FIA Controversy As Two-Stop Monaco Rule Confirmed

Monaco GP Promoter Michel Boeri On The Brink
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 27: A general view showing Nyck de Vries of Netherlands driving the (21) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Monaco GP Promoter Michel Boeri On The Brink
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 27: A general view showing Nyck de Vries of Netherlands driving the (21) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

A cloud of controversy emerged from Wednesday’s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, as the FIA body approved mandatory two-stop strategies for the 2025 Monaco GP.

In a statement, the FIA said the move requiring each driver to use at least three sets of tyres in the normally processional race is to improve “the sporting spectacle”.

“It’s a little artificial,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, “but it does add another dynamic and another possibility for Monaco to move away from a very stagnant, boring race that it can often be.”

But the ‘artificial’ rule was not the cloud of controversy that emerged from the World Motor Sport Council meeting – that was reserved, typically, for FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Amid rumours the divisive figure may be challenged in the FIA presidential elections scheduled for late this year, two officials sat out the meeting when they refused to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Reports suggest Ben Sulayem is trying to prevent leaks to the media, but FIA deputy president for motorsport Robert Reid, and UK representative David Richards, point-blank refused to sign and were barred from participating.

The latest rumours suggest the saga might be a breach of the FIA’s own statutes, calling into question the validity of the decision made about Monaco.

An FIA spokesman played down the matter.

“It is normal practice in all organisations for confidentiality agreements to be signed to protect our interests as a regulator,” he said.

The spokesman added that the measure was “overwhelmingly supported” by other World Motor Sport Council members.

From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.

New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

250530 Sfhp F1 R09 Spagna Ca R0915023 E47f5afb 8155 4d3f 9b20 0daac660dda8

Lewis Hamilton Asks Ferrari To Focus On 2026 Car

Lewis Hamilton thinks it may be time for Ferrari to ...
Arvid Lindblad

FIA Could Green-Light Arvid Lindblad For F1 Next Week

Arvid Lindblad could be on the Formula 1 grid soon. ...
2025 Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday - Toto Wolff (image courtesy Mercedes)

Angry Taxi Drivers Hit Back At Mercedes’ Toto Wolff

Italian taxi drivers have amusingly returned fire at Mercedes team ...
Was Crashgate A Real Thing? - Piquet Never Intended To 'Harm' Massa

Briatore ‘Never Spoke’ With Piquet About Crashgate

Flavio Briatore has reiterated his innocence some decade and a ...
F1 Grand Prix Of Abu Dhabi Practice

Verstappen Deserved FIA’s Spanish GP Slap – Marko

Dr Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen deserved to be penalised ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle