Could the Monaco Grand Prix feature at least two mandatory pit stops in 2025?
The FIA said Tuesday the F1 commission “discussed proposals for Monaco-specific regulations” and “the commission agreed to increase the numbers of mandatory pit stops in the race.” These proposals will be further discussed by the Sporting Advisory Committee in the coming weeks.
F1 teams are currently required to make at least one tire change during a Grand Prix during dry conditions. Teams have to run at least two of the three tire compounds available during a race, meaning if a driver starts the race on the soft compound tire, he must run either the medium or hard tire as well at some point during the event.
Monaco has been a source of consternation for F1 as the winding track through the principality doesn’t have much room for cars to pass each other, especially as F1 cars have gotten significantly larger in recent years. The race is one of the most famous on the schedule, but qualifying day has outsized importance.
Four of the last six races haven’t featured a single lead change and you have to go back to the 2016 race to find the last race with more than two lead changes. There hasn’t been been more than four lead changes in a single Monaco Grand Prix since the 2004 race.
The commission’s proposal was unveiled among other announcements Tuesday ahead of the paint scheme reveals for each team Tuesday afternoon. The FIA said, “new, more stringent, deflection tests on front wing will be introduced from the Spanish Grand Prix onward,” and, “new, more stringent, deflection tests on the rear wing” would begin at the start of the season. The fastest teams in recent years have been accused of skirting the wing rigidity rules as much as possible by having the wings move and deflect while the cars are at speed to create more downforce and reduce drag.
