Sainz Critiques Monaco GP Two-Pitstop Rule Amid Controversial Strategy
Carlos Sainz has voiced strong criticism regarding the mandatory two-pitstop rule implemented for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, asserting that it enables drivers to manipulate race outcomes. Sainz, driving for Ferrari, expressed his concerns after finishing in the points, alongside Williams driver Alex Albon.
The two-pitstop strategy allowed teams to hold back faster cars, leading to a tactical race where drivers could significantly slow their pace to create advantageous gaps for teammates. Sainz remarked, "Ultimately, you’re driving two or three seconds off the pace that the car can do. You are manipulating the race."
In Monaco, Williams executed this strategy effectively, with both Albon and Sainz capitalizing on this tactic to secure points. Albon’s strategic blocking of competitors, specifically blocking Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, played a pivotal role in this outcome. Russell himself resorted to cutting the chicane in a bid to overtake, resulting in a drive-through penalty.
Sainz commented on Russell’s actions, saying, "I completely understand why he did it…in the past, there were huge penalties for manipulating a race." This sentiment highlights the growing frustration among drivers regarding the effectiveness of current penalties in maintaining fair racing.
Additionally, the Red Bull duo of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar utilized a similar strategy, with Lawson successfully creating a buffer for Hadjar, who finished sixth, while Lawson took eighth.
As the season progresses, the implications of such race strategies and rules will continue to be scrutinized by drivers and teams alike, raising questions about the integrity of competition in F1.
