Upgrades Preview: Monaco Grand Prix

Thirty upgrades across eleven teams makes Monaco one of the more technically active weekends of the season, driven by the unique opportunity created by the removal of Active Aero. Here is how every team stacks up in the Principality.

Monaco has always brought out the engineers' most creative thinking, but few expected the technical story heading into the Principality to look quite like this. With Active Aero disabled for the weekend and the low drag sensitivity of the circuit making additional downforce highly attractive, teams have exploited the space where the Straight Mode actuator usually sits in ways that are genuinely novel. The result is one of the more visually striking grids in recent memory, with a combined 30 upgrades across the 11 teams — busier than almost anyone anticipated.

McLaren

McLaren arrive at their 1000th Grand Prix with the most aggressive upgrade package of the weekend, with changes spanning the full length of the MCL40. A Monaco-specification front suspension has been developed to handle the unique corner radii encountered here, while a larger engine cover offers increased overall cooling capacity. New beam wings and rear corners enhance aerodynamic flow conditioning, and McLaren join Mercedes and Red Bull in adding winglets within the rear wing Straight Mode fairing volume to generate additional local downforce. A floor stay attached to the diffuser completes the package, improving robustness and deflection to maintain aerodynamic performance through the speed range.

Headline Upgrades: Monaco-spec front suspension. Larger engine cover for increased cooling. New beam wings and rear corners. Rear wing winglet exploiting Straight Mode actuator space. Floor stay added to diffuser.

Mercedes

Mercedes have added small winglets within the rear wing Straight Mode fairing volume, aimed at generating local downforce and drag. The team have described the removal of Active Aero in Monaco, combined with the circuit's low drag sensitivity, as making these additions particularly attractive. The rear corner of the rear wing has also been revised with additional material compared to the Canada specification, and the curvature of the wing has been updated accordingly.

Headline Upgrades: Rear wing winglets within Straight Mode fairing volume. Revised rear wing corner with additional downforce material. Rear wing curvature updated from Canada specification.

Red Bull

Red Bull join McLaren and Mercedes in the winglet conversation, with their rear wing extension drawing considerable paddock attention. Alongside that headline piece, the RB22 runs a larger exit duct for front brake material and caliper cooling, while the suspension fairings and inner face of the front wheel bodywork have been trimmed to allow for a greater steering angle. The engine cover and sidepod exits have also been opened up to assist with power unit and gearbox cooling.

Headline Upgrades: Rear wing extension exploiting Straight Mode actuator space. Larger front brake exit duct and caliper cooling. Front suspension fairings trimmed for greater steering angle. Engine cover and sidepod exits opened for cooling.

Ferrari

Ferrari have focused their Monaco efforts on an updated front suspension to provide greater steering angle for the circuit's tight and twisting layout, alongside a new floor body and diffuser featuring small aerodynamic load-generating devices. There are no significant visible changes to the rear of the SF26, making this a technically focused rather than visually dramatic package.

Headline Upgrades: Updated front suspension for greater steering angle. New floor body and diffuser with aerodynamic load-generating devices.

Williams

Williams have introduced a revised front suspension geometry to cope with Monaco's specific demands, alongside an updated exhaust tailpipe installation described by the team as offering an additional aerodynamic loading opportunity at the rear of the car.

Headline Upgrades: Revised front suspension geometry. Updated exhaust tailpipe installation for additional rear aerodynamic load.

Racing Bulls

Racing Bulls have two updates for Monaco: a modified front suspension to allow for additional steering travel while minimising aerodynamic disruption, and a new flap and central winglet on the rear wing to generate additional downforce by exploiting the removal of Straight Mode.

Headline Upgrades: Modified front suspension for additional steering travel. New rear wing flap and central winglet for additional downforce.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin's main development push is earmarked for the summer, but there are meaningful changes here nonetheless. A front suspension adjustment delivers a greater steering range, an updated exhaust tailpipe bracket generates more aerodynamic load at the rear, and additional bodywork louvres may be added to increase cooling exit areas. Honda have also contributed pre-event driveability gains on the power unit side, with Fernando Alonso citing Q2 as the target and Q3 as a realistic stretch goal.

Headline Upgrades: Front suspension adjustment for greater steering range. Updated exhaust tailpipe bracket for additional rear aerodynamic load. Additional bodywork cooling louvres. Honda pre-event power unit driveability gains.

Haas

Haas have updated their front track rod position to address Monaco's specific steering angle requirements, while also making a minor revision to the rear wing Straight Mode fairing. An additional aerodynamic device has been added downstream of the exhaust tailpipe, with both rear changes aimed at encouraging upwash and increasing downforce.

Headline Upgrades: Updated front track rod position for Monaco steering demands. Revised rear wing Straight Mode fairing. Additional aerodynamic device downstream of exhaust tailpipe.

Audi

Audi have removed the Straight Mode actuators on both the front and rear wings — no longer needed with Active Aero disabled for the weekend — freeing up space and reducing unnecessary blockages. Their genuine upgrades include a revised mirror design aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency by shaping airflow to the sidepod, and a redesigned roll hoop and engine cover to increase cooling options. Audi are the only team to introduce a new mirror concept this weekend.

Headline Upgrades: Straight Mode actuators removed from front and rear wings. New mirror design for aerodynamic efficiency and sidepod airflow. Redesigned roll hoop and engine cover for improved cooling.

Alpine

Alpine have registered one update on the FIA's submission sheet: flap winglets introduced to the rear wing to further enhance aerodynamic performance, as part of their ongoing in-season rear wing development programme.

Headline Upgrades: Rear wing flap winglets as part of ongoing development programme.

Cadillac

Cadillac have updated their rear wing and endplate surfaces, while changes to the exhaust tailpipe and bracket geometry are aimed at generating more aerodynamic load at the rear of the MAC26.

Headline Upgrades: Updated rear wing and endplate surfaces. Revised exhaust tailpipe and bracket geometry for additional rear aerodynamic load.

Final Thought

Thirty upgrades across eleven teams makes Monaco one of the more technically active weekends of the season so far, driven largely by the unique opportunity created by the removal of Active Aero. The winglet solutions from McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull have generated the most discussion, but the broader pattern of front suspension changes, exhaust tailpipe revisions and cooling updates tells the fuller story of a grid pushing hard as the European season gets underway. Whether the winglets travel beyond Monaco remains to be seen — but for now, the Principality is delivering a technical show to match the spectacle on the streets.