The big novelty
One of the main talking points heading into this weekend in Monaco is undoubtedly the new rule mandating two pit stops: unlike all other Grands Prix, every car at the Principality must make two stops in the pits, and—if the race remains fully dry—use at least two different slick tyre compounds. The rule has been introduced to try to spice up the race and avoid the usual parade of cars following one another in line through the narrow streets of Monaco without position changes.
Almost all drivers have voiced support for this change, saying it’s fair to at least give it a try this season and observe its actual impact on race strategy. However, some potential drawbacks have been raised, notably by Williams driver Alex Albon. The Thai driver, while backing the FIA and F1’s idea, has hinted at a potential misuse of this strategy, referencing a recent precedent.
The Jeddah 2024 precedent
“If you talk to the team and strategists, we really don’t know how it’s going to turn out,” Alex Albon said during the Monte Carlo press conference. “The most important thing for us, especially in midfield teams, is your teammate and how team orders work. I think a good example is last year’s Jeddah race and what Haas did: Kevin [Magnussen] basically parked the bus during the race, which allowed Nico [Hulkenberg] to make a free stop.”
“When you race on a track like this, with two stops, something like that is definitely possible. And you don’t want a race like that,” Albon added. It’s worth noting that in the situation Albon referred to, Kevin Magnussen was already penalised and his race was effectively compromised, which made the strategy justifiable. Still, it can’t be ruled out that some team may attempt a similar tactic on Sunday. “I’m not saying the two-stop idea is bad,” Albon concluded. “I think it’s right to try it, but it might not really change the nature of the race.”
Leave a Reply