The development brief for the Monaco Grand Prix is typically a simple one: Tune every available surface to generate downforce, regardless of the cost in drag. But this year the situation is different.
This is due to the cancellation of the preceding Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix last week. That race would have been an ideal time for the teams to bring their first significant upgrades of the year: It was the first event of the season in their home continent, making it easier to bring new parts in; it wasn’t a sprint event, so teams had a full three hours of practice; and Imola is a fairly conventional, permanent track.While the first two apply to Monaco, this track is anything but conventional. By F1 standards it’s extremely slow but also narrow, making for shorter, sharper changes of direction than most tracks. The latest generation of ground effect Formula 1 cars do not thrive at low speed, and that’s what Monaco is all about.
So for the like of Mercedes, which planned to bring a major upgrade to Imola, postponing it to Monaco is far from ideal. However their rivals understand why postponing it until the next race at the Circuit de Catalunya was not an option.
“I would always put it on the car as soon as possible, because you learn always more than leaving it in the garage and not using it,” said Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver said it is “really difficult to tell” how competitive Mercedes might be this weekend as a result. “I think for them as well, to understand the whole new concept, I don’t know where it’s going to put them.”
The most striking aspect of Mercedes’ change is the replacement of the novel ‘zero’ sidepods with more conventional examples. The team says the reshaped inlets will “improve flow to the floor edge, which results in more floor load and also improved flow to the rear corner”. Other changes to the floor geometry are aimed at improving the car’s rear downforce, while the front suspension has been revised as well.
Mercedes isn’t the only team to have brought its intended Imola upgrade package to this weekend. Ferrari, McLaren and Alfa Romeo have too.
Teams have also brought a number of Monaco-specific parts at the ready. As well as cranking up the wing angles for maximum downforce, some teams have altered their steering geometry and suspension layout to compensate for the tightest corner on the track, the Fairmont Hotel hairpin.
2023 Monaco Grand Prix F1 teams’ updates
The teams described the changes to their cars for this weekend’s race as follows.
Red Bull
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “Greater camber of the span of the rear wing bi-plane compared with other options.”
Description: “Given the low average speed of Monaco a rear wing geometry to attain greater load at a given speed is valuable for performance, increasing the camber of the wing across the span and fulfilling the maximum Z depth have been pursued to attain the desired load. The Beam wing is an elevated load version which was already in the suite of options.”
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Reliability
Difference: “Wishbone shroud alteration to allow the steering lock required in Monaco.”
Description: “The trailing edges of the wishbone shrouds have been altered to clear the wheel geometry at the lock angles required for Monaco.”
Ferrari
Rear Corner
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Updated RBD furniture, brake cooling inlet and suspension fairings”
Description: “Meant to be introduced in Imola, these new Rear Corner components are part of the standard development cycle. They aim at improving local flow features and loading.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “Higher Downforce Top Rear Wing and Lower Rear Wing designs”
Description: “Introduction of more loaded Top and Lower Rear Wing main and flap profiles. This update is circuit specific, with the aim to cover the low efficiency requirements of Monaco.”
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Mercedes
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Top wishbone forward leg inboard pick-up lifted.”
Description: “Change results in improved positioning of wishbone wake, which in turn improves onset flow into the sidepod improving cooling performance.”
Floor Fences
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Change in fence camber”
Description: “Change in fence camber results in increased local load and improved flow to the diffuser and hence more rear load.”
Sidepod Inlet
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Wide and high sidepod inlet”
Description: “Improve flow to the floor edge, which results in more floor load and also improved flow to the rear corner.”
Coke/Engine Cover
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Wide bodywork”
Description: “The increased bodywork width increases local downforce and also improves the flow to the rear wing assembly and rear corner.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Increased camber rear wing flap”
Description: “Increased flap camber results in increased rear wing load, which in turn drops the pressure behind the car increasing rear floor load.”
Rear Corner
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Second cascade of cake tin winglets added”
Description: “The additional winglet array adds local winglet load, and also drops the pressure behind the lower suspension legs increasing local load on these too.”
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Alpine
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Realignment of wishbone, pushrod and track rod fairings.”
Description: “The realignment of the wishbone and pushrod fairings aims to improve flow conditioning by eliminating local separations. The track rod fairing update is required for the increased steering angles required around the Circuit de Monaco.”
Sidepod Inlet
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Wider sidepod with deeper gulley.”
Description: “The deeper gulley of the sidepod improves airflow towards the top rear wing and beam wing. The wider nature of the sidepod targets an improvement to floor suction.”
Floor Edge
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “In conjunction with the aforementioned sidepod update, there is a small floor edge cut-out.”
Description: “In conjunction with the above.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “More loaded top rear wing main plane suited for track characteristics and high downforce nature.”
Description: “The top rear wing features more load with the sole aim of tackling the high downforce nature of the Circuit de Monaco and offering optimal downforce level for best lap time.”
Beam Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “In conjunction with the aforementioned top rear wing update, the beam wing has more load with double element style.”
Description: “The double element beam wing features more load with the sole aim of tackling the high downforce nature of the Circuit de Monaco and offering optimal downforce level for best lap time.”
McLaren
Floor Fences
Reason for change: None
Difference: “Modified OB Fence in line with TD-029”
Description: “In line with TD-029, which was due to come into effect for Imola, the upper edge of the most OB Floor Fence has been modified.”
Front Corner
Reason for change: Circuit specific – cooling range
Difference: “Larger Front Brake Scoop”
Description: “In order to manage high Brake Energy seen at this circuit, a larger Front Brake Scoop has been designed to increase Front Brake Cooling.”
Rear Corner
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Rear Corner Lower Winglet Endplate”
Description: “This new Lower Winglet Endplate features a cut-out which alters local flow structures and load distribution on both the winglet itself as well as the rearward underfloor.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “High Downforce Rear Wing assembly”
Description: “This new Rear Wing assembly sits at the top end of the available downforce range, suitable to the circuit characteristic.”
Beam Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “High Downforce Beam wing to suit Rear Wing assembly”
Description: “This new beam wing assembly sits on the upper end of the load range and works in conjunction with the more loaded upper Rear Wing assembly.”
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Alfa Romeo
Coke/Engine Cover
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “A new engine cover with a different shape and different connection to the top of the floor”
Description: “A redesigned engine cover will allow us to better direct the aero flow to augment downforce and improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the car.”
Floor Edge
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “A new design for the floor edge and fences”
Description: “The improvement to the floor edge and fences, part of a wider package of improvements originally brought to Imola, will allow us to improve the aerodynamic performance of the car.”
Floor Body
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “A new design for the floor body”
Description: “The improvement to the main part of the floor, part of a wider package of improvements originally brought to Imola, will allow us to improve the aerodynamic performance of the car.”
Rear Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Redesigned rear suspension covers”
Description: “Together with the redesigned floor, this upgrade improves the aerodynamic performance of the car and works as part of a package to maximise the downforce generated by the car.”
Rear Corner
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Redesigned rear brake ducts”
Description: “Together with the redesigned floor, this upgrade improves the aerodynamic performance of the car and works as part of a package to maximise the downforce generated by the car.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “New profile of the main planes of the rear wing”
Description: “The new rear wing, in conjunction with the beam wing, will allow the team to maximise the aerodynamic performance of its package for the unique configuration of the Monaco circuit.”
Beam Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – balance range
Difference: “New profile of the beam wing (bi-plane instead of stacked)”
Description: “The new beam wing, in conjunction with the rear wing, will allow the team to maximise the aerodynamic performance of its package for the unique configuration of the Monaco circuit.”
Cooling Louvres
Reason for change: Circuit specific – cooling range
Difference: “New max cooling config – Increased louvre porosity”
Description: “The newly introduced louvre geometry will help in high cooling/low mass flow rate tracks to maximise the cooling performance of the car staying inside the dedicated spec limits.”
Aston Martin
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “The upper wishbone has a slightly modified twist distribution.”
Description: “Due to different onset conditions the section of the wishbone fairings we re-aligned to improve the interaction and local load generated.”
Front Corner
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “The lower deflector plan view incidence has been adjusted within the legal limits.”
Description: “The new position is a more optimum alignment with the changes in flow field upstream from the new front wing tip area.”
Rear Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Small detail changes to the rear suspension fairings to alter section incidence.”
Description: “The changes are predominantly to suit the modified rear brake duct and the different flow field this creates in this area.”
Rear Corner
Reason for change: Circuit specific – cooling range
Difference: “Modifications to the inlet and exit ducts of the rear brake duct, and associated changes to the elements mounted to the IB face.”
Description: “The internal flow paths are improved leading to an increase in cooling. The elements have been reworked to improve performance in this new flow regime.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific -drag range
Difference: “There is a new rear wing with more aggressive geometry.”
Description: “The more aggressive wing increases local suction for increased loads, and is acceptable due to the lower efficiency of this circuit geometry.”
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Haas
Front Wing
Reason for change: Performance – flow conditioning
Difference: “Evolution of the four profile geometries along the Front Wing Span has been modified.”
Description: “The front wing affects the aerodynamic field of the car bodies behind it. With this new shape a particular care has been taken to the wake interference with the lower front suspension leg and the front tire.”
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – mechanical setup
Difference: “Few modifications at the front suspension geometry will be introduced for next Monaco race.”
Description: “The particular conformation of the Monaco circuit requires some modifications to the geometry of the front suspension which will allow the driver to be able to correctly control the car in all the corners of the circuit. Some small aerodynamic surfaces will be updated to satisfy these modifications.”
AlphaTauri
Floor Body
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Compared to the previous floor body, underfloor surfaces local to the fences have changed. Upper surfaces behind the outermost floor fence have been lowered. The floor ‘curl’ detail ahead of the rear tyre has been modified.”
Description: “Floor body roof changes local to the floor fences combine with fence geometry changes to generate stronger vorticity from fence shedding edges, which gives increased local load. Lowered upper surfaces behind the outermost fences send increased mass flow to floor edges for increased local load. The tyre curl change reduces losses coming inboard of the rear tyre, which improves diffuser tail performance.”
Floor Fences
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Compared to previous floor fences, their camber distributions have changed in sympathy with changes to floor body roof surfaces.”
Description: “Floor fence changes and floor roof changes combine to give increased overall load as described above.”
Floor Edge
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Compared to previous floor edges, the new geometry has been narrowed to make room for a wing element that forms an extension of the previous floor edge wing.”
Description: “The extended floor edge wing acts as a trailing edge device to the main floor edge, lowering local pressure and giving better sealing of the floor for increased local load.”
Diffuser
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Compared to the previous diffuser, vertical sidewalls have been modified.”
Description: “The diffuser tail change increases outwash to keep rear tyre wakes further outboard, thereby reducing blockage at the diffuser exit for increased local load.”
Sidepod Inlet
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Compared to previous sidepod inlets, radiator duct inlet areas have been reduced by raising the lower lip.”
Description: “Reducing the size of the sidepod inlet allows increased mass flow to pass under the inlet, which feeds floor edges and allows the latter to generate increased local load.”
Coke/Engine Cover
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Compared to the previous engine cover, the ‘undercut’ has been modified to suit the smaller sidepod inlet.”
Description: “The engine cover update matches the sidepod inlet area reduction, allowing greater mass flow to floor edges for increased local load.”
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – mechanical set-up
Difference: “The position of the outboard track rod has moved rearward relative to the brake drum face.”
Description: “This modification gives greater road wheel angle for the same steering wheel angle compared to the standard outboard track rod position. The higher maximum road wheel angle is required to negotiate the turn six hairpin specific to this circuit.”
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “The upper wing elements have increased camber and incidence, particularly in the outboard part of the wing assembly compared to previously raced wing designs this season. The lower ‘beam’ wing assembly is a biplane arrangement, which also features increased camber and incidence wing elements compared to previously raced assemblies.”
Description: “While the efficiency (lift to drag ratio) of these wings is too low to be optimum for most circuits this season, the absence of long straights or high speed corners at this event puts a premium on downforce generation over the associated drag rise. These wings generate the maximum amount of downforce of all available rear wing assemblies.”
Rear Wing Endplate
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “The outside face of the lower endplate has been modified to include a cambered vane.”
Description: “The cambered lower surface of the vane generates suction, giving increased local load from the endplate.”
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Williams
Rear Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “The new rear wing is a larger, more inclined profile. The upper outboard junctions to the end plates are higher and squarer than on the previous medium downforce rear wing. The leading edge of the mainplane sits lower on the new wing to present a larger area.”
Description: “The larger and more aggressive wing elements deliver increased load and drag, which are efficient for circuits such as Monaco.”
Beam Wing
Reason for change: Circuit specific – drag range
Difference: “The new beam wing is larger and more inclined than beam wings we have run previously this year.”
Description: “The larger and more aggressive wing element delivers increased load and drag, which are efficient for circuits like Monaco.”
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – mechanical setup
Difference: “Change in steering arm length.”
Description: “Increases the gain between steering wheel rotation and front road wheel angle. Helps achieve the steering required to negotiate the tight corners in Monaco.”
Front Suspension
Reason for change: Performance – local load
Difference: “Revised cladding on front suspension elements: track rod, upper and lower wishbones.”
Description: “Primarily these changes are to accommodate the higher front wheel angles required for this circuit. The cladding is then optimised to maximise the local load and consequent flow structures.”
Front Corner
Reason for change: Circuit specific – cooling range
Difference: “The exit of the front brake duct is increased in size.”
Description: “There is a higher air flow through the front brake cooling system to cope with the unique demands of Monaco.”
2023 Monaco Grand Prix
- Mercedes ready to “grind” their way to competitiveness after major W14 update
- Verstappen surpasses Vettel as winner of most races for Red Bull
- How the first team to fit intermediate tyres in Monaco got the call right
- Verstappen’s Monaco pole run was the completion of his 2021 Jeddah lap – Horner
- Haas thrilled as upgrade performance exceeds wind tunnel predictions
Mayrton
26th May 2023, 11:58
Nice overview, much appreciated!
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
27th May 2023, 0:23
“Cake tin winglets”?
We’re trying to move on from jokes about the catering budget.