Components One has been accused of resorting to gimmicks after asserting plans to boost the Monaco Grand Prix by forcing drivers to make not less than two pit stops.
Response to the plans from followers on social media ranged from these saying it was an encouraging improvement to these arguing that implementing this variation was proof that the race wanted to be jettisoned altogether.
Criticism has been rising in recent times that the historic race has change into pedestrian, with overtaking near inconceivable due to the mix of big, fashionable vehicles and the tight, twisting avenue circuit within the Mediterranean principality.
Final 12 months’s race was than common. Groups are at the moment obliged to make use of two completely different compounds of tyre in any given race. An early purple flag allowed your complete subject to dive into the pits and alter compounds, whereupon they accomplished the remainder of the race on one set of tyres, with minimal overtaking.
Varied options have been proposed to maintain the race related. Writing for Telegraph Sport after final 12 months’s grand prix, former Jordan and Jaguar designer argued that it , introducing a second hairpin earlier than the Tunnel part on reclaimed land.
“It might in all probability solely be an additional 500 metres in complete however it will be one thing that will give you a chance if it was laid out appropriately,” Anderson wrote. “That might be my solely tweak to the circuit. The remainder of it is extremely demanding and its traditions ought to be protected. It may be an excellent race.”
Crimson Bull staff principal Christian Horner, nevertheless, stated it was not potential to change the circuit.
Talking after Tuesday’s F1 Fee assembly in London the place governing physique the FIA, F1 and the ten groups all agreed to “improve the numbers of obligatory pit stops within the race”, Horner argued that the proposed adjustments had been constructive.
“I’ve simply come from that assembly and principally the dialogue was, Monaco you possibly can’t change the format of the circuit,” he stated. “And naturally, as now we have seen beforehand, notably with these vehicles as huge as they’re now, the race may be very a lot dictated by the Saturday. And what we noticed final 12 months was should you get a purple flag early on and everybody simply places one other tyre on, it’s very static.”
In a press release, the FIA stated the plan could be “additional mentioned” at F1’s sporting advisory committee, however it’s understood the plan because it stands could be for drivers to must do two pit stops and use all three obtainable tyre compounds in the course of the Monaco race.
Within the occasion of a moist race, drivers would nonetheless must do two stops, though tyre alternative could be extra versatile.
“Stating that it’s important to use doubtlessly all three compounds brings in one other component, so it turns into a two-stop race,” Horner added. “And may it rain as nicely, it will be a compulsory two-stop as nicely. So it’s distinctive to that race, and it’s actually as a result of nature of the circuit.”