Source: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
[Saba Sports News] On high-speed circuits, minimizing air resistance is a primary concern, whereas on the narrow and twisty streets of Monte Carlo, maximizing downforce becomes crucial for optimal grip and cornering ability. In line with the tradition of the Monaco Grand Prix, all teams have fitted their cars with specially designed high-downforce rear wings. These wings generate more downforce than the standard configuration but come at the expense of some top speed. In the specific context of the Monaco circuit, a car with high downforce gains a significant advantage. To this end, the Ferrari F1 team has developed a new rear wing for the Monaco Grand Prix. This marks the first modification to the team’s rear wing this season. The new elements are based on the design introduced at the Imola race, retaining the semi-detached flap tips and end plate connections. The rear wing assembly of the McLaren F1 team, on the other hand, is not solely tailored for the tight corners of Monte Carlo but is a versatile kit intended to benefit the team in other high-downforce circuits throughout the season. McLaren has also made improvements to the transom wing, a smaller wing positioned on the lower part of the car that interacts with the main rear wing to further control airflow. The optimization of how these wings work together aims to enhance the overall efficiency of the downforce-generating mechanism. The Red Bull F1 team has also made targeted adjustments to the rear wing and beam wing of the RB20. The key changes involve increasing the chord length and camber angle. Chord refers to the width of the wing from front to back, while camber describes the curvature of the wing’s profile. By incorporating these modifications, Red Bull aims to extract more localized aerodynamic load. Based on the qualifying results of the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari’s approach has proven to be the most successful, with their leading driver Charles Leclerc securing pole position and their other driver Carlos Sainz finishing third.