The F1 Monaco Grand Prix had new rules to make it exciting, but in reality it proved that less is more

Australia Broadcast Center

26-05-2025

How can F1 make the Monaco Grand Prix an exciting race?
It is a simple question, seemingly without an answer.
Monte Carlo's narrow streets and slow and tight corners, combined with the long and wide cars of modern F1 make overtaking near impossible.
For decades, it has led to races that more resemble processions. A parade of race cars, rather than cars racing.
But this year's race went from dull to borderline comical, and it may have taught F1's front office an important lesson — F1 is best when it is organic.
The Monaco Grand Prix is the jewel in the crown for F1.
It is the race every driver wants to win and every fan wants to attend.
But the race itself is arguably the worst of the year and F1 wanted to change that.
Every driver was mandated to pit twice on Sunday. The hope was for teams to come up with varied pit strategies and add excitement and unpredictability to the race.
What fans got was the exact opposite.
The combination of needing to stop twice, and overtaking being impossible around Monaco, led to drivers deliberately driving slow to help their teammates.
Teams instructed drivers to go slow, holding up rivals, while their teammates could race clear, complete their stops, and then emerge on track still in front of the gaggle who were slaving behind a deliberately slow car.
It was confusing, dull and the exact opposite of what a race is.
A mandate that was hoped to produce one of the best races in recent years, actually led to one of F1's worst races.
And there is a lesson for organisers in this.
In the wild world of F1, simplicity is great and organic excitement is better than manufactured fun.
Despite years of boring races, hundreds of thousands still attended and tens of millions still watched at home.
F1 fans knew what they were getting into, because they love the product for what it is.
At its core F1 is simple; build a fast car, employ a quick driver, and complete the race as soon as possible.
That is how F1 has always been, and that is what has made it so popular.
The series had an enormous following around the world for decades, and the simplicity of the sport allowed everyone to enjoy it.
Netflix got involved and gave F1 a popularity surge that it still enjoys now.
But even Netflix knew audiences would enjoy the simplicity of F1.
The early seasons focused heavily on the plight of backmarker teams, desperately trying to score just one, crucial and all-important championship point.
They were driving, to survive. Simple.
It was this simplicity that was sorely lacking in Monaco on Sunday and all it achieved was confusing the audience.
The intention from F1 was commendable. There is little doubt F1 was thinking of its fans when it introduced the pit stop mandate.
But when excitement and fun are forced, it is never as good as when it comes naturally.
Something race winner Lando Norris summarised well on Sunday.
"I think Formula 1 should not turn into just a show to entertain people. It's a sport. It's who can race the best, who can qualify the best," he said.
"The last thing I want is manufactured racing, and I think we definitely need to stay away from that and do a better job with cars, with tyres.
"Then you might start to see more racing, but not by just introducing so many pit stops."
F1 has new technical regulations from 2026, meaning next year's cars will be vastly different to 2025.
The next generation of cars is hoped to allow for better wheel-to-wheel racing.
Will this translate to on-track battles in Monaco? More than likely not.
But fans have proven over the decades that they enjoy the product as it is.
Fans don't need pit stop mandates or funky rules.
Fans want fast cars, great drivers and a compelling story that plays out without interference.
And when F1 gets that right, it is a beautiful sport to watch.