The governing body of Formula 1 instituted a new rule for the Monaco Grand Prix, hoping to increase opportunities to overcome and improve the “racing show.” From this season, pilots must make two boxes in boxes and use three different tires, including two different compounds if the race is executed in dry conditions.
On Thursday’s media day before the Monaco Grand Prix, several drivers offered their thoughts about what the rule could mean this weekend.
Max Verstappen, speaking of the FIA press conference, said he could go anyway.
“I guess you can go both ways: it can be quite simple, or it can become damn because security cars come into play or do not make the right calls,” Verstappen said. “I think it will probably season a little more. Normally, with a stop, once you have a good stop stop and everything is fine, then you drive to the end and stay focused and do not hit the barrier.
“But maybe with a two stop stop, you can create some of a game of different people, guessing when the right time is to box. So hopefully, it will season it a little more.”
The Williams pilot, Alex Albon, described that the team’s strategy could come into play in the race on Sunday.
“I think the most important thing is, obviously, we are doing this to shake it,” Albon began. : And the concern is that it does not shake it and simply believe, as you are saying, a situation of Lapasa in which everyone begins to enter the wells and only try to take part of the space and use the dose, three, four can be to push. Who knows?
“The most important thing if you talk to the team, and I think every strategist is that we really do not know how he will play. Especially in the center of the field, they are his teammates and how they help each other. A good example would be Jeddah last year with Haas, when Kevin [Magnussen] He made a race where he basically parked the bus and allowed Nico [Hülkenberg] To have a free stop, “Williams driver continued.” When you work on a track like here with two stops, that is definitely possible. You don’t want such a career. That does not mean that I think it is a bad idea to make a two stops. I think we need to try something, but it may not really change the style of the race. “
Speaking at the other press conference session, Pierre Gasly admitted that he saw “opportunities” with the new rule.
“I always see things from the bright angle. So, I see opportunities. I see some unknowns, which we should say that they are not afraid. At the end of the day, I am not too much.” I think what remains extremely important is the qualification. We know that if it does well in Quali, he has done a large part of the work. But I am sure that it will open a potential strategy, which we will have to be the most important. “
Albon’s teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr., described how the rule could minimize the importance of Saturday’s classification session, largely considered the most important of the year, and turn the race into something that resembles a “lottery”.
“[Qualifying] It will be less critical this year. There is a lottery element with the two stops that we will have to see Balue, it will throw some curved balls to the strategy and everything, “said Sainz.” Lately, Monaco has been too processional and that is why he moles it. The most important thing is that it is being classified and then know how to handle the race, so we see if there is not too much lottery. “
Other drivers who see the rule as an opportunity include Fernando Alonso and Oliver Beanman.
“In a way, I think it’s good, because it will give some hope on Saturday night,” Alonso said when he spoke with the official F1 channel. “Normally in Monaco after Saturday, more or less the positions are blocked, but I think that thanks to this two stops, I think it will be a hope and possibilities for Sunday.
“I think it’s good something, it is obviously a test, but we’ll see on Sunday night, I’m waiting [to it]. “
Alonso is still looking for his first points of the 2025 season.
“If I were sitting in a McLaren this weekend as a favorite to be in the pole, then a little disappointed because it is another uncertainty for which you could lose a potential victory, but I hope this may be exciting to have an opportunity.”
“I am trying to think about some crazy things, but I think that will be about Saturday night after the qualification. Our appetite for the risk will be very different in the place where we start.”