A extremely polarising proposal to make two pitstops per race obligatory has been escalated to the Formulation 1 fee and debated – however with no clear consequence besides an settlement to not dismiss the concept out of hand.
The fourth and remaining F1 Fee assembly of the yr was held within the FIA places of work in London in the present day (Friday 14 November), and chaired by FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis.
Though the concept of constructing two pitstops obligatory has not been met with common approval, and got here with combined outcomes when it was carried out in Monaco this season, the beforehand unloved idea had gained some momentum in current weeks after a run of races with little or no tactical selection. That is regardless of Pirelli introducing a ‘step’ between its harder-compound decisions in the USA and Mexico grands prix.
Whereas the two-stop proposal’s supporters consider that it’s going to create further jeopardy in races, and introduce tactical selection, its opponents level out that technique choices will naturally coalesce round a really slim window.
“My largest fear could be that we find yourself, all of us, doing the identical technique to inside a lap of one another,” stated Williams crew principal James Vowles in the course of the Brazil Grand Prix weekend.
“Since you’re pressured that method due to the 2 stops.” Vowles, as a former head of technique at Mercedes, is in a robust place to weigh up the professionals and cons.
James Vowles, Williams
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos through Getty Photos
McLaren boss Andrea Stella, in the meantime, stated in the identical press convention: “We’ve seen loads of races with one man on a one-stop and one man on a two-stop, after which the man on a one-stop being chased down by the two-stop – however that [would] clearly disappear.
“So I believe we have to suppose very fastidiously, and we’re. I’m positive the F1 Fee will debate it, and I’m positive we’ll come to the proper reply.”
The idea was mentioned as a part of a broader debate round learn how to engineer extra strategic selection. Pirelli’s most well-liked state of affairs is to not pressure two stops, for the reason that timings of those would naturally synchronise, however to make the distinction between one or two stops much less clear-cut.
What it was attempting to do with the ‘step’ in tyre compounds not too long ago was to make a one-stop race utilizing exhausting tyres slower; however, in each race weekends, groups had been capable of execute one-stop races with out recourse to the exhausting rubber anyway.
“A proposal to discover obligatory two pitstops for grands prix was mentioned together with changes to tyre specs, tyre-life limits and using three compounds in the course of the race,” stated the FIA in an announcement summarising the F1 Fee’s assembly.
“The dialogue centred on suggestions on evaluation and simulations from groups and Pirelli. No adjustments had been presently agreed, but it surely was agreed that talks on this matter would proceed in the course of the 2026 season.”
Drivers take the beginning of the Formulation One Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the Baku Metropolis Circuit in Baku on September 21, 2025. (Picture by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Picture by OZAN KOSE/AFP through Getty Photos)
Picture by: Ozan Kose / AFP through Getty Photos
One other attention-grabbing consequence of the assembly was to impose a minimal floor space for paint or sponsor decals on the automotive. It’s understood that the industrial rights holder has been significantly involved concerning the influence on the TV spectacle of groups struggling to satisfy the minimal weight restrict: the de facto answer has been to run as little paint on the vehicles as potential, leaving huge swathes of naked carbon fibre.
“Following discussions with the Technical Advisory Committee, the subject of a minimal floor requirement restrict for automotive liveries in 2026 was mentioned,” stated the FIA assertion.
“It was agreed by Fee representatives {that a} minimal of 55% of floor space (when seen from the aspect and above) have to be coated by painted or stickered liveries versus naked carbon fibre surfaces. The target of this measure is to extend visible differentiation between vehicles.”
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