Written by Caitlyn Gordon, Edited by Julia Bissessar
Changes are coming to the iconic Monaco Grand Prix following calls for a more exciting race, changes that will affect the 2025 season and potentially, its outcome.
The Monaco Grand Prix is set to have a major change to its race with the crown jewel adding multiple mandatory pit stops. The FIA commission meeting covered other areas of the sport including financials, technical and sporting regulations.
The infamous race is notorious for its tight circuit, with the current generation of cars too wide for the track, making overtaking opportunities scarce.
The 2024 Monaco Grand Prix saw the top-10 drivers finish in the same position as they started, with a late red flag meaning the strategic pit stops fans waited for to mix up the grid didn’t happen.
Setting the rumours of the crown jewel being scrapped from the schedule, a new contract for the track was announced with F1 set to continue racing in Monaco until 2031.
At the FIA commission meeting, it was agreed upon that with the hopes of producing ‘better racing’ the Monaco Grand Prix would have additional mandatory pit stops. The finer details, with the amount to be confirmed, will be finalised with another meeting taking place in the near future.
The FIA issued a statement following their meeting in London, taken place just before the F1 75 event on Tuesday:
"With the aim of promoting better racing at the Monaco Grand Prix, the commission discussed proposals for Monaco-specific regulations."
"The commission agreed to increase the number of mandatory pit stops in the race. These proposals will be further discussed by the Sporting Advisory Committee in the coming weeks."
Another key change announced was the restriction on number of gearbox changes throughout a single-season has been removed. The FIA deemed the previous rule as ‘obsolete’ in the current regulations.
Following controversies last year involving McLaren’s rear wing, the FIA have confirmed ‘new, more stringent, deflection tests’ on the front wing, with this rule being imposed from the Spanish Grand Prix onward. The same tests on the rear wing will begin at the start of the season.
The final change set to be implemented is the driver cooling systems to be included in the 2025 regulations for where ‘heat is a hazard.’
The FIA prototype approved back in November includes having cool water pumped in a driver's overalls at races such as Qatar, where drivers had previously complained about the heat. Furthermore, the chassis will include a second inlet scoop to improve airflow in the cockpit.
It is now up to the drivers and their teams to make adjustments to their strategy following these changes in Monaco and beyond for the 2025 season.
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