The legendary Monaco Grand Prix once again found itself under fire after a race with very few overtakes and almost no on-track action, despite a rule requiring drivers to make two pit stops. Lando Norris claimed victory in Monte Carlo with a controlled performance from start to finish, while drivers like Max Verstappen and George Russell were stuck in a queue of cars with no real chance of advancing. Faced with this scenario, team bosses have called for the circuit to “get up to speed” and consider design changes.

Team principals agreed that the core issue doesn’t lie in strategy, but in the inability to overtake due to the current size of the cars and the narrow street layout. Not even the absence of a safety car or a red flag—which usually shakes up races like these—was enough to change the order. Even attempts to create space for pit stops resulted in slow, uncompetitive maneuvers, causing frustration among both drivers and spectators.

A reform that can’t wait any longer

Christian Horner, head of the Red Bull team, was among the first to point out that the issue is fundamental: “The layout doesn’t allow for overtaking. The cars are too big and the track is too narrow,” he said, adding that while Monaco is a historic circuit, it needs at least one area where genuine overtaking can be attempted. Andrea Stella, team principal at McLaren, echoed this sentiment, stating that “the main obstacle remains the inability to pass,” and that changing pit stop strategy doesn’t fix the root problem.

Although the Automobile Club of Monaco insists that changing the layout is virtually impossible, the general opinion among teams is gaining momentum. Toto Wolff, from Mercedes, even proposed opening discussions with organizers on new rules or alternatives, such as enforcing a minimum lap time to prevent deliberate slowdowns. Meanwhile, drivers like Norris warned about the risk of races in Monte Carlo being decided by luck, rather than true talent or strategic thinking. The pressure for Monaco to evolve, for the first time in decades, seems to be gaining traction.