Monaco GPs’ Bold 2 Pit-Stop Rule Sparks Outrage

The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix was supposed to inject life into one of Formula 1’s most processional races, but a controversial pit-stop rule left drivers and fans more frustrated than thrilled. For the first time, the FIA mandated two compulsory pit stops, hoping to shake up strategy and create overtaking opportunities on the famously tight circuit. Instead, the rule sparked backlash from the drivers who felt the change did not improve the action and added artificial drama. Now, the racing world is debating whether the change helped or just made Monaco even more absurd.

Who is Pushing Back, and Why?

Leading the charge against the new pit-stop rule were several big-name drivers, including Max Verstappen and George Russell. Verstappen sarcastically compared the race to “Mario Kart”, slamming the race’s lack of genuine competition. Russell went even further, suggesting that Monaco should be removed from the race calendar entirely or repurposed as a qualifying-only event. When drivers at the top of their game are disillusioned, it is a sign that something has gone wrong. And this time, it was about the soul of the race.

Supporting them were other drivers like Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alex Albon, who were uncomfortable with strategies that included deliberately slowing the pace to help teammates. These tactics, though not new, were made more glaring by the forced two-pit-stop rule. Many felt that instead of encouraging competition, the rule just led to manipulative racecraft. While the FIA might have hoped to spice things up, the reactions from the paddock were clear: Nobody was fooled.

What Was the Pit-Stop Rule Meant to Fix?

The new pit-stop rule required all drivers to make at least two stops and use two different tire compounds regardless of race conditions. Monaco has long been known as a track where overtaking is nearly impossible, often turning the race into a strategic parade. The FIA believed that by mandating two stops, teams would be forced into different strategies, making timing and tire choices more dynamic and possibly opening the door to more movement on track.

But the reality did not live up to the hope. Despite the rule, the 2025 race only saw two genuine overtakes, one of which led to a penalty. Most of the position changes happened in the pits or due to traffic, not due to wheel-to-wheel racing. Instead of shaking up the action, the rule exposed how deeply Monaco’s layout limits the sport. It was strategy without substance. Like a chess match where no one moves their pawns.

Where and When It All Went Wrong

The drama unfolded during the Monaco Grand Prix on May 25, 2025, at the iconic street circuit in Monte Carlo. Despite its glamorous setting, the circuit is outdated for modern F1 cars, offering few overtaking chances and almost no room for error. Implementing the two pit-stop rule here, of all places, adds fuel to the fire. Instead of breathing life into the race, it highlighted the circuit’s limitations and the desperation to manufacture excitement where the track no longer provides it naturally.

Post-race, the criticism came fast. While team principals like Christian Horner admitted the rule added tension, others like Toto Wolff suggested implementing a minimum lap time to prevent gamesmanship. The pit-stop rule, while bold, did not address the real problem: Monaco’s layout. McLaren boss Andrea Stella even questioned whether physical modifications to the circuit were feasible, considering Monaco’s geographical constraints. In short, the rule was not a fix. It was a Band-Aid on a broken dam.

Final Thoughts

The FIA’s attempt to shake up Monaco with a mandatory two-pit-stop rule backfired dramatically. While well-intentioned, it failed to deliver meaningful racing or solve the underlying issues of a circuit frozen in time. Drivers felt boxed in by strategy gimmicks, fans saw little payoff, and team bosses are now calling for more thoughtful solutions. As F1 evolves, it is clear that rules alone cannot fix tracks that no longer fit the sport’s future. If Monaco is to remain on the calendar, the solution must go beyond rubber and racecraft and start with the circuit itself.