Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren Exploit Monaco Winglet Loophole

Formula 1 has arrived in Monaco with a technical novelty that has not gone unnoticed, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren have introduced some small additional winglets in the central part of the rear wing that have drawn attention for their radical design.

The explanation must be found in the regulations, this weekend the Straight Mode is not used, an active aerodynamics system that allows reducing downforce on the straights to gain top speed.

On conventional circuits, teams install an actuator in that central area that allows the rear wing to open on the straights, but in Monaco that part is superfluous because top speed is not relevant, the regulations allow that in that small central space other aerodynamic elements can be placed without being subject to the height and dimension restrictions that govern the rest of the wing.

The teams have taken advantage of that legal loophole to install high angle winglets that generate additional downforce without worrying about the drag they generate, Mercedes took this solution to the extreme, the German team completely eliminated the actuator and installed a complex set of winglets that extend backwards, creating a part that looks like it came from another category. Red Bull, for its part, has opted for a more conservative solution, it has kept the actuator housing but has reused it as a support for two simpler winglets.

McLaren has also joined the trend, although with its own design, the three teams have arrived at the same conclusion that on a circuit like Monaco, where top speed is irrelevant and downforce is everything, any gain in downforce is welcome even if it comes at the cost of increasing drag.

The placement of these winglets, mounted in a higher area than the main wing, allows them to benefit from cleaner airflow and be very effective in relation to their small size.

It is not the first time Formula 1 has seen such solutions in Monaco, in practice for the 2001 GP, the Jordan and Arrows teams tested additional large wings mounted on the nose and on the cockpit, although they were immediately banned by the FIA for safety reasons.

This time the winglets have passed technical verification and will be used throughout the weekend on a circuit where aerodynamics takes on a special role.