F1 seeks to spice up Monaco GP with more mandatory pitstops

LONDON – Formula One’s governing body FIA announced plans on Feb 18 to revive the Monaco Grand Prix as a spectacle by increasing the number of mandatory pit stops during the race.

Arguably one of world sport’s most glamorous events, the Monaco Grand Prix’s distinctive twisty street track has remained largely unchanged since the first race was staged in 1929.

Last season’s edition saw the top 10 finish in the same order they started, with the size and weight of modern-day Formula One cars making overtaking all but impossible on the 3.3km course.

But the FIA has now proposed, following an F1 commission meeting in London on Feb 18, doubling the pit stops from the regulation one in a bid to make the race much less of a procession.

“With the aim of promoting better racing at the Monaco Grand Prix, the commission discussed proposals for Monaco-specific regulations,” said an FIA statement.

“The commission agreed to increase the number of mandatory pit stops in the race. These proposals will be further discussed by the sporting advisory committee in the coming weeks.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “I’ve just come from that meeting and basically the discussion was obviously Monaco, you can’t change the layout of the circuit.

“As we’ve seen previously, particularly with these cars as big as they are now, the race is very much dictated by the Saturday (when qualifying takes place). And what we saw last year was if you get a red flag early on and everybody just puts another tyre on, then it’s very static.

“So stating that you have to use potentially all three (tyre) compounds brings in another element, so it becomes a two-stop race and should it rain as well, there would also be a mandatory two-stop.

“So it’s unique