London (AP) – The Monaco Grand Prix has long been nicknamed “the jewel of the Formula 1 crown”, but for all the brilliance, the race has often been dull.
This could change with a planned change of rule which would force the drivers to stop in the stands at least twice, to mix the operating order of the narrow streets of Monaco at least a little.
The Formula 1 commission, which brings together the F1 teams and the management with the director body, the FIA, met Tuesday before the new launch event in London and “agreed to increase the number of ‘Compulsory stand stops “in Monaco, said FIA.
The change of rule is not yet fixed in stone – the FIA has declared that “the proposals will be discussed in more detail” by a committee – but the director of the Red Bull Christian Horner team said that it would mean a minimum Two stops per race, rather than the current current, and so that cars use three compounds of different tires.
“Obviously, Monaco, you cannot change the layout of the circuit. And of course, as we saw previously, with in particular these cars as large as they are, the race is very dictated by Saturday (qualification session), “said Horner.
“So what we saw last year is that if you get a red flag very early and everyone puts another tire, then it’s very static. So, indicating that you must potentially use the three compounds brings another element. He therefore became a race for two stops and if he rained also, it would also be a compulsory stop for two. It is therefore unique to this race.
Last year’s racing in Monaco was mirror in red after the accidents of the first time and resumed with a standing restart, which allowed all the cars to change the tires. With an almost impossible overtaking in the streets of Monaco, Charles Leclerc won victory without stopping.
The FIA said that the Commission also approved a new cooling system for drivers in hot races and “more rigorous” tests on the flexibility of the front and rear wings of cars.
These rules were examined last year when McLaren’s rear wing seemed to bend at high speed, potentially allowing a higher top speed. New tests for the rear wings will apply from the start of the season and for the wings before the weekend of the Spanish Grand Prix in late May and early June.
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