Formula 1 is assessing a potential drastic rule change that would enforce a mandatory minimum of two pit stops for teams in Grands Prix.
Since the outlawing of refuelling in 2010, F1 pitstops have been a tyre-only affair, and with that, has come a decreasing diversity in strategic elements of how a Grand Prix is decided.
Much of the variance now comes down to track surface and the subsequent lack of volume of degradation, with mistakes by pit crews and on-track action now the best exploitation of positions being gained or conceded.
At the Monaco Grand Prix this year, in a bid to ramp up excitement amid the growing discontent with the event’s lack of entertainment, the FIA implemented a mandatory two-stop rule, but it little to remedy the problem, especially as the field pitted the first time during a red flag.
But now, Motorsport Italy has reported that this rule may come into effect across the whole season, saying that the F1 Commission will discuss the idea in due course.
Pirelli’s Motorsport Manager, Mario Isola, recently admitted that teams, despite their best efforts, will, when they can, shift their focus from importance to results rather than entertainment.
“Teams always maximise what they have, and that means they try to reduce the number of pitstops,” he said.
“It makes sense because during a pitstop you can make a mistake and when you go back on track, you can get in traffic and lose additional time.
“Teams always try to minimise the number of pitstops because they don’t care about the show.”
Therefore, Isola appears open to the idea of this rule change, acknowledging and emphasising the importance of making sure the fans are kept happy and entertained.
“What we are doing is try to make something good for the show,” he said.
“And I believe that a two-stop is better for the show because you have more unpredictability. But you can’t force anyone unless we accept that two pitstops are defined by regulation.”
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