by SIMONE PELUSO
Three curves. The 78 laps of the Monaco Grand Prix were all concentrated on the startwhen the red flag caused by the terrible crash between Perez and the two Haas cars effectively eliminated the only element of pathos that the Monegasque race brought with it: the waltz of pit stops that puts the teams in a position to play the only real card to attack those in front.
A certainly not a new topic, especially in Monte Carlo. The 2011 edition comes to mind, the first of the new Pirelli era which made high-wear tires available, also requiring more than one stop in Monaco. In that race, Fernando Alonso (on a two-stop strategy and with fresher tyres) was glued with his Ferrari to Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull (almost on the canvas after making just one stop) and ready to attack, but an accident in the middle of the group it caused the interruption which allowed the German to change tires “at no cost” and finish the race without anxiety and problems.
The regulation has been in place for many – too many – years now requires the use of at least two different compounds throughout the race, but not a mandatory pit stop. Therefore, teams have the possibility of avoiding the break in situations like this year’s, with the race being suspended. A situation that has become extreme in Monaco 2024, given that the low degradation of the tires on a very slow track, with little abrasive road asphalt and almost impossible overtaking allow practically the entire race to be carried out with the same set of tyres.
Hamilton’s proposal
“Monaco is the most beautiful weekend of the year, except Sunday.” Just like that Alonsothe veteran of this Formula 1, appeared in front of the media on Thursday, underlining how the beauty of the qualifying clashed with a complicated race, in which the driver does not have many possibilities for action.
The Asturian was also followed Lewis Hamiltonputting forward a specific proposal for the Principality: “Monte Carlo hasn’t changed compared to the past, the cars are bigger and there is a huge risk of ending up in a wall. I wish the track was wider. It is part of history like Silverstone and Monza, they are jewels of our sport, but Monaco has not always put on a show. The race is always the same, from one stop, so I’d say that having special tires for this race in order to have more pit stops and create more suspense wouldn’t be a bad idea. F1 bosses can find a new formula to make the event appealing.”
There is no shortage of ideas, the riders themselves are pushing for this. The hope is that this year’s experience is not in vain and can lead towards a discussion table that will be useful for the future. Imposing even just compulsory stopping during the race and not the use of the two compounds could be a step in this direction.
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