Assessing the Impact of the New Two-Pitstop Rule at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

The two mandatory pit stops at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix was a hot topic among racing enthusiasts – but did it add excitement or just confusion? Our writers share their thoughts on the first implementation of F1’s new rule, which debuted at the Monaco GP and was won by polesitter Lando Norris for McLaren.

A Mixed Bag: The Two-Pitstop Rule’s Impact on Race Excitement

Filip Cleeren shares his conflicted feelings about the FIA’s intervention at the Monaco race. While he acknowledges that the race needed a shakeup, he questions whether the three-set mandate caused more awkward strategies than racing excitement.

Ronald Vording weighs in on the new rule’s impact on the Monaco Grand Prix, arguing that it avoided a repetition of last year’s procession but did not make the race a modern classic. He notes that the rule rewarded teams who played it smart and punished those who didn’t try anything.

A Temporary Solution with Long-Term Implications

Jake Boxall-Legge discusses the challenges of implementing the two-pitstop rule in Monaco, a track that is too small for modern F1 cars. He notes that while the rule created different approaches at the front and back of the pack, it may not be sustainable in future races due to its artificial nature.

A Successful Introduction?

Ben Vinel argues that the new tyre rule has been a success, providing strategic variance and quicker lap times. He notes that while it didn’t drastically change the picture for frontrunners, midfield teams like Racing Bulls and Williams exploited the rules to their advantage.

Room for Improvement

Owen Bellwood shares his wish for a red flag to offer some drivers a free tyre change, arguing that while the two-stop rule added more stops to the race, it didn’t create the chaos that F1 had envisioned with the rule change. He notes that while the rule made the race more exciting than last year, it didn’t turn it into the must-see event that it is always billed as.