Carlos Sainz Demands Monaco GP Probe Over ‘Manipulation’ Claim

Carlos Sainz is calling on Formula 1 officials to investigate the outcome of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix due to concerns over potential race manipulation. Sainz finished 10th in Monaco and was vocal about the strategic moves by the Racing Bulls team, which he claims exploited gaps in the current FIA Sporting Regulations.

He pointed to the team’s use of Liam Lawson to slow down the pack, allowing his teammate Isack Hadjar to pit twice early and secure a sixth-place finish.

This tactic forced a gap in the field—a strategy Williams later replicated with their own drivers. During the race, drivers sometimes ran up to four seconds slower per lap than their normal pace, a practice Sainz argues violates the principles of fair competition outlined in Formula 1’s event guidelines.

This year’s Monaco GP featured a mandatory two-stop rule for the first time, a change introduced to address criticism of processional races. Sainz admitted the extra pit stop added excitement around pit windows but did little to encourage actual racing on the circuit. More on Sainz’s view of the two pit stop rule.

The aftermath has intensified discussions about future regulations, with teams urging the FIA’s 2026 Technical Advisory Committee to prioritize rules that discourage artificial gaps. George Russell agreed current strategies create a bad look for the sport, while Max Verstappen sarcastically suggested four pit stops for next year. Verstappen’s reaction to the Monaco GP rules.

With Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes monitoring developments, attention turns to how Formula 1 will balance strategic depth with on-track integrity. Quick takeaways from F1 Monaco.