Autobayng News Team
Concern over the quality of racing in Formula 1 this year has led the FIA’s F1 Commission to discuss increasing the number of mandatory tyre changes from one to two.
At a meeting on Friday the commission did not agree to impose the new rules for the 2026 F1 season, but the proposal remains under consideration for the future.
Would forcing drivers to change tyres twice per race lead to more varied strategies and add greater interest to the racing?
For
Although the last race in Brazil saw drivers use a mix of one- and two-stop strategies, that has been the exception rather than the rule so far this year. A more typical race has seen drivers gravitate towards single-stop strategies and delay their sole visit to the pits as long as possible in the hope of benefitting from a Safety Car period or similar.
Requiring drivers to make two pit stops per race would give drivers more opportunities to get out of traffic and emerge into clear air. It would introduce a new element to strategies and make races less predictable.
Against
Several F1 team bosses have argued the effect of this rule change could be the opposite to what F1 desires, and make races more predictable. By eliminating the possibility to pit just once the number of realistic strategies would be reduced, therefore forcing teams to use more similar tactics.
This year’s Monaco Grand Prix, which featured two mandatory pit stops in a one-off rules change, was hardly a ringing endorsement of the idea. The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where drivers were required to pit three times due to concerns over safety, also indicated enforcing more pit stops will not enliven the racing.
I say
The one successful change F1 has made to its tyre rules in recent years shows the sport needs less restriction, not more. Allowing all drivers to pick which tyres they start on, instead of forcing the top 10 to use tyres from qualifying, has improved the fairness of races and created more strategic intrigue on race day.
So instead of adding an extra mandatory pit stop, F1 should remove the existing one. This would create a much bigger performance difference between strategies.
At present the choice between a one and two-stop strategy is the difference between going 150 and 100 kilometres on one set of tyres, on average. But allowing drivers to complete a race without changing tyres would introduce another option: go over 300km on one set. Mixing in drivers attempting to no-stop with rivals on one- and two-stop strategies would be the best way to add the strategic variety F1 craves.
You say
Should F1 require drivers to make two pit stops at all its races? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments:
Do you agree F1 should increase the number of mandatory pitstops from one to two at all races?
- No opinion (0%)
- Strongly disagree (86%)
- Slightly disagree (9%)
- Neither agree nor disagree (2%)
- Slightly agree (2%)
- Strongly agree (2%)
Total Voters: 117
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