‘Boring’ Monaco GP reflects “ebb and flow” of F1 season - Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes criticism of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix needs to be kept in proportion, adding varying levels of quality in races reflects the “ebb and flow” of a Formula 1 season. 

Monaco, an ever-present circuit on the F1 world championship calendar, came under fire following a relatively uneventful race, with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso labelling this year’s event as one of the “most boring” in the history of the sport. 

F1 sporting chief Ross Brawn responded to the criticism by claiming that pre-race expectations of an action-packed race were “naive”, given the tight and twisty nature of the Monte Carlo layout.

The event followed on from a similarly low-key race in Spain, though the previous three grands prix in Bahrain, China and Baku were thrilling spectacles. 

“There has been lots of comment since the race about how interesting it proved - or otherwise,” Wolff said in a Mercedes preview ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. 

“I think it's something we need to keep in proportion: sometimes football matches end nil-nil, sometimes they are six goals thrillers. It's all part of the ebb and flow of a sporting season.”

Wolff expects the excitement to return at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is dominated by long straights and heavy braking zones - key attributes of a track that promotes overtaking. The FIA has added a third DRS zone to the Montreal circuit in a further push to enhance overtaking opportunities on race-day.

“Montreal is a venue that almost always delivers an action-packed race. It's a circuit where overtaking is relatively straightforward, speeds are high and the cars are pushed to their limits,” Wolff added.

“Likewise, the concrete walls punish any mistakes heavily but the drivers need the confidence to use all of the track in qualifying, when it usually comes down to very small margins around a short lap.”