Formula One’s governing body defends show handling Monaco Grand Prix after the rain delay the start by more than an hour on Sunday, and a crash that followed caused another long stop.
Some fans on social media were scathing, questioning why the world’s top drivers couldn’t let loose in the wet conditions and recalling previous races at the principality held. in torrential downpours.
Seven-time Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton, who said after Saturday’s qualifiers that he hoped rain would mix things up, said he wanted to go racing.
“We’re Formula 1 drivers, so that’s definitely not a valid excuse,” the Briton said when told the delay was because there had been no wet-tire practice at the weekend. before.
“I was, like, let’s go when it’s just drizzling a little in the beginning. We’ll talk about that in the drivers’ press conference but we should have started the race,” he said.
A spokesman for the governing body FIA said the seconds-long delay was due to a power failure, which damaged the starting system.
The decision to roll over instead of stopping, is because some drivers will be at a disadvantage on wet roads while others stay on dry roads.
The stop after Mick Schumacher crashed was for safety reasons, with the fence in need of repair. The final race was shortened to 64 laps from 77.
Formula One has two race directors sharing duties after previous incumbent Michael Masi was dropped following a safety car controversy at the 2021 season-ending round in Abu Dhabi that decided the outcome of the race. championship.
On Sunday, the drivers made two laps in formation behind the safety car before the red flag was waved and the cars returned to the pit.
“It’s raining like crazy,” local favorites Ferrari and Charles Leclerc said over team radio before the race director ordered a stop.
The scheduled start was originally 1500 local (1300GMT) but the formation round was delayed to 1509, when the rain was not heavy, and then to 1516 behind the safety car when conditions deteriorated.
The final race began at 1605 local, with the field performing a formation lap further behind the safety car.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, whose Mexican driver Sergio Perez won a third championship with race leader Max Verstappen, thinks they can go on time.
However, he said it was right to stop it afterwards.
Monaco is notoriously flawed when it comes to navigating tight and zigzag roads, but the slippery conditions make the chances of mistakes far greater.
