Formula 1 made a bold move in 2025 by introducing a mandatory two pitstop rule at the Monaco Grand Prix, requiring every driver to use three different sets of tyres across the race.
The intention was to shake up a race that has long struggled with overtaking and on-track action—particularly after the 2024 edition drew heavy criticism for being little more than a procession. But did the experiment actually deliver what it promised?
There’s no doubt the new regulation added layers of strategic complexity. Teams had to think more dynamically, with tyre offsets and pitstop timing now central to any chance of moving up the order.
Racing Bulls and Williams executed it brilliantly, using one car to create gaps for the other—a tactic that helped them secure double points finishes. But for some in the paddock, this kind of artificial interference left a sour taste.
Drivers question effectiveness of new rule amid lack of passing
While the midfield battles saw strategic creativity, many top drivers were unimpressed. Lando Norris, who won the race from pole position, admitted the rules made the event feel “manufactured.” Carlos Sainz went further, calling the tactics used by teams “manipulative.”
He explained, “We were in a situation where the Racing Bulls did it to us. Because they did it to us and we hadn’t done a pitstop, we were simulated to finish P19 and P20. So we had to do it ourselves… I’m not very happy to do it to others.”
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Max Verstappen, who briefly led the race by delaying his final stop, was even more scathing. “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,” he told Sky Sports F1.
Comparing it to Mario Kart, he added sarcastically, “Maybe you can throw bananas around. Yeah, I don’t know. Slippery surface.”
For all the efforts, the top four at the finish – Norris, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Verstappen – mirrored the top four in qualifying. That only reinforced the notion that while the pitstop rule created talking points, it didn’t solve the deeper issue: overtaking is virtually impossible around Monaco’s tight and twisty layout, especially with today’s large and heavy F1 cars.
Suggestions on how to improve things moving forward vary. Toto Wolff has proposed introducing a maximum lap time delta to prevent drivers from intentionally holding up others.
Christian Horner prefers revising the track layout to add real overtaking zones, especially at the exit of the tunnel or Turn 1. However, both solutions come with significant logistical hurdles, especially given Monaco’s unique street circuit constraints.
With new 2026 regulations set to bring smaller, lighter cars, there is some hope. The changes aim to reduce car width and wheelbase while also cutting weight—but whether that’s enough to transform Monaco’s racing remains uncertain.
As Horner said, “If you look at how Monaco has changed… I don’t think you would need to do too much,” calling for the Principality to “move with the times.”
Ultimately, the mandatory pitstop rule may have added strategic intrigue, but the race’s fundamental shortcomings remain. Until cars are better suited for such a narrow circuit, or the track evolves, Monaco may continue to rely on qualifying drama and pageantry more than true racing spectacle.
What was the two-stop rule at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?
Drivers were required to use three different sets of tyres, effectively mandating two pit stops to increase strategic variety.
Did the Monaco GP pitstop rule improve the race?
The rule added some tactical complexity but didn’t affect the final result or improve overtaking, leaving drivers split on its value.
Why is overtaking so difficult at the Monaco Grand Prix?
The tight, narrow street layout and large modern F1 cars make overtaking extremely rare, regardless of pitstop strategies or tyre rules.
