The qualifying session ahead of the 2023 Monaco GP was one for the ages. An exciting battle between Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso for the pole, left fans astounded with many calling the former’s final lap one of the best in F1 history. Carlos Sainz, however, had plenty of complaints about the session as a whole, and vent out his feelings as reported by Motorsport Week.
Sainz’s session did not go as he would have hoped, as the Spaniard could only manage fifth place on the grid. To be fair to him, the Ferrari wasn’t as fast as it seemed on Friday, but he still finished two places behind his teammate. Even Alpine’s Esteban Ocon finished ahead of him.
Sainz didn’t blame anyone for his shortcomings but did point out that qualifying in Monaco is extremely chaotic. Before the sport returns to the Principality next year, Sainz wants some changes to be introduced to the format.
Carlos Sainz wants qualifying in Monaco to split into two groups
Formula 2 uses a unique way to set the grid for its race when they travel to Monaco. To ensure that the session doesn’t get chaotic, they split the cars into two groups with equal numbers of cars. The drivers then come out and put in times, and the ones who are fastest with both groups combined, go towards the front of the grid.
Sainz, who feels that the current format is too chaotic, wants F1 to follow in the footsteps of its feeder series.
“Q1 is too much,” the 28-year-old said. “And I think with these wide cars and everything it’s too dangerous. We should find a way to split into 10 cars [for] the qualifying. One team each. And I’m pretty sure that that would facilitate all the mess that we saw in Q1.”
Sainz unlikely to match previous Monaco GP results
The last two outings Sainz had in Monaco went great for him. In 2021, he finished second and he followed it up with another P2 finish last year. This season, however, it seems highly unlikely that he will match his previous efforts or better it.
He qualified in P5, but will start from fourth after his teammate Charles Leclerc was handed a three-place gird penalty. Championship leader Max Verstappen meanwhile, will start from pole as he looks to extend his lead at the top of the championship standings.
