Mercedes chief rails against Monaco 'depression'

Toto Wolff has spoken out against the "depression" that has engulfed Formula 1 fans and drivers in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was one of a number of stars who criticised the famous street race after it passed with little event last weekend.

The makeup of the top six was identical at the end of Saturday and Sunday's action in Monte Carlo as a surprisingly incident-low race failed to bring out a safety car.

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Daniel Ricciardo won, despite his Red bull losing power in the first half of the race, which led to the frontrunners travelling at lap times far from their full potential.

Hamilton said he was "cruising throughout the race and suggested it would have sent him to sleep as a spectator, while Fernando Alonso went one further, claiming that attending fans should be refunded.

Amid calls for the event to be scrapped over its lack of action, Wolff says the reaction has been blown out of proportion.

"There are some very interesting street races. If you look at Baku and how the circuit has been laid out with the long straight, it provides spectacular racing," Wolff said.

"Monaco in the past has provided spectacular racing simply because of how close you can race here and with the climate conditions changing, Safety Cars etc.

"So we mustn't swing between a depression and exuberance. This time is the depression again. Next weekend we have a good race and everybody is falling into mania about great racing.

"It's just that there are days like these."

Hamilton finished third, although his lead in the drivers' championship was cut to 14 points as Sebastian Vettel finished ahead of him in second.