Formula 1 teams will be free to choose their own pit strategy in Monaco this season following the disastrous introduction of two mandatory pit stops in 2025.
The ever increasing size of F1 cars in recent years has led to an already difficult situation becoming exacerbated on the streets of the Monaco as overtaking became nigh on impossible.
Such was the challenge, the FIA attempted to intervene in 2026, enforcing two mandatory pit stops for drivers in an attempt to spice up the action on race day.
However, as F1 teams have proven so often in the past, regulation changes can have unintended consequences as they seek to circumvent restrictions, this change being no different.
Instead of adding intrigue, an extended procession played out as one driver held up rivals to let their team-mate create a gap to stop, before repaying the favour later.
This created frustration for those boxed into the groups, drivers lapping up to four seconds slower as other cars disappeared, adding to the monotonous spectacle for unimpressed fans.
Williams Team Principal called giving the orders for drivers to lap slowly “the most uncomfortable I’ve felt. I like going out there and fighting for points on merit rather than having to game the system in order to achieve it.”
Mercedes tried a different strategy, playing the long game, hoping for a Safety Car that never materialised, losing out on points in the closing stages.
An uncomfortable race for Monaco leads to abandonment of rule change
The rule change looked set to be repeated in this season’s race, having been ratified by the World Motorsport Council.
But this has now been abandoned, with no mandatory stops required beyond those applying to normal race weekends.
F1 will race in Monaco on June 7th, with smaller cars adding a small glimmer of hope that cars may be able to overtake in the narrow streets of Monte-Carlo.
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