Monaco GP rule change was quietly dropped by FIA - but why?

The Monaco Grand Prix this weekend will not see the two-pit stop mandate that governed the round last season after the FIA quietly dropped the rule from the sporting regulations earlier this year.

The enforced requirement to pit for a second time in the 78-lap race around the streets of Monte Carlo was introduced to shake up strategy and make the event more of an entertaining spectacle.

In recent years, the annual trip to the Principality has become processional, with qualifying on Saturday the clear high point of the weekend.

However, the rule tweak did not bring the hoped-for or expected strategic variance, and the F1 Commission opted not to take it forward for a second bite at the experiment.

Instead, what played out was a race susceptible to being manipulated by teams — as was their prerogative — with the likes of Racing Bulls deploying its second driver on the road to back up the pack to afford the leading driver the opportunity to get both pit stops out of the way, something that allowed Isack Hadjar to finish sixth, with Liam Lawson behind in eighth.

Similarly, George Russell deliberately cut the Nouvelle Chicane to get ahead of Alex Albon, taking the five-second time penalty on the chin for the simple joy of not being tucked up behind the Williams any longer.

Credit where credit is due, the FIA tried something to enhance the quality of what is quickly becoming the most-maligned round on the F1 calendar, and the motorsport governing body also had the foresight to remove the specific-for-Monaco regulation before history repeated itself.

Whilst the experiment did not work, the new 2026 cars could promote better racing around the streets of Monte Carlo, although do not anticipate miracles.

The lighter, more agile chassis will help, but that was a problem long before F1 cars became so big and heavy.

What is cause for optimism is how well the latest generation of cars can follow each other closely, which could make the first corner and the — aforementioned — chicane coming out of the tunnel genuine overtaking opportunities.