Williams surprised by Monaco GP two-stop return for F1 2026

Williams team principal James Vowles says he was surprised to hear Formula 1 is likely to continue with its mandatory two-stop strategies in Monaco after this year’s controversial experiment.

With overtaking pretty much impossible on the streets of Monte Carlo, the FIA implemented the mandatory use of three tyre sets this year to force teams onto a two-stop strategy, hopefully unlocking more strategic options and jeopardy.

But the idea didn’t have the intended effect at the front of the field, as teams who ran two cars closely together, like Racing Bulls and Williams, were able to exploit the rule with one car backing the field up to create a pitstop window for the car in front.

The tactics did at least create a talking point, but also produced unease over drivers being compelled to run over four seconds per lap slower for their teams to gain an advantage.

Vowles, boss of one of the squads involved, said he was surprised to find the one-off rule tweak is back on the cards for 2026 after an e-vote by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

When asked why it was brought back, he said: “Good question. It wasn’t actually discussed in F1 Commission,” before adding that he would ask FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis for more details.

Vowles said he wasn’t a fan of the tactic his team took advantage of to score points, because he felt it went against the spirit of racing.

“For the record, we weren’t the first to do it. We had to do it in reaction to the field,” he said. “I didn’t like it. It’s the most uncomfortable I’ve felt. I like going out there and fighting for points on merit rather than having to game the system in order to achieve it.

“I think the arguments that are being made were, ‘Was it a better show irrespective of that?’. I can’t answer that question. I think that’s for the fans to answer. My personal feeling is, I don’t like the lack of clean racing that occurs as a result of it.”

Speaking exclusively to Autosport, Tombazis said the Monaco rule repeat wasn’t set in stone just yet, and invited the 10 teams to come up with more palatable solutions to make the processional street race more entertaining.

“First of all, we don’t think that what we saw this year is necessarily the thing to repeat or the thing to aim for. There is an issue to be addressed,” he explained.

“At the moment the 2026 rules still include the two pitstops for Monaco, but we are in August and Monaco is in June next year.

“Clearly, the request to the teams is to be creative and propositive. We at the FIA are not sold on any particular solution yet. If there are proposals that will make it better, then we will definitely support them.

“This is one of the topics that will be discussed with the Sporting Advisory Committee and the F1 Commission in the next few meetings.”

Additional reporting by Ronald Vording