A brand new rule has been agreed which will come into force for the first time at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

In a bid to spice up the action at this particular event, the FIA has changed the regulations, which makes it a requirement for each driver to make TWO pit stops during the 78-lap race. Currently, the rules state drivers must make one mandatory pit stop to switch tyre compounds, but an extra stop has been added to increase the spectacle of a race in which overtaking is notoriously difficult. As it stands, Monaco is the only exception to this rule on the 24-race calendar.

Agreed by the F1 Commission in February, and later ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, the use of three sets of tyres in the race is aimed at increasing the excitement of one of Formula 1’s oldest races on the calendar. The round-the-houses race in the Principality is a classic, but as the size of F1 cars has grown, overtaking on the narrow, Armco-lined streets is virtually impossible - even with one DRS zone along the start/finish ‘straight’.

If the race is completely dry - which is not always guaranteed in Monte Carlo in May - drivers will also be mandated to use two different types of tyre compound. If the race is wet, and the intermediate or full wet is used, then again, two stops will be compulsory. If the race is red-flagged, then drivers would be allowed to use the stoppage to change their sets of Pirelli rubber for any restart.

Currently, if a driver fails to make their mandatory change of tyre compound in a race, they are disqualified. If the race is cut short - and not restarted - the penalty is altered to a 30-second time penalty, with an extra 30s for the Monaco weekend.

Pirelli have announced they will supply their three softest compounds for the Monaco Grand Prix, the C4, C5 and C6, which is typical given the lack of wear anticipated due to the track surface at the slowest race of the year. However, the C6 is a new ‘ultra-soft’ compound introduced for 2025 and was used for the first time this season in Imola last weekend.

As a reminder, during a standard Grand Prix weekend, drivers are given 13 sets of dry weather tyres, four sets of intermediates and three sets of full wets. An extra set of softs is reserved for those who reach Q3 in qualifying - which will be the C6 in Monaco. For the race, the two different slicks to be used will be white-marked hard and yellow medium tyres.

With the risk of Safety Cars, VSCs, yellow flags - even rain - there is potential for chaos at Monaco, which, as ever, puts a premium on qualifying and requires lightning-quick decision-making from the strategists on the pit wall. At a venue known for its famous Casino, the engineers will be hoping the new tyre rules won’t make it a lottery…