Max Verstappen sharply criticized the newly implemented mandatory two-pitstop regulation at the Monaco Grand Prix, describing the event as resembling “almost Mario Kart.” The 2024 rule, intended to shake up the race by requiring drivers to use three different sets of tires, did not deliver the desired excitement according to Verstappen, who expressed his frustration after the race held on the streets of Monaco.
New Pitstop Rule Intended to Spice Up Monaco Race
Following a 2024 Monaco Grand Prix where the top ten drivers finished in the same order they started, Formula 1 introduced a rule mandating three distinct tire compounds, forcing teams into at least two pitstops. This rule aimed to prevent the traditional procession and inject strategic uncertainty into one of F1’s most challenging circuits. Drivers and teams responded with unusual tactics, including several slowing down to create gaps that would benefit teammates during their mandatory stops.
Verstappen delayed his second pitstop until the final lap, hoping for a late red flag that might grant him an opportunity to change tires without penalty and potentially improve his fourth-place finish. Despite leading briefly in the late stages, worn tires and the difficulty of overtaking at Monaco left him unable to capitalize on this strategy.
Verstappen Voices Doubts About the Rule’s Effectiveness
Reflecting on the rule change and its impact, Verstappen acknowledged that while the FIA and Formula 1 needed to try new approaches to enhance racing at Monaco, the latest experiment fell short. He highlighted the inherent limitations of the circuit that make overtaking nearly impossible regardless of strategy.
Of course I get it, but I don’t think it has worked,
Verstappen told Sky.
You can’t race here anyway, so it doesn’t matter what you do. One stop, 10 stops. Even at the end I was in the lead, but my tyres were completely gone, and you still can’t pass. I think nowadays, with an F1 car, you can just pass a Formula 2 car around here.
He went further, making a playful yet pointed comparison to a popular video game to underscore the chaotic nature of the enforced pitstop regime.
We were almost doing Mario Kart. Then we have to install bits on the car. Maybe you can throw bananas around. Yeah, I don’t know. Slippery surface.
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Red Bull’s Struggles on Monaco’s Technical Circuit
Over the weekend, Red Bull and Verstappen faced challenges adapting to Monaco’s demanding street layout, which exposed longstanding weaknesses in their car over the circuit’s bumps and kerbs. Verstappen qualified seven tenths of a second behind polesitter Lando Norris, settling into fifth on the grid before moving up to fourth after Lewis Hamilton received a penalty.
With limited opportunities to gain positions on track, Verstappen’s gamble of waiting until the final lap for his second pitstop was a desperate attempt to shake up his result. He explained the reasoning, noting the importance of qualifying position and Monaco’s reputation for race processions.
Yeah, there was nothing to lose, right? I had a big gap behind. It was still the same position for me, but that’s Monaco for you. Qualifying is super important. Normally, when nothing bad happens you don’t really move forward. And if you just do normal pitstops, you just keep your position, and that’s exactly what happened today.
Verstappen also accepted that the Red Bull lacked the pace needed to challenge the top drivers on the day.
I also don’t think we had the pace anyway to fight the guys ahead, because every time I tried to stay with them, my tyres were wearing and graining a bit too much. But yeah, P4 is definitely the maximum we could do.
Championship Implications Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix
Looking ahead, Verstappen will travel to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 25 points. Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, capitalized on his pole position to secure his second win of the season on the Monaco streets, narrowing the gap to Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate. The evolving championship battle adds weight to Verstappen’s efforts to extract every advantage despite recent setbacks.
This season continues to demonstrate the difficulty in overtaking and strategic play on street circuits like Monaco, reinforcing the challenges Formula 1 faces in balancing competition and spectacle. Verstappen’s strong reaction to the new rule underlines the ongoing debate over how best to cultivate engaging racing, especially on the world’s most iconic and narrow track.
