The buzzword ahead and throughout this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix will be "two-stopper."
Back in February, it was announced that rules were being changed for Monaco with drivers set to be forced to make two pit-stops in an attempt to create some sort of jeopardy and excitement.
The move came after the 2024 race where a first red flag for the huge crash between Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen eradicated any normal pit-stops.
Under red flag rules, drivers are allowed to change tyres, and so after the first lap red flag, whilst the field was stacked up in the pit-lane, everyone did exactly that.
It made the race even duller than might normally be expected for Monaco, and so, the decision was made to force the 78-lap race to be a two-stopper.
Article 30.5 of the sporting regulations was modified to enshrine the requirement into the rules.
Article 30.5m of the F1 sporting regulations
"For the race in Monaco, each driver must use at least three (3) sets of tyres of any specification described in Article 30.1a)i) during the race and, unless they have used intermediate or wet-weather tyres during the race, each driver must use at least two (2) different specifications of dry-weather tyres during the race, at least one (1) of which must be a mandatory dry-weather race tyre specification as defined in Article 30.2c)ii).
"Unless the race is suspended and cannot be restarted, failure to comply with these requirements will result in the disqualification of the relevant driver from the race results.
"For all races except the race in Monaco, if the race is suspended and cannot be restarted, thirty (30) seconds will be added to the elapsed time of any driver who did not, when required to do so, use at least two (2) specifications of dry-weather tyre during the race.
"For the race in Monaco, if the race is suspended and cannot be restarted, thirty (30) seconds will be added to the elapsed time of any driver who did not, when required to do so, use at least two (2) specifications of dry-weather tyre during the race, or who did not use at least three (3) sets of tyres of any specification during the race.
"Furthermore, an additional thirty (30) seconds will be added to the elapsed time of any driver who used only one (1) set of tyres of any specification during the race."
How will it work?
In short, a team can do whatever it likes as long as each driver stops twice and changes tyres.
Each driver must use three different sets of tyres, with these being of at least two different compounds, or specifications.
For example, it is possible to stop on Lap 1, then again on Lap 2 and then run the remaining 76 laps until the chequered flag.
Conversely, a driver could stop on Lap 76 and then come into the pits at the end of Lap 77, the penultimate lap.
Tyres are deemed to have been used when the car's timing transponder has left the pit-lane, so pitting on Lap 78, the final lap, would be somewhat controversial and lead to a visit to the stewards.
Aside from changes being made to the iconic Monaco layout, or cars getting smaller to better suit the track, strategy is the only trick left in the box to spice Monaco up.
But will it work?
Let us know what you think by voting in the poll below and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes and Nick Golding, as they are joined by former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski to look back on Imola and look ahead to Monaco! Max Verstappen's victory is a lead talking point, as is McLaren suffering a surprise defeat.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
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