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Formula 1 Monaco GP
F1 tech: Monaco's most mad-cap design ideas
Ahead of this week's Monaco Grand Prix, we look back on some of the craziest designs Formula 1 teams have come up with in an attempt to conquer the unique street circuit.
Matt Somerfield
Edited: May 25, 2023, 6:12 PM
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But while Monte Carlo's glamour, intensity and uniqueness are the most obvious elements of the weekend that make it so popular, it has also thrown up some pretty memorable tech solutions in the past too.
Here we look at some of the craziest ideas that teams have used throughout the years in a bid to try to find extra performance.
1969
Bruce McLaren, McLaren M7C Ford
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Here we have Bruce McLaren in his M7C which featured what became known as 'guillotine wings'. These weren't new for Monaco, and that's why they don't make the main list. But, with a win at all costs culture resulting in some rather precarious versions being deployed, Monaco was the point at which the governing body stepped in and said enough is enough.
Jean-Pierre Beltoise's Matra MS80 Ford.
Photo by: Motorsport Images
The Matra MS80 didn't feature a front mounted guillotine wing, just the high mounted rear wing which would also be banned as part of the clampdown. It is worth nothing that the car was fitted with a wider than normal front wing for the Monaco GP.
Jack Brabham, Brabham BT26A Ford
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Here's Jack Brabham at the wheel of his BT26 which also featured high wings.
Chris Amon, Ferrari 312
Photo by: David Phipps
Ferrari's high rear wing was adjustable, with the driver able to alter the angle of the wing to reduce drag on the straights. It was a DRS-style system well ahead of its time.
1974
McLaren M23 front wing, Monaco GP
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
In search of more front-end downforce, McLaren introduced its 'winklepicker' nose for the Monaco GP (for reference, the normal nose width is marked out with the blue dotted line). The narrower nose would allow for wider front wing elements, whilst small tabs were placed on the endplate (highlighted in yellow) so the driver could see where the wing ended from the cockpit.
1976
A mechanic works on the rear of the car of Jochen Mass, McLaren M23 Ford
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Trawling through the Motorsport Images archive the other day has unearthed this gem, when McLaren trialled a low-slung rear wing in the attempt to increase downforce.
1979
Ferrari 312T4, 3/4 view, Monaco GP
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Ferrari arrived in Monaco with a specially commissioned pair of front and rear wings, both designed to interact more effectively with the bodywork at lower speeds, improving downforce and agility.
1980
Ferrari 312T5 wings setup, Monaco GP
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Ferrari as at it again the following year, but this time it also opted to adjust the car's wheelbase, moving the front wheel axle line in an attempt to make the car more nimble through the low speed corners.
1996
Jordan 196 extra wing Monaco GP
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Modelled on McLaren's mid-wing solution from a year earlier, Jordan arrived with its own variant for Monaco. Mounted astride the engine cover, the wing was not only used to create some downforce in its own right but also helped tidy up flow ahead of the rear wing.
1997
Mika Salo, Tyrrell 025 Ford
Photo by: Ercole Colombo
This one is slightly cheating, as X-Wings made famous by Tyrrell were actually used at the San Marino GP, a race ahead of Monaco. However, they are still strongly associated with the street race.
1999
Ferrari F399 sidepod winglet and rear wing differences (high & low downforce)
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Ferrari's F399 featured a high downforce rear wing configuration in Monaco. Note how the flaps (highlighted in yellow) differed (Monaco, right), with the second tier of flaps becoming the dominant factor, whilst the beam wing below saw its elements increased to three.
2001
Jordan EJ11 nose wing, Monaco GP
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Jordan fitted what was considered, at the time, to be a bonkers wing on its EJ11 in 2001. As it supposedly impaired the drivers view, it was banned before the team could qualify or race with it. However, that spar in front of the driver looks to be in a mightily similar position to the Halo's forward mounting point…
2001
Arrows A22 front view, Monaco GP
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Just like London buses, you wait ages for a crazy solution to come along and two appear at the same time. This time it was Arrows, which like Jordan had decided to sling something controversial on its car for the 2001 Monaco GP. And, just like Jordan's solution, it was considered a non-starter, with the stewards banning it before it could be raced.
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