Fernando Alonso has waved away the idea of introducing a 'joker lap' to...

Fernando Alonso has rejected the idea of F1 introducing a Rallycross mechanism to avoid processional races in Monaco.

The 42-year-old instead suggested that qualifying, not the race, in Monte Carlo needed further refinement. The Aston Martin driver was knocked out in the first part of the grid-setting session, consigning him to a P14 at the start, after the disqualification of the two Haas’ moved him up from P16.

The first lap red flag at the Monaco Grand Prix almost entirely destroyed the one method of position movement at the famed race – pit stop strategy.

With the entire field allowed to take its one mandated tyre change during the Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen-induced stoppage, it removed the main overtaking opportunity. Alonso could only recover to P11, and it led to the top 10 finishing the race in the exact order they started it in – for the first time in F1 history.

However, when asked after the race if he could imagine a solution, such as a ‘joker lap’, in Monaco to increase overtaking Alonso was quick to dismiss the idea.

“No. That’s a bit too artificial,” he replied to media including RacingNews365. “I think it’s good as it is. I love Monaco because it is Monaco. It is everything on Saturday, so you prepare every free practice [session] for that single lap [in qualifying].”

Qualifying the ‘one’ change Alonso would make
Joker laps are used in Rallycross, and involve the driver taking a longer, more time-costly route on one occasion during the race. It adds an element of strategy as when to use it, and in theory, could add another factor or variable to improve race day in Monaco.

However, Alonso believes it is in fact Saturday in Monte Carlo that needs further improvement, not the grand prix itself – which attracts the most attention over the growing dissatisfaction about F1’s most famous race.

“Unfortunately, the qualifying with these cars and with the downforce that we’re running now, the traffic is a big issue,” he pointed out.

“So, if I may change only one thing in Monaco [it] will not be on Sunday. Sunday is what it is, but we should be all able to strike that lap on Saturday, and we are not at the moment.

“Everything is a little bit random. If you are back in traffic, Checo [Sergio Perez] got the plastic bags yesterday, Lando [Norris] as well nearly missed Q1, so I think the magic of Saturday qualifying, we need to make sure that it still happens.”