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FIA Bars Active Aero Straight Mode at Monaco Grand Prix

The FIA says Monaco's tight, traction- and brake-heavy streets fail its safety, activation-duration, stability rules.

Overview

  • The FIA confirmed on Thursday that the official F1 track map contains no straight-mode activation zones for the Monaco Grand Prix, so the 2026 race will be the first round this season without the feature.
  • Straight mode is a low-drag setting that flattens adjustable front and rear wing flaps to cut aerodynamic drag by about 20% and can raise top speeds by roughly 20 km/h.
  • The governing body applied clear criteria that bar straight-mode where cars operate at the limit of tyre grip, including heavy braking, traction-limited exits and high lateral-load corners.
  • The FIA also requires each straight-mode zone to last more than three seconds to avoid short bursts that add driver workload without meaningful efficiency gains.
  • Overtaking tools remain: the separate overtake/power mode will still be available at Monaco with detection placed before Rascasse for activation on the run to the final corner.