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Reports indicate the FIA is looking at lifting pit lane speed limits at select races to enhance race strategy and excitement in Formula 1.
The pit lane speed limit has been a part of Formula 1 since 1993 for practice sessions and from 1994 for all sessions. The current standard limit of 80 kilometres per hour has been in place since 2014 and is there for safety reasons.
Some circuits with narrow pit lanes, such as Monaco, Zandvoort, Singapore or Melbourne, have a reduced limit of 60 kilometres per hour. Now, however, F1 is considering easing these stricter limits in order to make pit stops more appealing and to improve race strategies.
This idea comes at a time when many are concerned about the lack of excitement in the early part of the 2025 season. Four of the first five races have been won from pole position, which means the driver starting first often finishes first too. This has led to people calling the season a “qualifying championship” where little happens during the race itself.
To deal with this, Formula 1 and the FIA are looking at different ways to bring more strategy into play. One way would be to stop reducing the pit lane speed limit at certain circuits, as per The Race. Increasing the limit from 60 to 80 kilometres per hour could save drivers several seconds during a stop.
In Singapore, for example, the time spent in the pits could go down from 29 seconds to around 22 or 23, which might encourage teams to consider two-stop strategies more often.
At the same time, Pirelli is planning to use softer tyres at more races. These tyres wear out quicker, which could naturally lead to more pit stops and more variation in strategy.
We have already seen softer compounds used in Jeddah, and they are also planned for Miami and Imola, where the new C6 compound will be introduced for the first time. All of these changes are aimed at creating more exciting races, especially on tracks where overtaking is difficult.
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