• Monaco Grand Prix

Pirelli eyes two-stop race in Monaco

ESPN Staff
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With overtaking so difficult in Monaco, more pit stops could help drivers gain positions © Sutton Images
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Pirelli is targeting a two-stop race in Monaco in an attempt to open strategic options on the street circuit.

With overtaking notoriously difficult and qualifying widely regarded as the most important session of the year, the Monaco Grand Prix was won on a one-stop strategy last year despite the rapidly degrading Pirelli tyres. Sebastian Vettel was also set to win having stopped just once in 2011, so Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery says he hopes the 2013 rubber will result in more pit stops this year.

"In Monaco we'd expect an average of two pit stops per car, because in complete contrast to the last race at Barcelona, Monaco has very low tyre wear and degradation," Hembery said. "This doesn't make the race any less strategic however, as in the past we have seen drivers trying completely different strategies yet ending up very close to each other at the finish.

"The last race in Spain was won from lower down on the grid than it has ever been won before, so it will be interesting to see if this pattern can repeat itself in Monaco: a track that is renowned for being difficult to overtake on. Because of this, strategy will become even more important than usual, with teams trying to use tactics to improve on their starting positions."

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