Carlos Sainz has complained that a consistent suggestion from Formula 1 drivers to change the formatting of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix has been ignored over multiple seasons.
The famous street circuit is undoubtedly a unique challenge for those in the sport, with its tight and twisty layout proving to be one that must be tackled expertly in qualifying to ensure a positive race finish.
Due to the link between the two, pole in Monaco on Saturday is often regarded as about as important as the race win on Sunday.
But with two extra cars on the grid this year in the form of the new Cadillac outfit, the difficulty of encountering traffic during qualifying is never far away when on a quick lap.
Sainz, speaking ahead of this weekend’s race in the principality, reiterated his bafflement that a rejigging of the format has not been implemented.
“Yeah, I still don’t understand why we don’t do split groups in Q1,” the Williams driver told media, including Motorsport Week, bringing to mind a half-and-half system, similar to Formula E’s Groups A and B.
“I’ve suggested it multiple times. It wouldn’t affect the pecking order at all if you go 11 teams and 11 teams and you divide the teammates or something and just the bottom three don’t go through.
“I don’t understand why we don’t do that, but Q1 here is a bit of a lottery with the traffic and the flags, so it can happen to anyone.
When asked if such an idea had gone beyond a conversational stage and put forward to the FIA with more formality, Sainz revealed that it has been discussed multiple times, but with little success.
“No, I think every single Friday it comes up on the drivers’ briefing in Monaco but then it’s forgotten for until the next year’s drivers’ briefing,” he explained.
With Monaco posing such challenges, Sainz, like the entire field, will be required to sharpen their reflexes over one lap in order to boost their chances of leaving Monaco with a decent result.
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