Formula 1 is to discuss the idea of introducing an extra mandatory pitstop at the Monaco Grand Prix in a bid to spice up the action.
The processional nature of the iconic street race has long triggered calls for action to be taken to help improve the spectacle.
Potential revisions to the circuit to improve overtaking opportunities have proved difficult to realise because of the lack of available land to make suitable changes, but other proposals have also been put forward that could involve a change to the tyre rules that will force more stops.
Now, following discussions at an F1 Commission meeting in London on Tuesday, the idea of doing something specific for the Monte Carlo event has become more concrete.
With teams open to the idea of shaking things up, the idea of increasing the number of mandatory stops for the event was talked about.
The Race understands that the preferred option being looked at is to make it mandatory for drivers to use all three compounds that Pirelli brings to the grand prix. This would make it an automatic two stop race in the dry.
At the moment, drivers are only forced to use two different compounds in a race, so normally reject the least suitable tyre type for the race and therefore have the option to only pit once if tyre wear allows.
In the event of a wet Monaco race, it is also understood there is a proposal to force a two-stop race as well through a regulation that imposes a minimum number of pitstops if rain tyres are used.
These ideas were later confirmed by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner ahead of the F1 75 launch event in London.
"I’ve just come from that meeting and basically the discussion was obviously, Monaco you can’t change the layout of the circuit and of course, as we’ve seen previously, particularly with these cars as big as they are now, the race is very much dictated by the Saturday," he said.
"So saying you potentially have to use all three compounds brings in another element, so it becomes a two stop race. And should it rain, it would also be a mandatory two stop so it’s unique to that race and really due to the nature of the circuit."
While no firm rule change was approved to be put to a vote at the Commission, it was agreed the proposal will be sent to F1's Sporting Advisory Committee so they can discuss how things can best be implemented over the next few weeks.
Speaking about the situation at the F1 75 event in London, Aston Martin team boss Andy Cowell said: "It was discussed but no final agreement, so more work to be done."
The lack of excitement in Monaco reached a nadir last year when a first lap red flag – triggered by Sergio Perez's hefty crash in a collision with Kevin Magnussen – allowed everyone to make a free tyre change early on.
That meant the leading drivers were able to finish the race without requiring a further stop – and resulted in one of the most processional Monaco races of all time.
Speaking in London on Tuesday, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll said: "I think everyone wants to see some more overtaking. Maybe some track change is possible. It is definitely a bit dull to watch that one."
After the 2024 race, Mercedes driver George Russell suggested that one way to naturally make the race a multiple stop race would be to bring the softest tyres only – so the rubber would not last long enough.
"I think if we only brought soft tyres, a soft tyre wouldn't last the whole race," he explained. "You may even need to do two stops - someone might try to do a one stop."
Horner added last year: "It's something that we should collectively have a look at. It's not racing as such when you're driving around three or four seconds off the pace because the other car hasn't got any chance of overtaking.
"Monaco's such a great place to come racing. But the cars are so big now, we just need to look at ‘can we do something that introduces an overtaking area?' or at least the potential for an overtake because the top 10 is exactly as it started on the grid and there was not a single overtake in the top 10.
"Thank God for Lance Stroll, the only guy that managed to overtake in the race I think."
Pirelli is introducing an extra soft compound for 2025, known as the C6, which is designed for those street races like Monaco where such an aggressive compound would be better.
