The race-killing strategy that worries Pirelli ahead of the F1 Monaco GP. Pirelli fears a long Safety Car could allow teams to complete both mandatory pit stops early.

The race-killing strategy for the F1 Monaco GP: the scenario that even worries Pirelli. The two mandatory pit stops add a layer of uncertainty to the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. It’s difficult to predict the teams’ choices, as they will try to exploit the stops to climb the order. There are many possibilities: from pitting in the very first laps to doing the complete opposite, but there’s also the risk of a long Safety Car.

Saturday of the Monaco weekend once again proved to be one of the most exciting days of the season. Lando Norris edged out Charles Leclerc in a duel decided by thousandths, thanks in part to McLaren’s aggressive strategy. Oscar Piastri will start behind them, while the stewards have decided to penalise Lewis Hamilton for impeding Max Verstappen, who will start fourth.

With qualifying done, the focus now shifts to the race. George Russell hinted at the possibility of “extreme” choices, given the impossibility of overtaking on track. This was confirmed by Mario Isola to journalists present in the Principality, including the correspondent from F1inGenerale.com. However, there is an additional scenario that concerns Pirelli: the possibility of two consecutive pit stops, which could freeze the race.

Isola: “There’s a possible scenario that worries me”
The issue is simple: with the obligation to make two pit stops, teams will try to do so at the most favourable moment for their race strategy. Last year, a red flag at the start of the Grand Prix allowed all teams to change tyres. This year, however, a “long Safety Car” could be the trigger: if the safety car stays out for many laps, drivers could make two stops in a row.

“There’s only one scenario that worries me: a long Safety Car,” explains Mario Isola. “A Safety Car like the one in Imola, lasting eight laps, would mean everyone would pit twice. Naturally, teams would take advantage of such an opportunity, especially while barriers are being repaired or cars are being removed. And they’d have no further obligations for the entire race.”

“But the problem is that I’m not sure this pit lane can accommodate twenty cars at once. The risk is that, if the second car in a team has to wait for the first to finish its tyre change, it could block those behind. It’s a complicated situation.”