"Monaco is a Silly Event"

Kimi's Hunt Helmet

"Monaco is a Silly Event- James Hunt

Kimi Raikkonen's is wearing a 'James Hunt' helmet this weekend as a tribute to his hero. Kimi seldom speaks but James certainly did. Here's what the late champion said about the Monaco Grand Prix...

"Monaco is a silly event, not a proper Grand Prix at all. It ceased to be a real race many years ago when wide tyres and wings came to be used on Formula 1 cars, making them entirely unsuitable for the absurdly confined spaces in the streets of Monte Carlo. It is loathed by everybody who works in the business, starting with the drivers for whom it is an absolute nightmare (with the possible exception of the man who wins!).

"The Monaco Grand Prix is really just an exhibition in which the unfortunate drivers are asked to perform and it still exists only for the benefit of the sponsors who want to show off in the 'glamorous' atmosphere and for the people who want to preserve the 'image' of Formula 1. They should have a parade instead. Then all the cars could parade around like the idiotic 'jetset' poseurs who are thicker on the ground at Monaco than anywhere else in the world."

- from the James Hunt biography by Gerald Donaldson