Hamilton admits he was ‘bored’ by race and calls for Monaco changes
Lewis hamilton described yesterday’ s Monaco Grand Prix as one of the dullest of his career
Hamilton, who finished third behind winner Daniel Ricciardo, was relieved at losing only three championship points to second-placed Sebastian Vettel at one of Mercedes’ bogey tracks, but he admitted it was a boring spectacle.
“It was the least interesting race,” Hamilton, 14 points clear of Vettel at the top of the overall standings, 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 1 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 ten 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.”
Hamilton could yet be joined by Ricciardo at Mercedes next year. His contract is up for renewal at the end of the season and he did little to harm his credentials in what must be considered the finest all-round display of his career.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who is desperate to keep Ricciardo alongside Max Verstappen – the Dutchman who recovered from last to ninth following his practice crash – ranked the Australian’s winning performance alongside Michael Schumacher’s revered drive at the 1995 Spanish Grand Prix. Schumacher was stuck in fifth gear, but managed to finish second.
Ricciardo, who performed his traditional ‘shoey’ on the podium, said: “We were controlling the race and then we pitted and a few laps later after the pit stop I went on the throttle and I had what felt like half the amount of power.
“I expected my race to be over in the next few corners because it came on so suddenly. I could see Seb catching me and I thought ‘what do I have to win here?’
“But we did it and it feels like redemption for 2016. I can put that behind me now.”