A special Monaco rule to know this weekend to get the F1 show back on track
In Monaco, Formula 1 is innovating with a new rule on tire use, in the hope of revitalizing a Grand Prix often criticized for its lack of overtaking. But strategists are likely to see this as a new opportunity to muddy the waters.
Faced with the boredom generated by the 2024 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix, deemed too procedural, F1 has decided to test a new rule specific to the principality. For the first time, drivers will be required to use three different sets of tires during the race, instead of the usual two. The stated goal is simple: to encourage teams to vary their strategies and create more position changes on track.
The principle seems clear, but it hides several subtleties that could profoundly change the tactical perspective of the weekend.
Three sets minimum, but still no mandatory break.
Specifically, each driver must use at least three sets of tires during the race, including two different compounds (for example, mediums and softs). However, no pit stop is officially mandated: changes can still take place under a red flag, as was the case in 2024.
Where it changes is that a single change under a red flag will no longer be enough. If a second neutralization does not occur, a pit stop will be mandatory once the race restarts. This new regulation aims to limit “non-stop races” like last year’s, where all drivers changed their tires on the first lap under a red flag without returning to the pits.
Rain or not, the rule applies.
Traditionally, races held in the rain were exempt from the obligation to use two dry tire compounds. This will no longer be the case in Monaco: drivers will still have to use three different sets, even if they use intermediates or rain tires during the race.
A measure that adds a layer of complexity in an already difficult context in Monaco, where rain can emerge without warning.
The first possible flaws
As always, the paddock strategists scrutinize every regulatory gap. And this rule does not escape their vigilance. Can they, for example, change tires twice during the same pit stop to validate the three required sets? No. The FIA specifies that only the tires with which a car exits the pit lane are considered “used.” So there’s no question of cheating by briefly putting them on in the garage.
On the other hand, teams could use their second driver as a blocker to allow the leader to pit without losing position, a tactic already seen in the past, like Haas in Jeddah in 2024.
A strategy upended… but not for everyone
Historically, teams in Monaco had two choices: start on soft tires and pit early, or start on mediums and hope for a Safety Car. Now, with two mandatory stops in practice, the medium strategy loses appeal. The risk of being overtaken at the start by competitors on soft tires is too high.
Moreover, the drivers at the back of the grid could gamble early by pitting within the first laps to quickly fulfill two of the three obligations. If a Safety Car is deployed, this strategy could pay off. Even in the case of a straightforward race, the almost negligible tire wear in Monaco (the soft C6 could last the entire distance) allows for flexible pit stop management.
A double-edged sword
Will this new regulation bring strategic chaos or just another headache for engineers? Hard to say. What is certain is that Monaco 2025 will be less a demonstration of pure driving skill than a tactical chess game, where the slightest incident or misinterpretation of the rules could reshuffle the deck.
