F1 technique: What are the tire technique choices for the 2025 F1 Monaco Grand Prix?

The Method 1 Monaco Grand Prix duties drivers with surviving 78 of essentially the most troublesome laps on the calendar, as they rocket by a few of the most iconic scenes in motorsport with partitions — and hazard — looming round each nook.

But F1 immortality awaits on the finish of these 78 hair-raising laps.

Nonetheless, latest years have made the race itself one thing of a procession. The present era of automobiles, large in measurement, have made overtaking a close to impossibility within the race itself. To enhance the “racing spectacle” the game’s governing physique has instituted a brand new two-stop rule for the Monaco Grand Prix this yr, which means that drivers should make two necessary pit stops, utilizing three totally different units of tires, and if the race is run in dry situations they need to use at the very least two totally different tire compounds.

When you have heard the phrase “voyage of discovery” forward of an F1 race earlier than, you will hear it much more at present.

Lando Norris captured pole place for at present’s Monaco Grand Prix with a brand new observe document on Saturday, however how at present’s race unfolds is anybody’s guess.

Here’s a take a look at the potential tire methods for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix.

What’s the new two-stop rule for the Monaco Grand Prix?

At most races, drivers are required to make use of two totally different tire compounds, which implies they’re required to make at the very least one pit cease.

This yr’s Monaco Grand Prix is totally different. Drivers at the moment are required to make two totally different pit stops and use three totally different units of tires. The 2-compound rule stays, which means groups might theoretically use a soft-medium-medium or a soft-hard-hard technique.

However they should cease at the very least twice.

What occurred in final yr’s race?

Final yr’s race is maybe the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s again” in relation to the brand new rule. After years of debate over tips on how to enhance the Monaco Grand Prix, 2024 started with an opening-lap crash involving Nico Hülkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, and Sergio Pérez. The large three-way shunt lined the primary sector in particles, bringing out the purple flag.

When the session resumed your entire area had switched to the arduous tire, and the entrance runners went the remainder of the best way on that compound, managing their tires and protecting the speeds down. In consequence, the race took on the texture of a parade greater than anything, as the sphere adopted Charles Leclerc across the Monte Carlo streets.

I spoke with Oscar Piastri, who completed second final yr, within the days after the Monaco Grand Prix.

“It’s extremely powerful [to overtake in Monaco]. I believe for me the troublesome factor is that while I used to be proper behind Charles for lots of the race, it wasn’t as a result of he was gradual,” began Piastri. “It was as a result of he was deciding to go gradual, proper.”

“So it’s not like elsewhere the place they’ve clear strengths and weaknesses and you may type of set them up [for an overtake]. Like for him, if he needed to go sooner, he might have, actually relying on what he needed to do together with his proper foot,” added the McLaren driver. “In order that additionally made it powerful.”

Piastri admitted he made one try, however reviewing the race afterward, he conceded it might have been troublesome to make the overtake stick.

“I attempted as soon as into Flip Eight to attempt to get by. However, yeah, I watched it again and to be trustworthy, I used to be even additional again than I assumed. So it undoubtedly wouldn’t have labored. However yeah, that’s simply the character of Monaco, I assume.”

What tires does every driver have accessible?

Whereas we normally take a look at the technique choices first, it would make extra sense this week to begin with the tires that every driver has accessible.

Right here is that graphic, courtesy of Albert Fabrega:

Apparently sufficient, whereas most groups have at the very least two recent units of tires from totally different compound ranges, Aston Martin can be utilizing some scrubbed units on Sunday. Fernando Alonso has two scrubbed units of hards, a scrubbed set of the C5 medium tires, and three scrubbed units of the C6 gentle tires.

As for Lance Stroll, he has two scrubbed units of the C4 arduous tire, one scrubbed set of mediums, and two scrubbed units of softs, together with a pair of recent C6 tires.

On the entrance of the grid, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris every have two recent units of arduous tires and a recent set of C5 medium tires. Charles Leclerc, who begins alongside Norris in P2, has a recent C4 arduous tire, together with a brand new C5 set, and a used C5 set. As for Max Verstappen, who was promoted to P4 after a three-place grid penalty was handed out to Lewis Hamilton, he has a recent set of the C4 hards, a recent set of the C5 mediums, and 4 used gentle units.

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s director of Motorsport, predicted that the C6 gentle tire should come into play on Sunday.

“All three compounds will come into play: actually, drivers from three groups, Pink Bull, Racing Bulls, and Sauber, solely have one set of Laborious tires and one in every of Medium, so they’re certain to have to make use of the C6 through the race,” mentioned Isola in Pirelli’s post-qualifying report.

What are the technique choices?

Truthfully?

Who is aware of?

Of their post-qualifying report, Pirelli famous that there are “so many theoretical prospects” accessible to the groups.

“When it comes to technique, tomorrow’s race can be a one-off,” mentioned Isola. “The modifications to the Sporting Laws launched particularly for this Grand Prix require using at the very least three units of tires, which implies something is feasible by way of the pit cease home windows, on condition that there actually are so many theoretical prospects, to not point out appearances from the Security Automobile being fairly probably at this observe.”

One risk, significantly for the groups in the back of the grid, is to begin the race on one compound, pit on the finish of Lap 1 to modify to a second compound, and pit on Lap 2 to modify to the arduous tire — which as we noticed a yr in the past can go the space — and run so long as potential.

Groups on the entrance of the grid may need to begin on the gentle tire and push for a tough, brief stint, and right here is why:

The run from the beginning/end line to Flip 1, the Sainte Commit nook, is without doubt one of the shortest of the season, masking round 150 meters. Nonetheless, this is without doubt one of the higher spots for overtaking on your entire circuit, so getting a powerful launch into Flip 1 could be vital for the drivers on the entrance.

What are the drivers anticipating?

Just like these of us on the surface, those that can be climbing into the automobiles later at present are uncertain what to anticipate from the Monaco Grand Prix this yr.

“I don’t know. 4? It’s unattainable to place a quantity on it, particularly right here and extra so most likely previously than going right into a new-rule race tomorrow,” mentioned Norris after qualifying when requested about how a lot of the job he has performed in share phrases. “I’d have felt like the next quantity if it was final yr’s guidelines, however clearly this yr, issues have modified. Once more, my solely focus till this level has been qualifying. So, I’ve not thought concerning the race. I don’t must till later with the crew. For now, I’m having fun with the second of the laps that I did.”

“I believe it’s going to be a little bit of chaos tomorrow, however we’ll see the way it performs out. I believe there’ll be a number of technique video games, and we’ll see who comes out on high. However I believe we could be beneath strain from automobiles that we most likely don’t anticipate, from the again, which could make the whole lot attention-grabbing. We’ll see,” mentioned 2024 Monaco Grand Prix winner Leclerc within the FIA Press Convention Saturday.

“I don’t assume anybody actually is aware of what to anticipate,” mentioned Piastri.

Later within the FIA Press Convention, Leclerc even used the phrase “unknown” when speaking concerning the rule, and the significance of the run off the road into Flip 1 at Sainte Commit.

“Yeah, as I used to be saying earlier, I believe it’s very troublesome additionally to know what to anticipate. I believe all of us go a little bit bit into the unknown. Extra stops means extra alternatives,” added Leclerc. “I don’t assume it is going to change what occurs in Flip 1, Lap 1. I believe that’s going to be similar to some other yr as a result of it’s going to be simply as vital. However then we’ll must see with the pit stops.

“I don’t assume there’s going to be something shocking within the high positions. I believe there’s going to be some issues which are most likely going to be shocking within the again, and that would have an effect on the highest positions. So yeah, I don’t know.

“It’s going to be attention-grabbing.”