Formula 1’s new tyre rules for the Monaco Grand Prix could lead to drivers gambling on when to make pit stops, says Max Verstappen.
The series has introduced a special rule for Monaco only requiring drivers to use at least three different sets of tyres during the race instead of the usual two. They will therefore likely have to make an extra pit stop which, at a track where overtaking is virtually impossible, will create significant strategic headaches for the teams.Verstappen said the rule change could have a drastic effect on the race or none at all depending on the circumstances. “I guess it can go both ways, where it could be quite straightforward or it could go completely crazy because of Safety Cars coming into play or not, making the right calls,” he said.
The two-times Monaco Grand Prix winner expects the rule change will create more drama, particularly as teams try to second-guess what their rivals will do.
“But maybe with a two-stop it can create something different, people gambling, guessing when the right time is to box.”
Pierre Gasly is hoping the rule will create an opportunity to reach the points in a grand prix for the second time this year.
“I always see things from the bright angle, so I see opportunities,” he said. “I see some unknown which we should embrace rather than being afraid of.
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“At the end of the day, I’m not too sure everybody knows what this is going to do. It might actually not change much.
“I think what remains extremely important is the qualifying so we know if you know you get it right in quali at least you do a big part of the of the job. But I’m sure it’s going to open up some potential strategy which will have to be on top of it.”
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Coventry Climax
22nd May 2025, 19:33
That’s a valid prediction, I’d say.
And if so, it’s effectively reduced the GP to a gamble.
Oh wait, that’s F1’s new source of even more income.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
23rd May 2025, 11:39
Oh wait, i want to watch sport for jeopardy, The engineers try to remove it, it gets boring and everyone complains. They add one extra pit stop, there is already one mandatory btw- ruining your life, and everyone crys that its all DTS/Liberty/WWE. Strange personal arbitrary line people keep making with no basis on the objective facts, which are, F1 is already hugely convoluted and the ‘formula’ is always being tinkered with.
Ferdi
23rd May 2025, 13:50
Well spotted. This plays exactly into Liberty’s hands. The more uncertainty, the more viewers since less predictability. Rewarding the sports performance of teams and drivers is not an objective at all for them. It is just revenue.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
23rd May 2025, 14:03
yawn
John Cousins (@drone)
22nd May 2025, 23:43
Just putting it out there, pit twice as soon as legally possible and then ride out the rest of the race on the hardest tyre? Surely someone will try it?
Coventry Climax
23rd May 2025, 0:22
Or all of them?
Mooa42
23rd May 2025, 7:04
I think for this strategy to work the first car to pit needs to be whomever started last, and then second last etc. The leader of the first lap is unlikely to pit first because they will come out at the back of the pack and on the back of the train with no free air.
The car running 2nd could pit at the end of lap one and then again at the end of lap 2 and come out approx 20 sec behind the last car on track, which would then give them 15 to 20 seconds of free air before they catch back up to the train of cars. That car then has to hope no one in front of them is driving slow to create a gap for their team mate to pit into. Very risky strategy for front runners I think.
Ferdi
23rd May 2025, 13:51
Good option for the ones at places 15-20.
Sergey Martyn
23rd May 2025, 7:43
In fact, if there is anything crazy here – it’s mandatory two stops from the people who moan about the “green” agenda – saving the planet etc. but extra pit stop is extra 88 tyres dumped – what a… Little fluffy white bunnies are weeping aloud for such a damage to enironment!
MacLeod (@macleod)
23rd May 2025, 8:02
Not really those tyres would be discarded after the race anyway used or not.
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
23rd May 2025, 8:59
There are no extra tyres being used.
And we should never make fun of ideas that attempt to make the world a better place to live. Argue the their merits by all means though.
Philip Roden
23rd May 2025, 9:45
Monaco is all about track position, could a midfield team opt to stop both drivers in last few laps. Pull of a win with a defensive second driver?
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
23rd May 2025, 10:21
This is an interesting thought and it will certainly be on the teams radar, but it assumes that all of cars ahead will fall behind them when pitting. That won’t always been the case, in fact this tactic could be used even if there were a single stop and it hasn’t been used in previous years so I suspect it won’t be this year.
Certainly where a team has two cars running together there is scope to slow the cars behind enough for the lead of the two to make a free stop.
Overall I don’t think the extra stop will make much difference. Yes there will be another opportunity to find some clear track to run quickly on, but also more opportunities to be held up.