The Monaco GP, according to Carlos Sainz, will turn into a real lottery. The Spanish driver commented with concern and a hint of irony on the mandatory two-stop strategy introduced for the race—an innovation that could completely overturn the outcome of the Monaco weekend.
The FIA’s goal is clear: to liven up a circuit where, for years, the race has been decided almost entirely in qualifying, with the current cars being too wide to allow for real overtaking. But the remedy risks adding more chaos than entertainment.
“A Monte Carlo roulette”
Carlos Sainz, Williams driver and former Ferrari man, openly spoke about the risk of the Monaco GP becoming a gamble:
“There’s always an element of randomness in Monaco, but this year it will be even greater with two stops instead of one,” he said.
According to the Madrid-born driver, the only one who won’t be happy about this change is whoever starts from pole position: “Just the year you start in front, you end up having to make two mandatory pit stops. It’s ironic.” – the former Ferrari driver pointed out.
In addition to the strategic uncertainty, Carlos Sainz also raised concerns about possible manipulation by teams to favor their drivers—deliberately slowing down or creating borderline team orders.
Not everyone, however, sees the change as a positive revolution. For example, Nico Hulkenberg, driver for the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, clearly expressed disagreement with the new rule: “In the end, at Monaco, it all depends on where you start. Even with two stops, track position is everything.”
So the question remains: will this decision truly bring one of F1’s most iconic circuits back to life, or will it become just another regulatory gamble? The 2025 Monaco GP is ready to be played out on a knife’s edge—and Carlos Sainz knows it well.
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