Photo credits: f1 Instagram.
February 26, 2025 – In a move aimed at adding more excitement to the notoriously challenging Monaco Grand Prix, Formula One's governing body, the FIA, has announced a significant change to the race's format. Starting this year, drivers will be required to make two mandatory pit stops during the race, doubling the previous minimum.
The decision, which was approved by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council at its first meeting of the year, represents a strategic overhaul for one of the most iconic events on the F1 calendar. According to the FIA, the new rule will require each driver to use at least three sets of tires during the race. Additionally, if the weather is dry, teams will be mandated to use at least two different tire compounds.
The move comes after several discussions within the F1 Commission, which has been exploring ways to make the Monaco Grand Prix more competitive. Over the years, overtaking on the tight, narrow streets of Monte Carlo has proven to be a formidable challenge, with qualifying and pole position taking on even greater significance than at other races. The decision aims to inject more action into a race that is often seen as a spectacle of skill and strategy, but one where the on-track action can sometimes feel predictable.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s Monegasque driver, who has long called Monaco his home, expressed his thoughts on the new rule. “Monaco is super-exciting on a Saturday, for us drivers, it’s incredible — it’s the best qualifying of the year,” he said. “But on Sunday, it can get a little bit... slow. There’s not much happening. So, I think this is a way to spice things up a bit more.”
With two pit stops now mandatory, the race could see a shift in strategy, forcing teams to rethink their approach to tire management, pit timing, and race-day tactics. As the FIA looks to make the Monaco Grand Prix more dynamic and unpredictable, this new rule promises to provide the kind of spectacle that fans have come to expect from F1’s crown jewel event.