Lando Norris has opposed the views of Lewis Hamilton as the fallout from the Monaco Grand Prix continues.
Sunday's race was held up for over an hour following heavy downpours shortly before the scheduled start, whilst officials also encountered problems with the starting lights. When things did get underway, cars were led for two laps by a safety car.
However, the race was red flagged after 30 laps after Haas driver Mick Schumacher crashed at the Swimming Pool Chicane, essentially breaking his own car in half. After another rolling start, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez took the win, but could not complete the allocated 77 laps within the three-hour time limit.
Afterwards, the FIA moved quickly to clarify their actions, stating: "Race control was monitoring a severe downpour that was rapidly approaching the circuit, and as it arrived during the start procedure, the safety car start and its associated procedures were implemented.
"This was done for safety reasons in consideration that there has been no wet running this weekend." Mercedes man Hamilton, who finished eighth, was critical of the delay though, arguing the Grand Prix could have started on time.
"I don't know the reason for them not sending us out at the get-go - but we are Formula One drivers so [the weather] is not a good enough reason," he said. "That is what I was saying. I was like 'let's go' when it was just drizzling a little bit at the beginning. We will talk about it in the drivers' briefing but we should have started the race."
But McLaren man Norris, who finished sixth, has pointed to Schumacher's crash as justification over the caution of race stewards. "Mick Schumacher missed the apex of the right-hander at the Swimming Pool and positioned the car just a fraction offline - maybe no more than 10cm - and that was it. Game over," he wrote, in his Telegraph column.
"It is only when you are actually in a Formula One car, feeling brake temperatures, the tyre temperatures, the grip levels, that you can truly appreciate what is possible and what is not. What is safe and what is not."
And Norris, 22, argued the wellbeing of drivers was at risk: "It was not safe on Sunday. You literally couldn't see five metres in front of you during that first attempt to get the race under way. Ultimately, it is me that is risking my neck out there. We all saw the consequences of one tiny error on Sunday."
It wasn't only the delayed start that has come under scrutiny at the famous venue. Fans were also left complaining of a lack of overtaking on the street circuit.
Indeed, following the second rolling start, no places in the top eight changed hands. Esteban Ocon crossed the line ninth, but lost three places due to a five-second time penalty.
It all came as serious doubt hangs over the future of the race in Monaco, with organisers yet to seal a contract beyond 2022. The race weekend has become famed for the presence of A-list celebrities, with Conor McGregor amongst the star-studded spectators this time around.
