As the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix looms on the Formula 1 calendar, the spotlight has shifted to a groundbreaking regulation set to debut in 2025: all drivers will be required to complete two pit stops during the race. It’s a move aimed at shaking up what has traditionally been the most processional race of the season. While excitement brews over the potential for change at Monte Carlo, early commentary from team bosses reveals that concerns are also bubbling just beneath the surface.
A Bold Attempt to Reinvigorate Monaco
The 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix saw Charles Leclerc finally conquer his home race, bringing elation to Ferrari and fans alike. But beyond that emotional victory, the on-track action left much to be desired. The top ten drivers finished in exactly the same order they qualified. On a track known for its picturesque views but minimal overtaking opportunities, the spectacle fell flat for those hoping for drama and unpredictability.
Recognizing this ongoing challenge, the FIA World Motor Sport Council announced in February a strategic regulation aimed at enhancing the race’s competitive spirit. Starting in 2025, every driver will be required to make two pit stops, and must use at least two different tyre compounds during the race if weather conditions remain dry. This rule would effectively eliminate the standard one-stop strategy and introduce more opportunities for teams to gain — or lose — ground through tactical calls.
The goal is clear: add layers of complexity, encourage more wheel-to-wheel action, and limit the type of tire conservation strategy that leads to dull, processional laps on the tight Monte Carlo circuit.
Andrea Stella: “In itself, I think it’s interesting.”
One of the first team bosses to weigh in on the change was McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella, who addressed the media during the recent Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. Stella acknowledged the fundamental challenge of creating overtaking opportunities at Monaco but remained cautiously optimistic about the new format.
“In itself, I think it’s interesting,” Stella said during the FIA team principal press conference. “After the race we had last year, a little bit of change is an interesting aspect. I welcome this kind of changes.”
McLaren’s preparations for Monaco, according to Stella, won’t be drastically altered at first glance. Instead, the team is treating the race with the same level of strategic preparation, but adjusting within the new framework.
“We’re approaching Monaco in the same way, with the same tools, with the same kind of thought process, compared to how you would approach an event,” Stella explained. “Simply, you just have more constraints, so you have to make some adaptation in terms of how you approach this.”
However, Stella did raise one important caveat: the unpredictability of weather. Rain has long been a wildcard in F1, but at Monaco, it becomes even more of a game-changer given the limited width and visibility of the track.
“I think it will be more tricky in wet conditions,” Stella said. “So for dry conditions, I think it’s just interesting. For wet, could create some situations that may be a little awkward, but we look forward to it.”
Fred Vasseur: “It can be an issue.”
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur, fresh off his team’s emotional win with Leclerc in 2024, also took a measured stance on the rule. While happy with how the last race unfolded, Vasseur voiced practical concerns over how the narrow Monte Carlo pit lane might handle a sudden influx of cars — particularly in the early laps if a safety car is deployed.
“That strategy in Monaco, it’s very difficult, because it’s also driven by the safety car, and so it would be two times more difficult for this,” Vasseur explained. “The downside could also be that if you have an early safety car, that I think everybody will jump into the pit lane, and the pit lane is very narrow. It can be an issue.”
His words underscore a key operational risk: Monaco’s pit lane is among the tightest in the sport, and any attempt to service multiple cars simultaneously could lead to chaos, contact, or delays. That scenario could ironically neutralize any competitive advantage the two-stop rule is meant to offer.
Nonetheless, Vasseur shared Stella’s enthusiasm for innovation within the sport, acknowledging the importance of evolving traditions if Formula 1 is to stay engaging for new audiences.
“But let’s do Monaco like this,” Vasseur said. “I think we were clever enough to do the experimentation, and we’ll see after Monaco what we can do and where we can improve.”
A Wider Shift in Formula 1’s Strategy
The new rule for Monaco is not happening in isolation. It reflects a broader trend in Formula 1 — a sport increasingly willing to adapt its long-standing traditions in search of excitement. With viewership among younger audiences climbing and platforms like TikTok and YouTube playing major roles in outreach, the sport’s leadership understands that passive races are no longer acceptable for modern audiences.
Mandatory pit stops have already created drama at other circuits where strategy plays a central role. By introducing the two-stop mandate at Monaco, the FIA hopes to shift the outcome away from qualifying alone and towards race-day ingenuity.
Yet, this isn’t without risk. Monaco’s tight walls, narrow straights, and lack of overtaking zones are still realities that no regulation can completely undo. Add in the possibility of rain, limited pit infrastructure, and the ever-present danger of mid-race congestion, and it becomes clear why teams are treading carefully as they prepare.
Still, the message from the paddock is clear: change is welcome, as long as it’s measured and built upon after careful observation.
