F1 News: FIA controversy as two-stop Monaco rule confirmed

(GMM) A cloud of controversy emerged from Wednesday’s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, as the FIA body approved mandatory two-stop strategies for the 2025 Monaco GP.

In a statement, the FIA said the move requiring each driver to use at least three sets of tires in the normally-processional race is to improve “the sporting spectacle”.

“It’s a little artificial,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, “but it does add another dynamic and another possibility for Monaco to move away from a very stagnant, boring race that it can often be.”

But the ‘artificial’ rule was not the cloud of controversy that emerged from the World Motor Sport Council meeting – that was reserved, typically, for FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Amid rumors the divisive figure may be challenged in the FIA presidential elections scheduled for late this year, two officials sat out the meeting when they refused to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Reports suggest Ben Sulayem is trying to prevent leaks to the media, but FIA deputy president for motorsport Robert Reid, and UK representative David Richards, point-blank refused to sign and were barred from participating.

The latest rumors suggest the saga might be a breach of the FIA’s own statues, calling into question the validity of the decision made about Monaco.

An FIA spokesman played down the matter.

“It is normal practice in all organizations for confidentiality agreements to be signed to protect our interests as a regulator,” he said.

The spokesman added that the measure was “overwhelmingly supported” by other World Motor Sport Council members.