Monaco backfires on Williams and Mercedes’ slow-down strategy, Thailand to bid for street race in 2028, and other big updates

Monaco backfires on Williams and Mercedes’ slow-down strategy

Williams and Mercedes copied Racing Bulls to take advantage of the new two-stop rule by having their drivers slow the cars behind them, creating gaps for “free” pit stops. This caused big problems because many drivers got stuck behind slow cars, making the race less exciting at Monaco, where passing is very hard. Russell made an illegal pass to get away but got a big penalty, so Mercedes had to slow the pack again to help him. Even though the teams got some points, the drivers from Williams and Mercedes were unhappy because the new rule did not improve the race.

Click here to read the full article by Uros Radovanovic (planetf1.com)

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Thailand to bid for street race in 2028 

Thailand aims to host a Formula One street race in Bangkok in 2028 and will ask its cabinet to approve the plan next week. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who attended the Monaco Grand Prix, will push for a "Sustainable F1" race, focusing on environmental friendliness and green technology investment. The government says the race will boost tourism, a key part of the economy, and Thailand has experience hosting MotoGP events at its Buriram track. Talks with Formula One's chief Stefano Domenicali have already taken place, and the bid is seen as a way to raise Thailand's status in global tourism and events.

Click here to read the full article at reuters.com

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Monaco pitstop rule fails to fix racing

The new rule forcing two pitstops at Monaco added some strategy and stopped last year’s boring procession, but drivers called it artificial and said overtaking remains nearly impossible on the narrow streets. Teams like Racing Bulls and Williams used tactics to score points, but many drivers, including Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon, criticized these moves as manipulative and unsporting, blaming the problem on the track and oversized cars, not the pitstop rule. Ideas like minimum lap times or changing the circuit layout to create overtaking spots face big practical hurdles, and even smaller 2026 cars won’t fix the fundamental issue. With Monaco locked in until 2031, most agree it’s best to accept it as a qualifying spectacle rather than a real race and enjoy the unique challenge it offers.

Click here to read the full article by Ronald Vording (motorsport.com)

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What happened to Kimi's car at Imola?

Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin breaks it all down in the Akkodis Race Debrief for the Emilia-Romagna GP. He answers key questions, including how much Russell’s early pit stop affected his overall strategy, whether there was any thought of extending the first stint despite overheating concerns, and what the team expects going into Monaco and Spain in this triple-header — among others.

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Inside F1's battle of the yachts

F1 drivers seem to love spending time on the water—but which one owns the most impressive yacht? Is it Max Verstappen's sleek new ride, Charles Leclerc's stylish yacht, Lance Stroll's floating palace, or maybe someone else on the grid? Owning a yacht is one thing—but maintaining it? That's a whole different story. Just don't mention that to the Stroll family, who are reportedly in the process of building a $200 million superyacht.