Formula 1 will have important technical novelties at this weekend’s Monaco GP. Red Bull and Mercedes took advantage of a specific change in the regulations to introduce new aerodynamic elements on their rear wings, seeking performance gains on a circuit where every detail can make a difference.
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For the first time this season, teams will not be able to use movable wings in Monte Carlo. As the track does not have specific modes for straights, the wing configurations will remain fixed throughout the lap, eliminating the need for the mechanisms normally used to alter the flap position.
The change opened up space for unconventional solutions. According to released information, teams took advantage of the area of the rear wing mechanisms to add small aerodynamic elements designed to generate additional downforce. Under normal circumstances, these parts would be impractical due to the constant changes in flap position during the use of active aerodynamics.
Red Bull adopted a solution consisting of two new elements positioned over the central mechanism of the rear wing. Mercedes went even further and promoted a broader reformulation in the region, replacing part of the traditional assembly with a more complex system of small aerodynamic profiles. McLaren is also expected to present a similar concept during the weekend.
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Meanwhile, Ferrari has not, so far, demonstrated having significantly explored this area. Audi, on the other hand, took advantage of the fact that the front wing elements remain fixed in Monaco to remove the large fairings from the mechanisms it had been using since the beginning of the season.
The expectation now is to observe whether these solutions will have a real impact on performance on a circuit where maximum downforce is one of the most important factors for achieving a fast lap and a good starting grid position.
