In a first, the FIA has confirmed earlier this year that the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix will feature a mandatory two-stop pit strategy, a bid to revive the racing spectacle at one of Formula 1’s most iconic — but often processional — circuits. Long the gem in the F1 calendar crown, Monaco has in recent years faced increasing criticism for staging Saturday-rather-than-Sunday deciding races. Now the sport’s governors are attempting to breathe new life into the Monte Carlo streets.
A Calculated Bid to Revitalize Monaco
The FIA’s new regulation requires all drivers to take at least two pit stops during the Grand Prix, and use at least two different tyre compounds if the weather is dry. The decision was ratified earlier in the season by the World Motor Sport Council, and described by the FIA as a “measured approach” to improving the spectacle at a track where overtaking chances are virtually nil.
It’s a big departure from Monaco’s conventional one-stop strategy, where tyre management and defence of track position has historically been prioritized over bold moves or strategic gambles.
From Scepticism to Support
Reaction in the paddock has been mixed. Max Verstappen, always one to say his opinion, made his thoughts on the change plentifully evident:
“One stop, two stops, 25 stops — it’s all fine. But if you can’t pass, nothing changes.”
His point is a valid one. No amount of strategic diversity can compensate for the simple physics of narrow roads and little space — factors that have defined Monaco’s layout since its first appearance in 1929. Not everybody, though, is that pessimistic. Charles Leclerc, Monaco’s local boy and a driver and current race winner at the Monaco GP thinks there is a chance of a more exciting race:
“It will add spice to Sunday. Qualifying in Monaco is always a highlight, but we know the race can sometimes be a bit boring. This should make it more exciting.”
Leclerc, who has suffered more than his fair share of heartbreak on home soil, hopes that a shake-up in tyre strategies can hold the secret to a second win on home soil. Lewis Hamilton has expressed strong support for the new format, suggesting it was a proposal he has championed for years.
“That was my idea… I’ve been mentioning it for years — if there’s any race we should have more pit stops, it’s Monaco.”
Now at Ferrari, Hamilton has often voiced his frustrations at races won on track position alone. For him, Monaco is now possibly the perfect candidate for a strategic shake-up.
Strategy Could Steal the Show
With tyre wear typically low in Monaco, previous races would often see teams making a single well-timed stop and then nursing their tyres to the end. That will not be sufficient now. The second stop — mandatory or not — introduces new levels of complexity to race strategy, with pit timing, tyre choice, and traffic management now playing even greater roles.
Expect more aggressive undercuts, clever manipulation of the Safety Car, and perhaps even some surprise results if midfield teams roll the dice correctly. The margin for error will decrease at a circuit that was build on them.
All Eyes on Monte Carlo
The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix takes place over the weekend of 23–25 May, and all eyes will be on whether the new rule delivers a more exciting race. Overtaking may still be rare, but this change ensures a more action-packed Sunday, with battles fought not just on circuit, but in the pits and on the timing screens. No matter whether the two-stop rule will prove to be a masterstroke or an afterthought, one thing is certain: this year’s Monaco Grand Prix will be watched with renewed interest.