Formula 1 World Championship 2025, Round 8, Monaco Grand Prix, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Thursday 22 May 2025 - Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari in the FIA Press Conference.

Is this the kind of action F1 wants? Leclerc unhappy with team games' controversy

22:30, 27 May

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byNorberto Mujica

During the Monaco Grand Prix Racing Bulls and Williams used the FIA's Monaco two pitstop rule to ensure a double points finish, which Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is not in agreement with.

Regarding the pitstop rules introduced for Monaco, it wasn't all bad for Leclerc who eventually finished in P2 behind race winner Lando Norris, as contrary to recent years, where after the pitstops the order would be pretty much the same until the flag, this time the sense that something could change gave the Monegasque driver hope until the end.

"I was pretty happy that this was the case because it at least gives you a little bit more hope that something is possible," said Leclerc to media including GPblog.

"Honestly, it was quite interesting because with the traffic and everything, there was lots of things happening, or at least you had to push through traffic, which is a very tricky thing to do, especially here in Monaco. So I think it gives more opportunities."

Charles Leclerc during the Monaco Grand Prix

Leclerc questions Monaco pitstop rule after 'team games'

Nevertheless, Leclerc did catch wind of the strategic games the teams in the midfield played to ensure a double points scoring finish, namely Racing Bulls and Williams.

"I’ve heard also there were quite a lot of team games behind us. Whether this is the kind of action we want to see going ahead, I don’t know. I haven’t looked at the race yet. "

The Monaco-born driver knows that this is trait inherent to Monte-Carlo: a driver better hope they can qualify as high up as possible, otherwise they're in for a very long Sunday afternoon.

"It’s always been a bit like that in Monaco. It's special for that, especially on the Saturday when you're pushing to the limit. That’s why it’s so important and tense for drivers to go into qualifying in Monaco because we know that then on Sunday you don’t have as many opportunities. "

"That is part of the magic of Monaco. Then I understand we need to try and find a way to make it a bit more exciting, and maybe that’s the way to go. But I haven’t checked the race to really judge."