Formula One’s drivers are pleased to see what influence the new to pit stop -rule will have on this weekend’s Showpiece Monaco Grand Prix, suggesting that the race could be a “lottery” and even have the potential to “get completely crazy”.
For the first time in the history of the iconic Street Race, a year after a particularly processional 2024 event, as a red flag in LAP-One allowed the track to make their one mandatory tire change, all drivers must now run three sets of tires in the 78-step race.
This effectively means that unless there are red flags, drivers have to make two pit stops to change tires.
But in a sport where simulations before the weekend often determine strategy, there are truly unknown to Monaco, and a driver rolling the dice could come victorious.
Government by F1 World Champion Max Verstappen said, “I guess it can go both ways where it can be pretty straightforward, or it can get completely crazy due to safety cars coming into play or not making the right calls.
“I think it will spice it up, probably a little more. Usually when you have one stop when you first have a good pit stop and everything is in order you drive until the end. You just have to stay focused and not hit the barrier.
“But maybe with a two-stop it can create something else. People play, guess when the right time is to box. So hopefully it will spice it a little more.”
While overtaking around the tight and twisted Monaco Street layout has always been difficult, the current generation of wide cars has increased the challenge for drivers.
It has made a qualifying position for the Grand Prix Vital, with last year’s top 10 start and finishing in the same positions.
“The [Qualifying] Will be less critical this year, ”said Williams driver Carlos Sainz.
“There is an element of lottery with the two-stop that we will have to keep an eye on because it will throw some curveballs into strategy and everything.”
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Look back to see how Charles Leclerc finally broke his Monaco -curse and claimed Victory for Ferrari on his homemade
Sainz added: “Lately Monaco has been too processional, and that’s why I think they bring two-stop.
“The most important thing is that it is qualifying and then to know how to control the race, so let’s see if there is not too much of a lottery.”
Two-time Monaco winner Fernando Alonso, who chases his first points of the year at Aston Martin, said, “Definitely the two stops will give some hope after Saturday night.
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Earlier this year, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll had their opinion on whether Monaco could improve with multiple PIT stops after F1 has revealed plans to enforce changes for ‘Better Racing’
“Usually in Monaco after qualifying everything is locked on the weekend and you don’t have much to do on Sunday, while you can now be lucky or you choose the right moment to stop and there is some hope of doing some places. Hopefully we will come on something interesting for Sunday.”
Sky Sports F1’s Monaco GP plan
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Look back on some of the most dramatic moments that have taken place on Monaco Grand Prix
Friday 23. May
10am: F3 Qualification
12:00: Monaco GP Practice One (Session starts at 12.30pm)
14.05: F2 qualification
15:00: F1 Team Bosses’ press conference
15.45: Monaco GP -Pragt two (Session starts at 4 pm)
17.15: The F1 Show
Saturday 24 May
9.40: F3 Sprint
11.15: Monaco GP -Practice Three (Session starts at 11:30 pm)
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.10: Monaco GP Qualifying Building
15:00: Monaco GP qualification
17:00: Teds qualifying notebook
Sunday 25 May
06.55: F3 Feature Race
8.35: F2 FEATURE RACE
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP building*
14:00: Monaco Grand Prix*
16:00: Controlled Flag: Monaco GP -Reague
17:00: Teds Notebook
17.30: Indy 500
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Next up in F1’s European Triple header is ‘Jewel in the Crown’, Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, with coverage starting on Friday live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports With Now – No Contract, Cancel anytime