Hamilton bemoans boring race in Monaco

Lewis Hamilton lamented Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix among the dullest of his career as Daniel Ricciardo nursed his wounded Red Bull across the line for a remarkable victory.

Ricciardo (pictured) was down on power for the majority of the sport’s most famous race, but bravely held off the chal- lenge from Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton to take the chequered flag.

The Australian’s triumph hung in the balance after he dramatically ran into trouble with 50 of the 78-lap marathon race still remaining.

But of all the sport’s venues to nurse a power issue, Monte Carlo, and its lack of straights, but plethora of narrow twists and turns, would surely be the one of choice.

Ricciardo was missing seventh and eighth gears but used all of his skill and race craft to keep Vettel at bay. So much so, that the Ferrari man gave up the ghost, and crossed the line seven seconds down.

For defending champion Hamilton, it was an unusually quiet race. The 33-year-old Englishman spent much of his outing grumbling about his tyres.

“It was the least interesting race,” Hamilton, 14 points clear of Vettel, said. “We were just cruising around from lap six, literally cruising, so it wasn’t really racing. Daniel did a great job today, so I am super happy for him, but our engines were all turned down to make sure we got to the end.

“Monaco has got the biggest build-up and it is the most special race of the year, but this is now a race that’s gone for me. Formula One needs to apply a different schedule here. It should not be a one-stop race for example.

“From a racing driver’s point of view, we were never pushing. It was insane how little I was pushing. I was 10 seconds behind, but I was conflicted because in my heart I wanted to win this race, but the team just asked me to bring the car home.”