Lewis Hamilton believes the Monaco Grand Prix should consider an overhaul of both the format and the layout in the wake of another processional race this past weekend.
The world champion claimed he would have been “asleep” had he been watching from home as he and the other drivers cruised around protecting their tyres, with Fernando Alonso even suggested fans should be compensated after the “most boring race ever”.
Adding to his initial comments, Hamilton put forward his ideas as well as recalling a conversation he had with Prince Albert II.
“Recently I told the Prince that maybe it’s time to make the track longer. Over the past few years, more roads have been built here so maybe we can make it better.
“Or maybe we need to change the format of the race. I don’t know. Monaco is an excellent track but maybe we need two races here. It was the longest 78 laps of my life!”
Interesting his call for change was not shared by his boss, Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff.
“Lewis always freely expresses his opinion, but this is Monaco and without serious accidents or a safety car it’s always similar. Football also has good and bad games,” he said.
Another topic Hamilton addressed was the future of the winner in Monte Carlo this past Sunday, Daniel Ricciardo, with the Australian out of contract at Red Bull after 2018.
“I would imagine his future is there,” said the 33-year-old. “He is one of the top drivers and in the top areas there are only Ferrari and Mercedes that he could ever consider.
“That is unlikely here, l don’t think that is going to happen and if you look at Ferrari, l imagine Kimi will want to continue – he is driving really well this year and doesn’t seem to be ageing.”
Should Ricciardo decide to remain with Red Bull though, the Mercedes driver thinks he needs to negotiate a very lucrative deal for himself.
“From what l hear, he has a teammate who is making a lot more money than him and yet he is more consistent at keeping the car together and more often than not pulling it through,” he said.
“It’s important in a team that you are valued at what you are worth. At the moment he is the probably the lead driver in that team so it’s not a bad place to be.
“At some stage, Red Bull are going to get an engine and then they will be even closer in the mix with us. He just needs to keep his head down and doing what he is currently doing.”