Why F1's active aero has been removed from the Monaco Grand Prix

At these specific zones, both the rear and front wings are opened to reduce drag and increase speed, as opposed to DRS only using the former. However, unlike DRS, the use of active aero in Straight Mode is not dependent on a driver’s position relative to the car ahead - that comes in for Overtake Mode, when drivers are given extra electrical power when within one second of the car ahead.

It is still somewhat of a surprise to see no overtaking aids or drag reduction system at F1’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’ considering DRS was available during the sport’s previous generation at Monaco’s curving start/finish straight from Antony Noghès to Sainte Devote. The FIA, however, have reportedly laid out their reasons.

As per The Race, why the FIA have not added any Straight Mode Zones to this year’s Monaco GP is relatively simple: Monaco does not fit the criteria they have set out at all other tracks. A primary guiding principle for the use of Straight Mode is that it is only deployed in areas where the cars are not on the limit of tyre grip. At a track where traction and braking is critical so frequently, the decision has therefore been made to prevent the activation and deactivation of Straight Mode negatively impacting car stability at corners.

There is another key factor, however, that has been outlined with regard to the duration of the Straight Mode, with the FIA reportedly deciding that each Straight Mode zone must last more than three seconds in order to avoid short bursts that only add to driver workload and fail to deliver significant gains.

The hope at Monaco this year ought to be that F1 2026’s smaller and nimbler cars will be able to deliver more exciting racing action that has unfortunately, but historically, been missing at the circuit. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, however, is not holding his breath.

Speaking after the Canadian GP, Bortoleto not only suggested that Straight Mode would indeed not be available at Monaco, but was concerned the new generation of cars are still too big for overtaking opportunities to be rife. Bortoleto said: “I think it’s going to be difficult to overtake in Monaco if I’m honest with you, because there is a lot of recharging in Monaco”

Over at Ferrari, meanwhile, there appears to be hope that Lewis Hamilton can finally score his first win with the Scuderia, and what better place to do it than at Monaco?

Speaking to media, including GPblog, after his P2 finish in Montreal - his best to date in red - Hamilton was confident he could go one better at the next race, explaining Ferrari's deficit on the straights compared to their rivals will not be as big a factor.

Hamilton said: "I mean, that’s the one track that power is not king. I think that’s definitely car performance. I think our car could be really strong there. I’m really going to focus on making sure I arrive with the same energy as I had this weekend, really study hard with the engineers to make sure we position the car in the right place from Practice 1."