FIA mandates two pit stops for Monaco GP

FIA greenlights new pit stop rules to enhance Monaco GP excitement.

The FIA has given the green light to a significant change for the Monaco Grand Prix, enforcing two mandatory pit stops in an effort to heighten the excitement of this year’s event.

The legendary street race, a cornerstone of the Formula 1 calendar, has faced criticism over recent years for a lack of overtaking and limited tyre strategy options. Proposals to alter the layout of the iconic circuit have been dismissed as unfeasible, prompting F1 to consider regulatory changes aimed at improving the spectacle.

Current F1 sporting regulations require the use of two different tyre compounds during a race, necessitating at least one pit stop unless tyres are changed under a red-flag race suspension, as witnessed in last year's Monaco Grand Prix. With the implementation of the new rule mandating two pit stops, both in wet and dry conditions, organizers hope to add a new layer of strategic complexity to the race.

The proposal was initially discussed at a Formula 1 Commission meeting earlier this month and secured approval from the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Wednesday.

"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," stated an official release.

"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."

Four-time champion Max Verstappen addressed the issue of overtaking at the Monaco circuit during F1's launch event in London last week, highlighting the challenge posed by the introduction of wider cars in 2017.

"It's just one of these tracks where it's very hard to pass and, of course, the bigger we make the cars, the more difficult it is also to race," Verstappen remarked. "I felt like in 2016 there was still a little bit of an opportunity. Now that's of course gone. If the two pit stops help, I don't know, but I guess we'll find out, right?"

This year's Monaco Grand Prix will present a new strategic dimension that both teams and fans will be eager to see unfold. The historic race will now not only test the drivers’ skill on the narrow, winding streets of Monte Carlo but also their teams' strategic ingenuity.

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