Monaco is known as the most anticipated GP of the season for many drivers and fans. Its circuit is considered one of the most challenging yet exciting tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. However, every year, complaints and criticisms resurface about Sunday’s race, often deemed unexciting due to the limited overtaking opportunities.

For this reason, starting from this year’s GP, a mandatory double pit stop will be introduced—one more than the single mandatory stop required in other Grands Prix. According to Lewis Hamilton, he was the one who suggested this rule change.

“I’m pretty sure it was my idea,” Hamilton said. “If you go back and look at some transcripts from past years, I’ve been talking about a two-stop strategy for years.

“I think Monaco should have at least a two-stop race. A single stop has never been particularly exciting… That Grand Prix is a big event, but the race could offer more—hopefully, with more than one pit stop.”

Lewis Hamilton’s suggestion
Ahead of last season’s Monaco GP weekend, Lewis Hamilton had proposed rule changes specific to the event to make the race more engaging:

“Maybe having special tires for this race to create more pit stops would add more variability,” said the seven-time champion in May 2024. “They could come up with a unique weekend format, just like they introduced the sprint weekend. For this particular race, I think they should create a new formula rather than sticking to the same approach every time.” – the new Ferrari driver pointed out.

He then addressed the FIA directly: “Don’t you fall asleep watching the race on Sunday? Yes? Then create something different somehow—I don’t know how, but find a way.”

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Ten episodes to relive a thrilling Formula One season. The 2024 season brought several changes and twists to the paddock, starting with Sir Lewis Hamilton’s surprising move from Brackley to Maranello.

Beginning in the storm of the Christian Horner case and the shock of Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes, 2024 put some top teams at a crossroads. With tangled situations to unravel and new challenges to face, the first episode focuses on the situations at Red Bull and Mercedes.

Covering in-depth analyses of title battles on track and off-track events, the seventh Netflix series on F1 chooses to highlight the Monaco GP. The fifth episode, titled “Leclerc’s Curse,” retraces Charles Leclerc’s special weekend in Monaco. Long plagued by misfortune, the #16 of the Prancing Horse finally managed to break the spell at his home race. With a focus on both the racing action and Charles’ deep connection with his father, family, and Ferrari, the fifth episode is undoubtedly one of the most emotional of the series.

“I didn’t just fulfill my dream, but also my father’s dream,” Charles says in the episode. “He’s probably celebrating from up there.”

The ten episodes of the seventh installment of Netflix’s F1 series cover the paddock starting from the Horner scandal and Hamilton’s signing with Ferrari. These two events caused a stir in the paddock and led to situations that are further explored in the episodes following the first.

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During the last F1 Commission meeting, there was an intention expressed by Formula 1 to modify the regulations in order to “revive” the on-track action during the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the most iconic events of the championship.

This was mainly a reaction to what happened in the 2024 race, where a red flag displayed in the first lap gave all the drivers the chance to change tires while stationary in the pit lane, without losing any positions.

Considering that Monaco is a track where overtaking is very difficult, this led all the drivers to maintain a very slow pace, in order to make it to the end of the race without having to return to the pits for another stop. In effect, this eliminated the only variable that could have somehow revived a race that, for the most part, seemed already decided.

This prompted Liberty Media and the F1 Commission to propose a regulation change, which mandates two pit stops in order to avoid a repeat of last season’s scenario.

The interesting aspect is that in the statement issued by the FIA World Motorsport Council, it is mentioned that the double pit stop will not be mandatory only in dry conditions, but also in wet conditions.

“The WMSC reviewed a proposal related to the implementation of a mandatory two-stop strategy (both in wet and dry conditions) for the Monaco Grand Prix, with the primary aim of improving the sporting spectacle of this race,” the statement reads, with the World Motorsport Council approving the mandatory double pit stop for the Monaco event.

“Following recent discussions within the F1 Commission, a specific requirement for the Monaco Grand Prix was approved, mandating the use of at least three sets of tires during the race, with a minimum of two different compounds to be used in case of a dry race.”

Therefore, the dynamics of the Monaco Grand Prix will change, but the real question is: although the 2024 race did indeed lack excitement due to its evolution, the situation was quite specific. Will two mandatory pit stops really spice up the Monaco race?

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The Monaco GP, one of the most iconic events in Formula 1, continues to spark mixed opinions, and Charles Leclerc also had the chance to weigh in on the FIA’s latest idea. While many fans and critics point out that the races can be dull and static, qualifying is often considered the real spectacle of this weekend.

However, the future of the Monaco GP is secured thanks to a new contract signed in November 2024, guaranteeing its presence on the F1 calendar until 2031.

The contract renewal was met with enthusiasm, especially by Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver and Monaco native. For Charles Leclerc, the Monaco GP is not just a competition but also a celebration of his career and roots. However, despite its history and importance, discussions are ongoing about how to improve on-track action.

Two mandatory pit stops in Monaco: a brilliant idea?

The FIA and F1 are exploring ways to make the Monaco GP more exciting. One of the latest proposals from the FIA Commission is to introduce multiple mandatory pit stops. This change aims to diversify strategies and break the monotony that often characterizes the races, which traditionally involve just one pit stop.

Charles Leclerc expressed his enthusiasm for this proposal: “I think it will definitely help on Sunday, especially with strategy. The excitement on Sunday is perhaps a bit less than one would hope.” His victory at the 2024 Monaco GP was a major milestone, but position changes among the top ten drivers were limited, especially due to a red flag that altered the race’s rhythm.

The pit stop issue has been crucial in Monaco GP history. Several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, and Daniel Ricciardo, have faced disappointments due to pit stop strategy mistakes. Lewis Hamilton, for instance, lost the win in 2015 due to an ill-timed pit call during a safety car, while Bottas retired in 2021 after a catastrophic pit stop failure. Daniel Ricciardo, in 2016, saw his victory slip away due to a poorly managed stop.

For this reason, a different pit stop approach could ensure more action on track. We’ll see how it unfolds.

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Starting from the Spanish Grand Prix, new (and stricter) front wing flex tests will be introduced, confirming what had already been outlined in a technical directive sent to teams in January.

It was also decided to remove the regulation limiting the number of gearboxes available to each driver (previously set at three per season), as the FIA stated that “the reliability of current designs makes this restriction obsolete.” This measure will also take effect from the start of the 2025 World Championship.

A particularly interesting decision concerns the Monaco Grand Prix. “With the aim of promoting a more exciting race,” the FIA announced, “the commission discussed specific proposals for Monaco, agreeing to increase the number of mandatory pit stops in the race to two. These proposals will be further reviewed by the Sporting Advisory Committee in the coming weeks.”

That’s not all. According to Motorsport.com, in addition to the two mandatory pit stops, drivers at the Monaco GP will be required to use all three tire compounds that Pirelli will bring to the event. The double pit stop rule will also remain mandatory even in the case of a wet race.

The FIA further stated that there will be several revisions and clarifications regarding the start procedures for Sprint races and Grand Prix events, including those related to red-flag restarts. In this regard, there are rumors suggesting the FIA intends to abolish the possibility of changing tires during a race suspension under red flag conditions.

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This new partnership is, in every respect, a great win for the Monaco circuit. Historically, Monaco has been sponsored by TAG Heuer, but in past years, the sponsor had been overshadowed because it was a “competitor” of Rolex, which was the title sponsor of F1.

Joint agreement announced between F1, the Monaco GP, and TAG Heuer
Now, with LVMH becoming the main partner of the top category in motorsport, the situation has changed. The entry of Louis Vuitton forced F1 to say goodbye to historic brands like Rolex and Ferrari Trento. But for Monaco, the victory is of a different nature.

Over the past two seasons, the world’s most renowned street circuit had to “settle” for an international broadcast instead of the local production it had in the past. The local broadcast, in fact, framed the TAG Heuer billboards in a way that was not entirely fair to Rolex. For this reason, F1 opted for an international broadcast.

Now, with the announcement of the new title sponsor, the Monaco circuit will be able to highlight one of its top sponsors without causing any slight to Rolex, which, after many years of partnership, has had to say goodbye to F1.

“This is truly a fantastic moment in the history of Formula 1 as TAG Heuer becomes the first title sponsor of the Monaco Grand Prix, a circuit that hosted the very first season of this sport in 1950, and with which we are celebrating our 75th anniversary this year,” said Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1.

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Lewis Hamilton stands on the brink of his Ferrari Formula 1 debut, a move that could mark the beginning of the final chapter in his illustrious career.

The seven-time world champion has made no secret of his ambition to claim one last Drivers’ Championship, a title that would set him apart as the most successful racer in the sport’s history. His journey at Maranello began with a day of simulator work and familiarizing himself with the team, an important step in building relationships as he adjusts to his new environment.

Hamilton will join forces with Charles Leclerc in a high-stakes mission to bring Ferrari its first championship in 17 years. While the Scuderia has come close in recent seasons, they’ve repeatedly fallen short of converting title contention into success.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur deliberately avoided discussions about Hamilton throughout 2024, preferring to concentrate on optimizing the team’s performance. The strategy appeared to bear fruit, as Ferrari ended the season with the second-fastest car on the grid. With a productive off-season under their belt, they may now pose a significant challenge to McLaren’s dominance in 2025.

Hamilton vs. Leclerc: Comparing Their Greatest Monaco Laps

The partnership between Hamilton and Leclerc promises to be one of the most compelling narratives of the 2025 season.

Leclerc’s reputation as a Saturday specialist contrasts sharply with Hamilton’s skill at delivering extraordinary race-day performances. In 2024, Leclerc finally secured his maiden Monaco Grand Prix victory in commanding style, taking pole position with an impressive lap time of 1:10.270 and outpacing Oscar Piastri by over a tenth of a second.

While that was Leclerc’s fastest-ever lap around the streets of Monte Carlo, it falls just short of Hamilton’s best. In 2019, during an emotional weekend following the death of his mentor Niki Lauda, Lewis Hamilton recorded a 1:10.166 in qualifying. He went on to claim a deeply meaningful victory, drawing parallels to Leclerc’s triumphant moment five years later.

Hamilton’s Early Praise for Leclerc’s Talent

As Leclerc enters his seventh season with Ferrari, he has firmly established himself as one of the most experienced and capable drivers among the sport’s top teams.

Leclerc’s debut season with Ferrari in 2019 was marked by a mix of highs and lows. One of the most memorable moments came at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where a mechanical issue robbed him of a maiden victory, leaving Hamilton to capitalize and take the win.

However, later that year, Leclerc earned his first career victory at the Belgian Grand Prix—a milestone Hamilton was quick to acknowledge. The Brit hailed the then-21-year-old as a future star, recognizing the potential for greatness in his early performances.

Now, six years later, the two drivers find themselves side by side at Ferrari, poised to write a new chapter in the team’s storied history. The dynamic between them, coupled with the weight of Ferrari’s expectations, promises a thrilling 2025 campaign.

Hamilton expressed his belief that there was much more greatness ahead for Leclerc, adding that he looked forward to witnessing his growth and competing alongside him. He remarked that it had been enjoyable trying to chase Leclerc during the race, though he admitted the Monegasque driver had been just slightly too fast.

Hamilton also noted that Leclerc had faced significant misfortune in several races that season, suggesting it could have easily been his third victory after narrowly missing out in Bahrain and Austria.

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After doubts in recent years about the long-term future of the Monaco race, partly due to various clashes over sponsorships and the costs of hosting the Grand Prix, as well as the fact that Monaco often delivers exciting Saturday races but less thrilling Sundays, like this year’s race which had no pit stops, the Monte Carlo event is now secure for at least the next six years.

One of the classic events on the calendar, so much so that it is considered one of the jewels of the triple crown along with victories in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500, now has a stable future. The previous contract only extended until 2025, and there were open discussions about the race’s future, especially since Liberty Media was considering the possibility of modifying the layout of the track to provide more overtaking zones, which is realistically very difficult.

With this new agreement, starting from 2026, Monaco will change its date, moving from the traditional end-of-May slot to the first week of June. This change has a dual impact: on one hand, it will avoid clashes with the Indianapolis 500, but more importantly, it will provide Formula 1 with greater flexibility in calendar planning. “The Principality has made a significant commitment to Formula 1’s sustainability efforts and its ambition to create a more sustainable calendar,” reads the F1 statement.

The renewal of the contract with Monaco is part of a broader strategy by Formula 1, which in recent years has opted for long-term contracts, sometimes even lasting decades: a way to ensure stability for the calendar, and the renewal of Monaco for an additional six seasons is confirmation of this.

There will also be commercial changes. Starting in 2025, as part of the agreement signed by F1 with LVMH, TAG Heuer will replace Rolex as the official timing partner: TAG is also a long-time partner of the Monaco race, meaning its brand will no longer be in conflict with F1’s brand, which had been a point of contention during past renewal negotiations. Monaco had fixed income from its collaboration with TAG Heuer, while F1 insisted that its partnership with Rolex be respected even in Monaco.

“I am pleased that Formula 1 will continue racing in Monaco until 2031,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “The streets of Monte Carlo are unique and an iconic part of Formula 1. The Monaco Grand Prix remains a race that every driver dreams of winning.”

“I would like to extend a special thanks to H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco, and all those involved in extending this important partnership,” added the Formula 1 CEO.

Michel Boeri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco, expressed his satisfaction with the contract renewal, which will still require the Principality to pay a participation fee to host the event, as was the case in the last contract extension: “I would like to thank especially H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Stefano Domenicali, and everyone involved in extending the contract.”

“Signing this new agreement with the Formula 1 Group until 2031 not only confirms the strength of our relationship, but also reaffirms our commitment to offering all visitors an unparalleled, first-class experience during race weekends. The Monaco Grand Prix is the most important sporting event and continues to attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to the Principality and millions of viewers worldwide.”

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This year, the Monegasque driver won on both of his home circuits: in the 69 seasons where Monaco and Monza have both been on the calendar, Charles Leclerc’s is only the tenth such double victory. The #16 is also the ninth driver to accomplish this feat: notably, the two most successful drivers in history (Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher) did not.

Who Achieved This Before Charles Leclerc?
The first to complete the Monaco-Monza double was Stirling Moss (Maserati) in 1956, followed by Ronnie Peterson (Lotus) in 1974. For Ferrari, the only driver to achieve this precious one-two was Jody Scheckter during his golden year (1979). Afterward, McLaren took the spotlight, with Alain Prost (1985) and Ayrton Senna (in both 1990 and 1992) securing the double victory. The most recent drivers to achieve this were Fernando Alonso (2007, also with McLaren) and, of course, Sebastian Vettel (2011) and Max Verstappen (2023) with Red Bull. Although winning on two very different circuits like Monaco and Monza is a sign of a well-rounded car, “only” in five out of nine cases did the driver in question go on to win the World Championship: Jody Scheckter, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna in 1990, Sebastian Vettel, and Max Verstappen.

As for constructors, this is Ferrari’s third Monaco-Monza double in its history. Besides the aforementioned 1979, Scuderia Ferrari also achieved it in 1975 (Niki Lauda won in Monaco, Clay Regazzoni replicated the feat at Monza). McLaren leads this ranking with a clear margin (1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2005, 2007), followed by Mercedes (2014, 2015, 2016), Red Bull (2011, 2022, 2023), and Ferrari.

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In a recent interview with Gentleman’s Journal, Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc reflected on some of the most beautiful and significant moments of his motorsport career. He had three main goals, with a fourth one still missing but one he is eager to achieve.

“More Than Just 25 Points”

“Reaching Formula 1—this was the first. The second was to become a Ferrari driver one day, and the third was to win the Monaco Grand Prix. These three goals have been achieved,” he notes. But the last one is by far the most important and coveted: “To become world champion, and I’m still working on that.” – the Ferrari driver pointed out.

“The most special moment of my entire career” and the only time he was visibly overwhelmed with emotion after crossing the finish line. This was confirmed by the team radio right after the GP, with Charles Leclerc in tears over the victory he had just achieved. “Winning in Monaco, my hometown, on the streets where I used to take the bus to school every morning as a child, and seeing all the people who really matter to me around the track—all my childhood friends, all my teachers, and my entire family—was extremely special. Even though it only awards 25 points, like any other victory, emotionally, it was everything.” – the Monegasque driver concluded.

Source: f1ingenerale

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