The FIA and Liberty Media proposal will be on the agenda at the next meeting: the idea is to create stints where drivers can push at full speed without managing tires. Various options with pros and cons will be discussed. Let’s explore them…
Alongside the biggest technical revolution in its history, Formula 1 could also face a significant sporting regulation change in 2026. The idea, supported by some teams and encouraged by Liberty Media, has been under consideration for some time and wouldn’t be entirely new. We are talking about the mandatory double pit stop, a topic that has resurfaced since Pirelli tires’ durability has discouraged engineers from pursuing two-stop strategies.
In the last five Grands Prix, the winning strategy has always been a single stop, and except for exceptional circumstances (the Zandvoort safety car and Silverstone’s weather conditions), the last race with two stops was Spielberg. For those who see double pit stops as a key variable to make races more exciting, times are tough, as teams consistently consider limiting the race to one stop for various reasons.
Simulation software calculates exact average lap times to manage tires and enable a single-stop strategy, and even if the difference with a two-stop simulation is minimal, the first scenario always prevails. A slower race pace helps manage temperatures (lower speeds reduce overheating risks) and, additionally, a single stop halves the risk of pit stop mishaps and traffic management issues.
In this context, drivers focus mainly on maintaining the target time indicated by simulations, a scenario that doesn’t align well with the spectacle Formula 1 wants to offer fans. Hence the idea of imposing two mandatory pit stops as a potential remedy against long ‘train-style’ stints. Mandatory double pit stops are not entirely new; in Losail 2023, two stops were imposed for safety reasons, with a maximum lap limit per tire set.
The enforced solution at the Qatar GP allowed evaluation of a two-stop race, showing that drivers could push at maximum without worrying about tire management. Liberty Media’s goal is precisely this, and according to Motorsport.com, the next F1 Commission meeting will place the two mandatory stops proposal on the table. Besides gauging team support, the meeting will highlight a series of possible scenarios.
One proposal requires using all three compounds selected by Pirelli for the weekend, leaving teams free to choose the sequence. Another option under discussion is imposing two stops without compound restrictions, removing the current obligation to use at least two different compounds. There will also be consideration of setting a maximum distance per tire set, not exceeding 45% of the race distance.
The debate is expected to be challenging. Some argue that requiring three compounds will lead all teams to a standard strategy, following the principle that more obligations reduce the number of possible choices. Team opinions will be crucial to understand what emerges from their simulation software. Regarding the effects of requiring all three compounds, the Mexico City weekend revealed very different assessments.
According to some insiders, using three compounds could lead to different race interpretations, while others see it as a potential boomerang, forcing teams into the same choices and same stint lengths. Allowing a fully free strategy, except for the two mandatory stops, could gain more consensus. The discussion, including at the F1 Commission table, will be wide open.
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