Several Formula 1 teams have discovered an innovative aerodynamic opportunity at the Monaco Grand Prix by replacing their rear wing DRS actuators with clusters of miniature winglets. The absence of straight-line speed mode at Monaco has rendered the traditional DRS actuator housing obsolete, creating space within the FIA’s technical regulation boxes that teams can exploit for additional downforce generation.
The strategy centers around Monaco’s unique characteristics, where low cornering speeds eliminate the typical need for aerodynamic efficiency. Teams can maximize downforce without concern for drag penalties since the Monte Carlo circuit lacks sufficiently long straights where air resistance would significantly impact performance. This approach allows engineers to pursue what might be considered “dirty downforce” – maximum aerodynamic load regardless of efficiency constraints.
Mercedes has adopted the most aggressive interpretation of this regulation gap, installing what resembles a series of cascading aerofoils. Their configuration features a mainplane-mounted pylon supporting three sequential winglets plus an additional top-mounted element, followed by two banks of paired winglets extending rearward, with the final bank attached to the upper rear wing flap. Each terminal winglet incorporates Gurney flaps to enhance aerodynamic effectiveness.
The winglets serve dual purposes beyond simple downforce generation. They create upwash that expands the low-pressure zone behind the car, potentially linking with the diffuser to increase suction and accelerate airflow beneath the vehicle. The FIA’s bounding box for actuator housing extends well above the rear wing elements, providing teams with vertical space to mount these aerodynamic devices while remaining within technical regulations.