrated that he had in fact picked up the bill at the restaurant where they ate, along with the caption: “You’re welcome.”
READ MORE: Williams star Alex Albon’s life outside F1 with net worth, girlfriend to parents
George Russell highlights his frustration with the Monaco Grand Prix in post-race interview
Speaking in his official post-race interview, Russell explained what went wrong for Mercedes across the weekend and his immediate frustrations with the new rule.
He explained: “It really felt like we were playing chess today on track with this new mandatory two-stop regulation.
“The strategy was for Kimi and I to help each other out and gain positions throughout the race.
“Unfortunately, Williams and Racing Bulls opted for the same strategy, and it left us without any real options. We still tried to play the long game, hoping for a Safety Car or red flag, but nothing fell our way.
“With this regulation, it was easy for teams to work together, inverting cars and giving free stops possibilities.
“Driving four seconds off the pace and not being overtaken is easy here in Monaco so the calculation to do that is easy to make.
“On the bright side, I really enjoyed my last 10 laps. Monaco is one of the best circuits in the world and I had the chance to push to the limit and enjoy the most of it in those closing stages.”
Plenty of fans agreed with Martin Brundle that Monaco’s new rule didn’t work, and it was an interesting suggestion from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to suggest that a minimum lap time should be adhered to, similar to how qualifying works.
Damon Hill thinks Monaco’s new tactics have now been revealed, meaning that next year’s race could be even worse with every team now knowing how to maximise their points haul.
If a race needs a safety car or red flag to make it exciting, questions have to be asked about the future of that race on the calendar.
