F1, GP Monaco: double stop obligation, rules and penalties

The two mandatory stops competing in Munich constitute a decidedly non -“cosmetic” novelty. We intend to say that it goes beyond the entity with which this rule has been introduced, or the increase in the show in the race, increasing the uncertainty of the outcome, usually obvious (net of accidents) on this track. The double stop determines, of course, the division of the race into three phases of which it is relevant to decide the length according to which we will proceed with the choice of the tires to be used.

Two pit stops

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In Monaco, the degradation tires is decidedly low, with a little abrasive asphalt, where in reality it is precisely the very low adhesive grip available to represent the variable that has greater impact on the wear of the penumatic, subject to frequent longitudinal patinations and lateral slides out of the slow curves. Given these premises, the choice options increase definitely, as not all three compounds could enter a strategic speech. We mean not a compound for each single phase, but the possibility of adopting for example a mix consisting of two sets of medium and one of soft, rather than a set of soft and two of hard. Indicatives in the choices, the performance differences between the individual mixes that especially in the case of medium and hard is roughly less than half a second at the round (this in the facts was also the performance GAP seen in Imola). In essence, the data passage of the race step in the long run carried out in FP2 becomes decisive.

The tires to use in Munich

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Depending on the chronometric feedback between medium and hard, the teams will evaluate which choice is the most effective on paper, however taking into consideration a plan B. The red flags, in fact they are an event to be seriously considered in the strategic planning of the race, but above all, the Safety Car represent a decidedly discriminating factor. Moreover, a neutralization would have a substantially different specific weight depending on the duration but also of its location during the race. In practice, the strategic effect and contingent choices varied very much if it takes place in the first phase of the race, rather than half or the last part. On a track like the Monegasque one characterized by a particularly tortuous layout and a reduced length, the puzzle of the identification of the temporal windows in which to make the stops in the pits is only partially resolved by the performance shown by the individual mixes. The gap, in fact, is not so substantial as to induce net choices that therefore they can be considered the “beast option” available. As mentioned above, also different strategies or hinted on a different division and length of the Stints (the phases) can produce, at least at the same time equivalent. It can therefore be said without fear of being denied that the two mandatory pits stop make that of Munich a real “Roulette” race.