FIA mandates minimum two-stop strategy for Monaco GP

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It’s official: the Monaco Grand Prix will be a mandatory minimum two-stop race starting in 2025, as the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has greenlit a plan to shake up the Principality’s iconic street circuit.

The proposal was tabled earlier this month at a meeting of the F1 Commission as a means of injecting fresh strategic demands and unpredictability into one of Formula 1’s toughest tracks.

The FIA’s WMSC has now cemented the rule change, mandating a minimum of two pit stops in all conditions – wet or dry.

“The WMSC reviewed a proposal regarding the implementation of a mandatory 2-stop strategy (in both wet and dry conditions) for the Monaco GP, with the primary intent of improving the sporting spectacle of this race,” the FIA stated.

“Following recent discussions in the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco GP has been approved mandating the use of at least three sets of tyres in the race, with a minimum of two different tyre compounds to be used if it’s a dry race.”

Avoiding a One-Stop Snooze Fest

For years, the tight, twisting layout has crowned qualifying kings while leaving Sunday’s race most often a procession of tyre nursing.

Now, teams face a strategic curveball. Pit stops will multiply, opening doors for bold calls – think early stops to leapfrog rivals or late switches to fresher rubber for a final push.

In the wet, where Monaco’s glamour often morphs into chaos, the rule could turn drama into pandemonium.

In short, it’s a calculated move to break the monotony of Monaco’s traditional one-stop snooze-fests.

Purists are likely to argue that Monaco’s charm lies in its unforgiving nature – strategy be damned. Others might see the mandate as a breath of fresh air for a race that’s leaned too heavily on its glitzy backdrop.

With the FIA doubling down on spectacle, the Principality’s streets might just deliver a thriller worth the hype, or not.

Either way, the 2025 edition, slated for late May, promises a fresh twist, and perhaps a whole lot of mess.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.