FIA enforce last-minute rule change days before Monaco GP

The FIA have announced a last-minute rule change just 48 hours before the Monaco Grand Prix race weekend gets underway.

The most prestigious race on the Formula 1 calendar takes place this Sunday at Circuit de Monaco.

Traditionally, the first two free practice sessions of the weekend were staged on Thursday rather than the usual Friday, in order to allow roads to be opened on Friday.

This changed from 2023 onwards, with Monaco falling in line with the rest of the F1 calendar.

But the fact that the circuit does operate around public roads in Monte Carlo does present other logistical challenges for the teams and drivers.

The pit lane, for instance, is around half the size of other circuits, meaning that the majority of team members work in especially close quarters.

That makes it even more difficult when it comes to restricted period curfews, covering the time where operational team members are not permitted to be situated within the circuit.

That largely includes the team personnel responsible for transporting the car to the circuit, and getting race equipment and supplies ready before the start of FP1.

Restricted Period 1 lasts 13 hours up until 29 hours before FP1 starts, while Restricted Period 2 lasts for 14 hours up until just four hours before FP1.

The curfews are largely in place to prevent teams from working on their cars for 24 hours a day and prevent team personnel from being overworked.

However, due to the unique challenges in place at the Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA have decided to cut each curfew period by three hours.

The rule change only applies to a maximum of six operational personnel for the 'sole purpose of tyre preparations post tyre fitting from the tyre supplier'.

"Teams must nominate the six operational personnel, informing the FIA in writing by email, no later than the start of curfew on the appropriate day," an FIA statement reads.

The FIA scrapped curfew entirely at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix due to widespread travel issues relating to the conflict in the Middle East.

F1's governing body exercised force majeure and noted the 'specifically ongoing travel and freight distributions experienced in the preparation of the Australian Grand Prix'.

Monaco GP rule changes detailed

The curfew alteration is not the only rule change brought in for the Monaco Grand Prix this year.

The use of 'straight mode' - the active aerodynamics system in place that allows drivers to lower their front and rear wings - has been banned over safety concerns.

The FIA's stance is that the mode 'should only be in places where the cars are not operating at the limit of tyre grip'. Drivers can, however, still use overtake mode on the pit straight.

READ MORE: Monaco Grand Prix rule change introduced by FIA that hasn't been seen this season

Elsewhere, the mandatory two-stop rule for the Grand Prix, which was introduced last year, has been scrapped.

Teams attempted to exploit the rule by pitting one of the drivers early and have them back up the cars behind, so that their other driver could gain time and then track position.