Formula 1 drivers were in unison after the Monaco Grand Prix that the new tyre rules experiment did not work.
Drivers were required to make at least two pit stops during the race, otherwise they would be disqualified at the chequered flag.
Drivers lose around 19 seconds in a pit stop around Monaco, so it was a case of backing the pack up on a track where it is almost impossible to overtake, to generate enough of a gap to make a pit stop.
Discussing the new rules on Sky Sports F1, former F1 driver and Monaco winner Jenson Button believes F1 should do one thing next season after what he saw teams doing in the race.
Jenson Button wants ‘tweaks’ to Monaco GP tyre rule after what teams did
A few drivers obliged by the rule by taking their stops early in an attempt to break into the points, but those inside the top ten effectively created a backstop with their teammates and pitted once there was a suitable enough gap.
This is what Williams did with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon in an attempt to maintain their points-paying positions, while Racing Bulls also did this with Liam Lawson early on in the race to help Isack Hadjar.
Button believes teams made a ‘mockery’ of the rule and has requested one change to be made for next season if it remains.
“When teams were using one driver to help the other, holding back other cars and going six seconds per lap slower, it looks a bit silly,” said Button.
“Then you have George trying to jump Alex Albon through the chicane, and then he can push on by six seconds, so he doesn’t get a penalty. Again, it makes a bit of mockery of it.
“It’s a shame that it hasn’t worked. I love that we’ve tried it because I think it needed something, but we need to figure out a way we can tweak it.”
Carlos Sainz felt Monaco tyre rules ‘backfired’
Williams were one of the main beneficiaries of the new tyre rules, as it enabled them to score double points with both of their drivers.
Albon pointed out that the teams effectively just did what they normally do at Monaco twice, while Sainz felt the new rules ‘backfired’ when speaking on Sky Sports F1.
“I don’t know at the front, but in the midfield it backfired. It made things even more manipulated to everyone who tried to get in two stops and pit windows. I’m happy for F1 to try things, we tried it, it didn’t work,” said Sainz.
Williams move further ahead of Haas in the Constructors’ Championship with their double points finish, with them now on 54 points while Haas are 28 points behind.
