Damon Hill identifies the real ‘issue’ with the Monaco Grand Prix after Lando Norris’ win and it’s not the new pit stop rule

Everyone associated with Formula 1 was keen to have their say on the mandatory two-stop rule introduced at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Lando Norris still managed to convert pole position into victory on the streets of Monte Carlo with Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri joining him on the podium, despite Max Verstappen’s best efforts to disrupt their battle at the end of the race.

Considering how much the grid has converged this season, it was unusual to see so many drivers not finish on the lead lap at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton in fifth was the last driver not to be lapped by Norris, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli ending the race three laps down on the McLaren star by the time he reached the chequered flag.

This all came down to the strategy calls Racing Bulls and Williams made to try and protect their positions while allowing their drivers to take their two pit stops without the risk of being undercut.

Carlos Sainz was furious on the team radio during the race as he was forced to stare at the back of Alex Albon and Liam Lawson’s cars as Isack Hadjar quickly took his two pit stops to secure a career-best sixth-place finish.

George Russell willingly took a drive-through penalty for overtaking Albon off the track and failing to give the place back, highlighting the need for the rules to be re-examined before next year’s race.

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Damon Hill identifies the real ‘issue’ with the Monaco Grand Prix after new two-stop rule receives backlash

Damon Hill was commentating on the race for BBC Sport and spoke on the Chequered Flag Podcast after the Grand Prix.

Hill may have already spotted a flaw in Monaco’s new rules, but when asked what the problem really was during Sunday’s race, he explained: “The issue is not the mandatory three-tyre rule, the issue is the cars are too big for the track.

“That’s the problem and I’m sorry but five centimetres [the width change compared to next year’s cars], it’s going to have to be a lot more than that to increase the amount of overtaking opportunities.

“The cars are also massively long as well, so it is a circuit that is a bit of an anachronism but it’s so spectacular and the qualifying show I think has been for a very long time the key thing.

“Unless you want to do without the race…”

His co-commentator Harry Benjamin elaborated on his point and continued: “Well, I find it interesting that the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, George Russell, who was so frustrated behind one driver, I think almost to highlight what he thought of the rules, basically, did an illegal overtake and didn’t bother to give the place back.

“He’d rather take the penalty that came his way. Also, Mr. Sainz, I would like to remind you of the time you won in Singapore a couple of years ago where you used DRS to your advantage and very much used strategy to keep yourself ahead.

“So, I wonder how many of these comments are made in the heat of the moment after the race, and once they take time to reflect, there will be reasonable understanding as to why they did it.”

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Lando Norris jokes that he ‘hated’ Monaco Grand Prix’s new pit stop regulations

For the drivers stuck in the train behind both Racing Bulls and Williams drivers throughout the race, Hill’s critique that the track is simply too narrow for this generation of cars will ring true.

The skill of Monaco is extracting the perfect lap during qualifying when, theoretically, the track should be clear.

Sunday’s Grand Prix is a much bigger test of concentration and not making a mistake during a gruelling 78 laps, although this isn’t always the best experience for the fans following the race who aren’t at the circuit.

Asked in his post-race press conference what he made of the rules, Norris joked that he ‘hated it’ before going on to explain: “It made it a lot more scary for me. I wish it was a one-stop, it would have been a lot more chilled.

“It’s not for me. The rules are not made for me. They’re not made for us to enjoy it more or whatever. They’re made for the fans.

“They’re made to provide more entertainment for the viewers. I don’t know if that was the case. So maybe it’s a question I should ask you. Was the two-stop better than the one-stop?”

That’s a question the FIA will need to answer as well before returning to Monaco next year, although the sport’s new regulations might end up determining how the race plays out.