The Components 1 Monaco Grand Prix duties drivers with surviving 78 of probably the most troublesome laps on the calendar, as they rocket by a few of the most iconic scenes in motorsport with partitions — and hazard — looming round each nook.
But F1 immortality awaits on the finish of these 78 hair-raising laps.
Nevertheless, latest years have made the race itself one thing of a procession. The present technology of automobiles, huge in dimension, have made overtaking a close to impossibility within the race itself. To enhance the “racing spectacle” the game’s governing physique has instituted a brand new two-stop rule for the Monaco Grand Prix this yr, which means that drivers should make two necessary pit stops, utilizing three totally different units of tires, and if the race is run in dry situations they have to use no less than two totally different tire compounds.
You probably have heard the phrase “voyage of discovery” forward of an F1 race earlier than, you’re going to hear it much more right now.
Lando Norris captured pole place for right now’s Monaco Grand Prix with a brand new monitor file on Saturday, however how right now’s race unfolds is anybody’s guess.
Here’s a take a look at the attainable tire methods for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix.
What’s the new two-stop rule for the Monaco Grand Prix?
At most races, drivers are required to make use of two totally different tire compounds, which suggests they’re required to make no less than one pit cease.
This yr’s Monaco Grand Prix is totally different. Drivers at the moment are required to make two totally different pit stops and use three totally different units of tires. The 2-compound rule stays, which means groups might theoretically use a soft-medium-medium or a soft-hard-hard technique.
However they should cease no less than twice.
What occurred in final yr’s race?
Final yr’s race is maybe the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s again” in terms of the brand new rule. After years of debate over methods to enhance the Monaco Grand Prix, 2024 started with an opening-lap crash involving Nico Hülkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, and Sergio Pérez. The huge three-way shunt coated the primary sector in particles, bringing out the crimson flag.
When the session resumed your complete discipline had switched to the laborious tire, and the entrance runners went the remainder of the best way on that compound, managing their tires and holding the speeds down. In consequence, the race took on the texture of a parade greater than the rest, as the sphere adopted Charles Leclerc across the Monte Carlo streets.
I spoke with Oscar Piastri, who completed second final yr, within the days after the Monaco Grand Prix.
“It’s extremely powerful [to overtake in Monaco]. I feel for me the troublesome factor is that while I used to be proper behind Charles for lots of the race, it wasn’t as a result of he was sluggish,” began Piastri. “It was as a result of he was deciding to go sluggish, proper.”
“So it’s not like elsewhere the place they’ve clear strengths and weaknesses and you may type of set them up [for an overtake]. Like for him, if he needed to go sooner, he might have, actually relying on what he needed to do along with his proper foot,” added the McLaren driver. “In order that additionally made it powerful.”
Piastri admitted he made one try, however reviewing the race afterward, he conceded it might have been troublesome to make the overtake stick.
“I attempted as soon as into Flip Eight to attempt to get by. However, yeah, I watched it again and to be trustworthy, I used to be even additional again than I assumed. So it undoubtedly wouldn’t have labored. However yeah, that’s simply the character of Monaco, I suppose.”
What tires does every driver have obtainable?
Whereas we normally take a look at the technique choices first, it would make extra sense this week to start out with the tires that every driver has obtainable.
Right here is that graphic, courtesy of Albert Fabrega:
Curiously sufficient, whereas most groups have no less than two contemporary units of tires from totally different compound ranges, Aston Martin shall be utilizing some scrubbed units on Sunday. Fernando Alonso has two scrubbed units of hards, a scrubbed set of the C5 medium tires, and three scrubbed units of the C6 gentle tires.
As for Lance Stroll, he has two scrubbed units of the C4 laborious tire, one scrubbed set of mediums, and two scrubbed units of softs, together with a pair of contemporary C6 tires.
On the entrance of the grid, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris every have two contemporary units of laborious tires and a contemporary set of C5 medium tires. Charles Leclerc, who begins alongside Norris in P2, has a contemporary C4 laborious tire, together with a brand new C5 set, and a used C5 set. As for Max Verstappen, who was promoted to P4 after a three-place grid penalty was handed out to Lewis Hamilton, he has a contemporary set of the C4 hards, a contemporary set of the C5 mediums, and 4 used gentle units.
Mario Isola, Pirelli’s director of Motorsport, predicted that the C6 gentle tire should come into play on Sunday.
“All three compounds will come into play: in truth, drivers from three groups, Crimson Bull, Racing Bulls, and Sauber, solely have one set of Onerous tires and considered one of Medium, so they’re sure to have to make use of the C6 in the course of the race,” mentioned Isola in Pirelli’s post-qualifying report.
What are the technique choices?
Actually?
Who is aware of?
Of their post-qualifying report, Pirelli famous that there are “so many theoretical potentialities” obtainable to the groups.
“By way of technique, tomorrow’s race shall be a one-off,” mentioned Isola. “The adjustments to the Sporting Laws launched particularly for this Grand Prix require using no less than three units of tires, which suggests something is feasible when it comes to the pit cease home windows, on condition that there actually are so many theoretical potentialities, to not point out appearances from the Security Automobile being fairly doubtless at this monitor.”
One risk, significantly for the groups behind the grid, is to start out the race on one compound, pit on the finish of Lap 1 to modify to a second compound, and pit on Lap 2 to modify to the laborious tire — which as we noticed a yr in the past can go the space — and run so long as attainable.
Groups on the entrance of the grid may need to begin on the gentle tire and push for a tough, brief stint, and right here is why:
The run from the beginning/end line to Flip 1, the Sainte Commit nook, is without doubt one of the shortest of the season, protecting round 150 meters. Nevertheless, this is without doubt one of the higher spots for overtaking on your complete circuit, so getting a powerful launch into Flip 1 is perhaps vital for the drivers on the entrance.
What are the drivers anticipating?
Just like these of us on the surface, those that shall be climbing into the automobiles later right now are not sure what to anticipate from the Monaco Grand Prix this yr.
“I do not know. 4? It’s unattainable to place a quantity on it, particularly right here and extra so in all probability prior to now than going right into a new-rule race tomorrow,” mentioned Norris after qualifying when requested about how a lot of the job he has achieved in share phrases. “I’d have felt like a better quantity if it was final yr’s guidelines, however clearly this yr, issues have modified. Once more, my solely focus till this level has been qualifying. So, I’ve not thought in regards to the race. I don’t must till later with the workforce. For now, I’m having fun with the second of the laps that I did.”
“I feel it’s going to be a little bit of chaos tomorrow, however we’ll see the way it performs out. I feel there’ll be plenty of technique video games, and we’ll see who comes out on high. However I feel we is perhaps below stress from automobiles that we in all probability don’t anticipate, from the again, which could make every part attention-grabbing. We’ll see,” mentioned 2024 Monaco Grand Prix winner Leclerc within the FIA Press Convention Saturday.
“I don’t assume anybody actually is aware of what to anticipate,” mentioned Piastri.
Later within the FIA Press Convention, Leclerc even used the phrase “unknown” when speaking in regards to the rule, and the significance of the run off the road into Flip 1 at Sainte Commit.
“Yeah, as I used to be saying earlier, I feel it’s very troublesome additionally to know what to anticipate. I feel all of us go just a little bit into the unknown. Extra stops means extra alternatives,” added Leclerc. “I don’t assume it would change what occurs in Flip 1, Lap 1. I feel that’s going to be similar to every other yr as a result of it’s going to be simply as important. However then we’ll should see with the pit stops.
“I don’t assume there’s going to be something stunning within the high positions. I feel there’s going to be some issues which are in all probability going to be stunning within the again, and that would have an effect on the highest positions. So yeah, I don’t know.
“It’s going to be attention-grabbing.”
