Max Verstappen and George Russell have criticized Formula 1’s new rule requiring two pit stops during the Monaco Grand Prix. The rule was designed to make the race more exciting, but both drivers said it did not work. The narrow streets of Monte Carlo make overtaking very difficult, especially with the larger and heavier F1 cars used today.

The two-stop rule was meant to add unpredictability to the race. However, the recent Monaco race saw no overtakes on track. Verstappen briefly led near the end by delaying his second pit stop but called the rule ineffective. He said that whether drivers do one stop or two, it makes no difference because passing is almost impossible on this track.

George Russell started 14th after problems in qualifying and spent the race stuck behind slower cars. He made an illegal pass and was given a penalty. Russell said the two-stop strategy clearly failed and suggested changing the race format to focus more on qualifying events. He proposed having sprint qualifying races on Saturday and Sunday, with points awarded for each to make things more exciting for fans.

There is growing concern that without major changes, the Monaco Grand Prix risks becoming outdated. The narrow layout and car size limit overtaking and reduce racing excitement. Experts say Formula 1 should rethink how to make Monaco more competitive. New formats or changes to the race weekend could help bring more action and interest to this historic event.