‘Boring’ Grand Prix put down to soft tyres

– The Monaco Grand Prix faced a growing barrage of criticism yesterday after Fernando Alonso (right) and Lewis Hamilton described it as “probably the most boring race ever”.

Daniel Ricciardo’s winning performance on Sunday in his power-reduced Red Bull may have boosted his value in the drivers’ market and given him an outside tilt at the title, but the dull procession behind him was widely condemned as a spectacle.

Two-time world champion Alonso, twice a winner on the narrow street circuit in the Mediterranean principality, was not

Monaco

the only driver to complain after a contest lacking incident and excitement. It was the first Monaco race without the deployment of a safety car since 2009.

That Ricciardo could win from pole position in a car that had its power reduced by 25% confirmed both his maturing talent and the enforced tedious mediocrity of the race.

Alonso, of McLaren, was only echoing what championship leader and defending champion Hamilton said after finishing third.

“Extremely boring. I mean, this is probably the most boring race ever,” said Alonso. “Without a safety car, without yellow flags, I think the sport needs to think a little bit about the show because this is very disappointing.”

Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari started and finished fourth. “Qualifying decides everything here,” he said. “Not a lot happens. Everyone drives around behind each other and whoever is in front dictates the speed,” he said.

It has presented F1’s new American owners Liberty Media with a major problem as they grapple with the task of brightening up the show without losing its traditional values.

The main problem this time appeared to be the new “hyper-soft” Pirelli tyres. They produced stunning one-lap speed, but lacked durability and as a result in a onestop race on a tight street track where overtaking is virtually impossible, drivers were instructed to be conservative and make their alternative “ultra-soft” tyres last the distance.

“We must decide what we want. If they want to push we must produce more consistent tyres, less sensitive to over-heating,” Pirelli racing chief Mario Isola said. “But if we go softer there is overheating and they have to cruise.” –