Formula 1 has dropped the mandatory two-stop rule for the Monaco GP. Last year, the premier class experimented with this strategy for the first time in an attempt to make the race more attractive. In recent years, ‘the crown jewel’ has regularly come under fire; after all, overtaking opportunities on the narrow street circuit are minimal, which meant the race was often compared to a procession. The mandatory two-stopper proved not to be a solution.
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For some time now, the discussion about the sporting value of the Monaco GP has been raging. The street circuit is loved by fans and drivers alike, but with the current F1 cars, qualifying is usually more exciting than the race itself. After all, chances to overtake your competitors are slim.
That is why a proposal was approved last year to make extra pit stops mandatory. The idea: more strategic variation and extra chances for a so-called undercut: pitting earlier than your competitor and thus gaining a position. In practice, however, it backfired. Especially the midfield teams benefited from the mandatory two-stopper and the fact that overtaking in Monaco is virtually impossible. For example, Racing Bulls deliberately held up the entire field with one car, allowing the other driver to make an extra pit stop later without losing positions. It resulted in strange scenes, to say the least.
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It is therefore hardly surprising that the rule has been scrapped for 2026. The experiment clearly did not have the intended effect. “It was very exciting,” a sarcastic Max Verstappen grinned to the media after the last Monaco GP. “I was on the edge of my seat every lap. Fantastic, really. Shall we make four pit stops mandatory next year instead?”, he jokingly suggested. “For us, it really did absolutely nothing.”
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View the 2026 F1 calendar here
