The two-stop pit strategy that ruffled feathers at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix is officially pencilled back in for 2026, at least for now. In a move that has reignited debate across the paddock, the FIA has confirmed the return of the much-criticised rule aimed at injecting some life into Formula 1’s most processional race.
Originally introduced this season to add strategic drama to a circuit where overtaking is about as likely as rain in July, the two-compulsory-pitstop regulation did more than just shake up tyre strategy. It sparked a new kind of game-playing that many drivers and teams say veers into race manipulation.
During the 2025 Monaco GP, several teams, including Racing Bulls and Williams, deployed one car as a rolling roadblock. The aim was to slow the pack and allow their teammate to benefit from so-called ‘free’ pitstops. Tactically clever, yes—but it left a bitter taste.
“You’re driving two or three seconds off the pace, manipulating the race,” said Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz after the race. “I fear it’s going to become the norm unless something changes.”
Despite the backlash, the rule remains in place for 2026. FIA regulation Article 6.3.6 now states: “For the race in Monaco, each driver must use at least three sets of tyres of any specification.” In plain terms, that means two pitstops are still mandatory, even if there’s no requirement to run all three compounds.
Some teams, caught off guard by the rule’s survival, had reportedly expected it to be quietly dropped. But FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has made it clear: while the rule stands for now, it is anything but final.
“We don’t think what we saw this year is the ideal scenario,” Tombazis said in a recent interview. “There is a real issue here. Overtaking in Monaco is practically impossible. That’s the root problem. The two-stop rule is secondary.”
Tombazis stressed that the FIA is open to alternatives and is actively encouraging teams to offer creative solutions. “We’re not married to this solution,” he said. “If there are better ideas, we’re all ears.”
The matter will now be taken up by the Sporting Advisory Committee and the F1 Commission in the coming months. Their discussions will shape the final 2026 rulebook. For now, the two-stop Monaco GP stays — and so does the controversy.
