--- title: "Could Two Mandatory Pit Stops Make F1 More Exciting?" date: "2025-11-03" modified: "2025-11-03" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/could-two-mandatory-pit-stops-make-f1-more-exciting" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Could Two Mandatory Pit Stops Make F1 More Exciting? ![MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 26: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 makes a pitstop during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)]() *\Bryn Lennon via Getty\* Over the weekend, several outlets confirmed that [FIA]() officials will discuss the idea of mandating two pit stops during every F1 race at this week's Sporting Advisory Committee and the [Formula 1]() Commission meeting. The idea follows in the footsteps of a rule applied at this year's Monaco Grand Prix, where all drivers had to stop at least twice. It appears that, if the details can be ironed out in time, it could take effect for the 2026 season. As *[PlanetF1]()* explains, the rule—like many others throughout F1 history—aims to make things more exciting on track by forcing teams to explore all three tire compounds available that specific weekend. Cars would start the race with Compound A and subsequently swap into Compound B during the first pit stop, and Compound C on their last one. This would eliminate what we've seen so much of in recent years: one-stop strategies. Theoretically, there's nothing wrong with a one-stop strategy, as it allows teams to maximize their time competing on the racing surface rather than wasting valuable time cruising into the pit lane, stopping for service, and then resuming the slow drive until they reach the pit exit. Additionally, this strategy currently works well because teams are only required to use two tire compounds, rather than three. ![Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc makes a pit stop during the Mexico City Formula One Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City on October 26, 2025. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / POOL / AFP)]() **Alfredo Estrella via Getty** In the past, drivers have expressed support for a two-pit-stop rule, including [Max Verstappen](), who recently shared that forcing two pit stops instead of offering an additional tire compound to the teams would "be better." However, one argument is that teams will constantly adjust to the rules to optimize performance. Therefore, the result will ultimately be the same, regardless of whether one, two, or three pit stops are mandated. Teams opt for one pit stop now because that delivers the best performance on track. With every team chasing the same goal, it results in nearly identical strategies and tire rotations. In theory, if you mandate two pit stops, teams would likely adopt almost identical strategies, and not much would change. Pirelli boss Mario Isola told *[Motorsport.com]()* that while they're "trying to do something good for the show," there's a good chance that all teams will essentially mirror each other's approach to the new rules. “Yes, we spoke about this several times," Isola told *Motorsport*. “I remember that last time we had some simulations from the teams. We had a chat with the other stakeholders, with the FIA, F1, and the teams, and said, okay, if we select these three compounds for event A, B, C, D, E, what is the predicted strategy for you? We asked the teams to make those simulations and come back to us – not making this public, but only providing the information to us. “What we \[realized\] is that the majority of the teams were converging on the same strategy, because you have a soft that is able to run five laps, a medium that is good for 20 laps, and a hard that can go longer. They were basically replicating the same strategy. So, when you put more constraints, the risk is that everyone is going in the same direction," he added. I believe that even if strategies are mostly the same, introducing a higher number of pit stops certainly increases the possibility of a shake-up over the race distance. As we've seen this year, McLaren has struggled to execute their pit stops effectively, ultimately ruining several races for both of their drivers, most notably Oscar Piastri, when he was [forced to pay for a mistake he did not make]() in Monza. Ferrari has done the same on and off throughout the season, and these instances increase as you look down the field. Mercedes' George Russell shared his take on the matter, adding that any artificial change implemented for the sake of enhancing the show runs the risk of never pleasing anyone. “I think Pirelli gets a hard time no matter what,” Russell told the outlet. “If there's lots of tyre degradation, people say it's not real and drivers can't push. When there's no tyre degradation, we say it's a boring race. So realistically, you want a tyre that you can push full gas, but that doesn't go the whole race. If you could choose, you'd want a tyre that you can go flat out on, but after 15 laps it falls off a cliff.” Do you think two mandatory pit stops would make F1 more exciting, or would it roughly keep things the same? *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()