The FIA has confirmed that the Monaco Grand Prix lap will not feature a designated Straight Mode zone.<\/p>\n
It marks the first time that moveable wings will be made unavailable on a race weekend for the first time since SM\u2019s predecessor, DRS, was introduced in 2011.<\/p>\n
FIA drops Straight Mode for 2026 Monaco Grand Prix<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a\u00a0preferred source on Google<\/a>\u00a0to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n During the era of DRS from 2011 until 2025, circuits on the Formula 1 calendar have looked to utilise the active aerodynamic feature on at least one portion of the circuit, with the majority using two or more over the course of the lap.<\/p>\n Even within the tight confines at the Monaco Grand Prix<\/a>, the short start\/finish straight between Anthony Noghes and Sainte Devote was its one DRS zone, but Straight Mode \u2013 its de facto replacement under the F1 2026 regulations \u2013 will not be available next weekend.<\/p>\n Importantly, drivers will still be able to utilise Overtake Mode when within one second of the car in front in the same area of the circuit, with OM detection taking place between the Swimming Pool section and Rascasse, and activation coming just before Turns 18 and 19, named after original race organiser Anthony Noghes.<\/p>\n It is a first on the F1 2026 calendar, too, with the weekend\u2019s Canadian Grand Prix having made use of three Straight Mode zones as an example \u2013 though, of course, the amount of these zones will vary at every track, dependent on how often it can be safely utilised.<\/p>\n With Monaco\u2019s start\/finish straight being curved, it appears a decision has been taken to remove the movable front and rear wings for this event at this stage, given the amount of downforce drivers drop when SM is in use.<\/p>\n More as the F1 2026 season gets into a rhythm<\/p>\n F1 race wins: Which drivers have the highest win totals in Formula 1 history?<\/a><\/p>\n F1 driver numbers: Which race numbers are the F1 2026 drivers using and why?<\/a><\/p>\n Always the toughest circuit of the season on which to overtake, drivers have spoken more positively about the potential of this year\u2019s Monaco Grand Prix, given the way energy is deployed by the current cars.<\/p>\n Gabriel Bortoleto<\/a> is one of those unsure at the moment, though, and the removal of Straight Mode may yet play its part.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be difficult to overtake in Monaco if I\u2019m honest with you,\u201d he explained in Canada, \u201cbecause there is a lot of recharging in Monaco. You don\u2019t really suffer with energy there.<\/p>\n \u201cThe SM will be off, if I understood correctly, so also the effect of the wing is not going to be there.<\/p>\n \u201cI think hopefully it\u2019s a bit more fun racing than last year, but we know that we have now these big cars, and unfortunately it\u2019s not easy to overtake, so I don\u2019t expect to be massively different from the past, but I hope to be wrong. Let\u2019s see.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s Monaco Grand Prix trialled a one-off rule of imposing a mandatory two-stop race on the drivers, but that has been removed for the 2026 event.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n