Formula 1 returns to Monaco for its crown jewel event this weekend and while Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will be wary of a continued charge from Max Verstappen, the main focus will be on the new rule for round eight of the season.
For the Monaco Grand Prix only, drivers will be mandated to make at least two pitstops rather than just one, though there is no obligation to run a set each of the soft, medium and hard compounds.
But will the change reignite the flagship race weekend for F1, or will it flop?
Why has change been made to the Monaco GP?
The future of the Monaco GP is now an annual debate, whether contract extensions are signed or not. That comes down to the lack of overtaking that comes on a Sunday.
There are numerous factors to that but the biggest of all is the fact that F1 cars are as big as they have ever been. There is a divide in the criticisms of the event, with purists pointing to the fact that one of the best battles in F1 came when Ayrton Senna held up Nigel Mansell to win in 1992 with overtaking impossible for the Briton.
What F1 does present now is a processional spectacle around the Principality’s streets, with the best chance of overtaking coming in the pitstop window. 14 of the past 20 winners have come from pole.
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Strategy is king now but a nuance last season has led to the change in rules just for Monaco.
When Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen crashed on the run up Beau Rivage on lap one, the path of destruction left triggered a red flag.
Under the current regulations, drivers are allowed to change tyres under red flag conditions and that’s exactly what everyone did in that situation, therefore taking away the need for a mandatory pitstop.
With such a large tyre delta needed to overtake at the circuit, the pace was controlled to the extent a set of tyres could last the entire 78 laps – that’s what the new rule is challenging.
So last year, teams would still have needed to perform an extra tyre change for each driver, adding strategic intrigue to the event.
What the paddock has said
Fred Vasseur – Ferrari team principal: “This weekend, there is a change to the sporting regulations, specifically for this race which will present all teams with a new challenge.
“Every driver must make at least two pit stops, the aim being to place greater emphasis on strategy and deliver more excitement on track.
“Of course, it is also Charles’s home race, and that makes the event special for the whole team. We are fully determined to put both him and Lewis in the best possible position to maximise their performance.”
Toto Wolff – Mercedes team principal: “After a tough race in Italy, we have the opportunity to bounce back immediately in Monaco. We will work hard, quickly and efficiently, to understand what caused our limitations in Imola. It is important we get on top of that so we can avoid any repeat performances in the future.
“We know that Monaco is a very different challenge, however. Qualifying is absolutely vital and that has been a strength of ours this year. That is encouraging but doesn’t mean anything unless we can do the job on track. We have seen how competitive Saturdays have been this year and that’s always more intense in Monaco.
“We will have to be at our best to give ourselves the opportunity to fight for a good result on Sunday. The mandatory two-stop in the Grand Prix will also add another dimension to the race. We’re excited for the challenge and looking forward to getting back on track.”
Esteban Ocon – Haas driver: “Formula 1 really comes alive in Monaco, when you get close to the wall, your lap time improves and it’s a rewarding weekend when you do a good job, a terrible weekend if you don’t.
“A lot of details need to be put together, and Saturday is always the key still, even though it will be a two-stop race this year, which hopefully will open up some more racing. Saturday – qualifying – remains key and is where you need to maximise.”
What to expect at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix
Verstappen was in championship-winning form in Imola but Red Bull must now show it can put that performance in weekend after weekend following an inconsistent start to the season.
That would leave McLaren, in the team’s special livery, as favourite for the weekend, though that’s a tentative assessment, knowing just what Verstappen can do around the Principality’s streets.
Charles Leclerc exorcised his home race demons to triumph last season, though Ferrari’s form this term makes it hard to see a repeat performance. For the Scuderia, the question will be whether it can remain ahead of Mercedes and Williams, given the congested nature of those behind McLaren and Verstappen in Imola.
