F1 Commission | All decisions for the 2026 season: from pit stops to more colorful liveries

The (highly divisive) proposal to introduce two mandatory pit stops in every race came to the F1 Commission table, where it was discussed without reaching a clear verdict. The only shared point was not to reject the idea outright. The fourth and final annual Commission meeting was held at the FIA offices in London, chaired by single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis.

Double Pit Stop Divides Teams

One of the most discussed topics was the mandatory two pit stops requirement, previously tested without much success at the Monaco GP, which did not receive unanimous approval. However, in recent weeks, the idea gained momentum after a series of races with very little strategic variety, despite Pirelli introducing more marked differentiation between harder compounds at the Austin and Mexico City events.

Supporters of the measure believe that two mandatory pit stops would increase unpredictability and offer more strategic alternatives. Opponents, however, highlight the opposite risk: the flattening of tactics to a single window considered optimal.

Drawing from his experience as former strategy chief at Mercedes, James Vowles discussed the issue during the Brazilian GP: “My biggest concern is that we would all end up doing the same strategy within a one-lap margin,” adding: “Because we would be forced to do it due to the two mandatory stops.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also expressed caution, stating in the press conference: “We’ve seen many races with one driver on a one-stop and another on a two-stop strategy, with the one-stop driver being chased by the other – but this would obviously disappear. We need to think very carefully about this, and we are doing so. I’m sure the F1 Commission will discuss the matter and we’ll reach the right decision.”

Pirelli less Drastic Solutions

Within the F1 Commission, the two pit stops hypothesis was just part of a broader discussion dedicated to stimulating greater strategic variety. Pirelli’s position is clear: better to avoid a mandate that would automatically synchronize strategies, and instead focus on the performance delta between one and two stops.

The recent compound gap experiment aimed to make the one-stop strategy with hard tires less advantageous. However, in both races, the use of the hard compound proved marginal, still allowing teams to complete the race with just one pit stop.

In the meeting summary statement, the FIA declared: “A proposal to explore mandatory two pit stops in grand prix races was discussed, along with possible changes to tire specifications, tire life limits, and the use of three compounds in races. The discussion focused on feedback from analysis and simulations provided by teams and Pirelli. No changes were approved for now, but it was decided that the topic will continue to be addressed during the 2026 season.”

Livery Requirement from 2026

Among other points discussed, the introduction of a minimum requirement for painted or sponsor-covered area on cars stands out. F1’s commercial property expressed particular concern about the television appearance: many teams, in attempting to make cars as light as possible, have reduced paint to a minimum, leaving large areas in raw carbon fiber.

As explained in the FIA statement: “After discussions with the Technical Advisory Committee, the topic of a minimum surface area for liveries starting in 2026 was addressed. Commission representatives agreed that at least 55% of the surface visible from above and from the side must be covered by paint or decals, and not left as visible carbon fiber. The measure aims to increase visual differentiation between cars.”