Monaco GP to feature earlier battery deployment cut-off

Across the first five Grands Prix of the season, phenomena such as lift-and-coast and super clipping have been a recurring feature to varying degrees. Monaco, however, is expected to be a notable exception in that regard.

The unique layout of the Principality, with its lack of long straights and abundance of corners and heavy braking zones, should provide ample opportunities for energy recovery throughout the lap. As a result, drivers are expected to have battery charge readily available for much of the circuit, reducing the need for aggressive harvesting strategies and making energy management far less of a concern than at most other venues.

According to The Race, Monaco will feature a significantly revised energy deployment profile compared to the opening rounds of the season. Rather than maintaining maximum MGU-K output until around 290 km/h, the electrical assistance will begin to reduce much earlier, from approximately 200 km/h onwards. The consequence is that drivers will have exhausted their battery deployment by the time they reach 300 km/h, effectively preventing the cars from benefiting from electric power at the highest speeds.

Another significant change compared to the first five Grands Prix of the season will concern the use of active aerodynamics, with drivers set to race around Monaco without access to Straight Mode for the first time in 2026. The FIA's official circuit documentation does not include any designated activation zones for the system around the streets of Monte Carlo, meaning teams will be unable to use the low-drag configuration that has featured at every other venue so far this year.

The decision is largely linked to the unique nature of the Monaco circuit. Unlike traditional tracks with long straights, the Principality is dominated by acceleration zones, heavy braking events and a constant sequence of corners, leaving very few sections where the cars are not operating close to the limit of available grip. As a result, the FIA concluded that activating and deactivating Straight Mode could create unnecessary stability concerns in key parts of the lap.

FIA has also established a minimum duration requirement for Straight Mode zones. Any activation area must allow drivers to use the system for more than three seconds, avoiding extremely short deployments that would increase workload in the cockpit while offering only marginal performance benefits. Monaco's layout ultimately failed to meet those criteria.