Formula 1 has decided to keep the controversial mandatory two-stop tyre rule for the Monaco Grad Prix 2026, despite widespread criticism following its debut this year.
The regulation was formally included in the updated 2026 sporting regulations published by the FIA on 31st July 2025. The Monaco-specific rule states that “for the race in Monaco, each driver must use at least three sets of tyres of any specification during the race, and, unless they have used intermediate or wet-weather tyres during the race, each driver must use at least two different specifications of dry-weather tyres during the race, at least one of which must be a mandatory dry-weather Race tyre specification.”
This differs significantly from the standard regulation applied for all other races, where drivers need only use “at least two different specification of dry-weather tyres during the Race, at least one of which must be mandatory dry-weather Race tyre specification.”
The Monaco-only regulation was introduced in 2025 to tackle the street circuit’s regulation for processional racing, where overtaking is notoriously difficult. However, instead of creating more wheel-to-wheel action, the rule created new problems when teams found ways to exploit it strategically.
During the 2025 Monaco race, several teams used tactics where one driver would deliberately slow down to hold up competitors while their teammate created space for an advantageous pit stop. The strategy worked, but it didn’t sit well with everyone involved.
Drivers call out ‘race manipulation’
The tactics drew sharp criticism from drivers. Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who was directly involved in the controversial strategies, didn’t mince words about what happened.
“It’s something I definitely didn’t enjoy doing,” Sainz said at the time according to The Race. “Something definitely the sport should look into. Ultimately you’re driving two or three seconds off the pace that the car can do. You are ultimately manipulating the race and manipulating the outcome a bit.”
Mercedes driver George Russell became so frustrated with the blocking tactics that he cut a chicane to overtake Alex Albon. He argued that the two-stop rule wasn’t the right solution.
“We definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco,” Russell said, as reported by ESPN. “I appreciate trying something this year for two stops, but clearly it did not work at all.”
However, the FIA has decided to keep the rule for 2026 despite the concerns raised. The regulation appeared in the latest version of the 2026 sporting regulations following an e-vote approval by the World Motor Sport Council.
Heavy penalties for rule breakers
The regulations include strict penalties for drivers who don’t follow Monaco’s special tyre requirements. Under normal circumstances, “failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification of the relevant driver from the Race results.”
The penalties are different if the race gets suspended and can’t be restarted. For Monaco specifically, “thirty seconds will be added to the elapsed time of any driver who did not, when required to do so, use at least two specifications of dry-weather tyre during the race, or who did not use at least three sets of tyres of any specification during the race.”
There’s an additional penalty in extreme cases: “Furthermore, an additional thirty seconds will be added to the elapsed time of any driver who used only one set of tyres of any specification during the race.”
This means drivers could face up to 60 seconds in time penalties for the worst non-compliance in a suspended Monaco race.
With the rule confirmed for 2026, Formula 1 and the teams now need to figure out how to prevent the strategic games that overshadowed the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix
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Main photo credit: Eleni Topalidou, Monaco Life
