Tech Show: Is the FIA right to ban active aero for Monaco?
6/4/20261 hr
The Monaco Grand Prix provides F1 drivers with a unique challenge, but they'll have one less thing to think about this year after the FIA decided that there will be no straight mode zones in the Principality, and hence no opportunity to use the active front and rear wings that are a feature of the 2026 regulations. Is that the right call? One man who doesn't think so is former F1 technical director Gary Anderson, who explains why to Edd Straw in the latest edition of The Race F1 Tech Show.
Edd and Gary also discuss the implementation of the 'Rev 1' engine map for this weekend, explaining what it is and why it's being used, plus there's a wider look at the unique engineering challenge that Monaco provides compared to other circuits.
And, as ever, we round off the episode with our listener questions section, in which Gary tackles questions on Ferrari's curious engine smoke, car ballast, the purpose of ADUO and limiting outwash.
If you'd like to ask Gary a question, send it to podcasts@the-race.com
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsEdd Straw· Host0:00
[gentle music] The Athletic. [car revving] Coming up in this episode, we look ahead to the huge technical challenge of the Monaco Grand Prix, and explain the unusual rules in place for this weekend. And Gary answers your questions on ADO, outlawing outwash, Ferrari smoke blowing, and driver weight. Welcome to the Race F1 Tech Show. I'm Ed Straw, but the main man, of course, is Gary Anderson. In this episode, we'll be looking forward to the Monaco Grand Prix. Gary, Monaco, that's a place you've campaigned at a great many times, going back a, a very, a very, very long way. Monaco, was that your first Grand Prix working?
Gary Anderson· Guest0:48
No, it was my second one. I think, um, Barcelona was my first Grand Prix in 1973, but Monaco in '73 as well. So, um, yeah, it's changed a lot during the years, I have to say, probably for the better, but, um, it's, it's a lot different. It's, you know, still k- seems, same character, character of a circuit, but, you know, uh, it, it, it used to be, how would you say, more dangerous, I suppose you might call it. Um, it's got a bit tamer lately, but, uh, you know, it's, it's still a fantastic circuit. It's... If somebody said to me, "You've got the chance to drive a Formula 1 car at a, a sort of reasonable pace," or, "What circuit do you wanna go on?" That'd be Monaco because it's just, it's just a lovely