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Mercedes Launches Bold Winglets Upgrade at Monaco GP
Highlights
- Red Bull, Mercedes add new winglets for Monaco Grand Prix.
- Movable wings banned at Monaco, allowing fixed-angle aero designs.
- Mercedes replaced original mechanism with custom winglet cluster.
- Ferrari has not introduced similar rear winglets for Monaco.
- Audi removed front wing fairings to reduce drag and weight.
- Teams exploit fixed aero rules to gain downforce in Monaco.
Red Bull and Mercedes introduce new rear‑wing winglets at the Monaco Grand Prix, exploiting the one‑off ban on movable wings to chase extra downforce on Monte Carlo’s tight streets.
Monaco runs without active aerodynamic systems, as the lap lacks long straights. With movable flaps disabled, teams lock fixed angles and can repackage mechanisms around the rear wing.
That opens scope for small auxiliary winglets near the central pivot and fairings. These surfaces exploit regulatory tolerances and add load that would be impractical with constantly moving flaps.
Red Bull’s solution places two short elements atop the mechanism shroud, clearly visible on the RB. The concept mirrors a recent development milestone in the team’s detail‑driven approach.
With movable wings banned at Monaco, teams lock fixed angles and convert the mechanism area into usable downforce.
Mercedes goes further. It removes much of the original linkage and replaces it with a compact cluster of tailored elements, prioritising stable load and reduced blockage over adjustability.
McLaren is expected to trial a similar geometry, although details remain limited. That indicates broader interest in the concept for tracks where straight‑line efficiency is secondary.
Ferrari has not added comparable rear‑winglet furniture this weekend. Audi instead targets the front, removing earlier large fairings to trim drag and weight under the fixed‑setup constraints.
Mercedes replaces the central mechanism with a cluster of wing elements, trading adjustability for stable load.
These changes suit Monaco’s profile. Low‑speed corners dominate, placing a premium on traction and stability. Extra downforce from compact surfaces helps where active adjustment is forbidden.
The gains are small but significant across a lap. With limited setup freedom, marginal load increases can shift qualifying order and protect tyres over the race distance.
Ferrari holds position without rear‑winglets; Audi strips front‑wing fairings to cut drag and weight.
Expect further evaluation through practice and qualifying, as teams assess balance changes and DRS‑less efficiency. The Monaco Grand Prix strategy also shapes priorities on ride, traction, and track position.
Visual Summary
Mercedes
Radical Cluster
Red Bull
Mini Winglets
+Movable Aero
🔒 Banned
Monaco
Street Circuit
Radical Cluster
Red Bull
Mini Winglets
+Movable Aero
🔒 Banned
Monaco
Street Circuit
Radical Rear Winglets Debut:
Red Bull
& Mercedes Chase Every Gram of Grip
Red Bull
& Mercedes Chase Every Gram of Grip
⬇️
+2 Mini-Wings: Red Bull’s secret grip trick
Mercedes: Most radical rear assembly yet
In Monaco’s twisty circuit, innovation wins. Fixed wings unlock unseen downforce—Red Bull and Mercedes set the template, as F1’s boldest ideas pop up where grip matters most and speed is just a number.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
