Formula One could be heading for one of its most interesting rule shake-ups in years, and this time the big talk isn’t about engines or aerodynamics. It is about something that sounds small but could change how every race plays out, pitstops.
The current one-stop trend has turned most Grands Prix into predictable and boring for fans. Although the racing is still fast and technical, it’s still missing that element of surprise fans used to love. That’s where F1’s new idea of making two pitstops mandatory comes into play, and tire supplier Pirelli has some interesting thoughts about it.
What Is the One-Stop Problem That Fans Are Tired Of?
Over the past few months, one-stop races have become the norm as drivers start, mostly pit once during the race, and cruise to the finish line. While that sounds efficient, it’s not exactly exciting stuff for fans around the globe.
George Russell recently summed it up after the Mexican Grand Prix by calling modern F1 a race to Turn 1, and he’s not wrong. Once every driver settles into a rhythm, dirty air and tire management make overtaking almost impossible.
This year’s Pirelli tires have been more durable, allowing drivers to push harder without worrying too much about wear. This is a step forward in one way, but it has also made strategy a little boring. Due to this, the tougher tires last longer, and so teams naturally go for the safest bet, which is a single pitstop during the entire race under normal circumstances.
Pirelli’s motorsport boss Mario Isola understands the dilemma and said, “Teams always maximize what they have, and that means they try to reduce the number of pitstops…. Teams always try to minimize the number of pitstops because they don’t care about the show.”
Pirelli Thinks Two Pitstops Could Shake Things Up in F1
That’s where the idea of mandatory two pitstops comes in, and the proposal has been discussed in FIA and F1 Commission meetings, which aims to shake things up by forcing teams to stop twice. The goal is to mix things up, make strategies less predictable, and bring back some of the fun that’s been missing from recent races.
Max Verstappen even weighed in during the Baku weekend by saying that he’d prefer mandatory two stops over using extreme, short-lasting tires, which he considered useless.
Isola said that a two-stop rule could make racing more exciting, but it also needs to be done carefully. “I believe that a two-stop is better for the show because you have more unpredictability but you can’t force anyone unless we accept that two pitstops are defined by regulation.”
Simulations run by Pirelli have shown that whenever they’ve forced teams into set patterns, their strategies start to look the same, and that’s not what anyone wants, since the goal is to encourage creativity and not restrict it.
What’s Next for F1’s 2026 Season?
The FIA and teams are expected to continue discussing the idea as part of the 2026 regulation changes. One version of the plan would require teams to follow the two-pitstop rule but remove the requirement for teams to use different tire compounds. This would allow them to experiment more with their strategies and possibly even throw in some surprises along the way.
However, not everyone is convinced, as some worry that forcing extra pitstops might feel artificial or disrupt the sport’s natural flow. The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix showcased both sides of the argument, with three mandatory stops implemented for safety reasons. The race was intense, but the conditions pushed the drivers to their physical limits.
Isola has seen plenty of rule tweaks over his 15 years in the sport and believes any change should be made with caution, “We don’t know what to expect, but when we have an idea, there’s at least a possibility to react. But we should consider that we have a good championship now, so don’t take the risk to damage what we have.”
Formula One is trying to keep racing interesting, and if this idea takes hold, the strategy boards across teams could look a lot more exciting very soon.