Analysis
Formula 1 Mexican GP
Tech analysis: Verstappen and Ricciardo diverge on monkey seats
Formula 1 drivers have been struggling to get a good balance on the tricky Mexico surface this weekend - and that has prompted an interesting choice by Daniel Ricciardo to add more downforce to his car.
Giorgio Piola Matt Somerfield
Edited: Oct 30, 2016, 4:01 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Giorgio Piola's F1 technical analysis
Giorgio Piola is the preeminent Formula 1 technical journalist. View our full selection of Giorgio's technical illustrative content
Both the Australian and his teammate Max Verstappen had run without the monkey seat on Friday, on a day when they both had a hard time extracting single lap pace from their car.
While Verstappen elected to continue with the same configuration at the back, Ricciardo opted to add the monkey seat from final free practice in a bid to add a little bit more downforce and help with his balance.
When asked by Motorsport.com about the decision, Ricciardo said: "We put it on overnight to try to give me a bit more downforce.
"I felt better yesterday [Friday], but at the same time I think that was probably just the track. The track didn’t improve like we thought, because relatively we seem to be closer to the pace, but as far as the balance I was happy yesterday. Plus yesterday afternoon the track was better than it was today.
"It is a small thing. It doesn’t cost me that much straightline speed, it is a like a bit of free downforce sort of, so that is why I decided to take it."
The extra downforce created by the connection between the rear wing and diffuser that the monkey seat affords may handicap Ricciardo a little on the long straights, but it should help in the corners if only to limit the rear of the car from sliding.
The improved balance could prove even more important in the race when looking after the tyres will be essential to a good result.
Mercedes AMG F1 W07 Hybrid, nose cone
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
A novelty noticed on the stand outside the Mercedes garage during FP3 was that the team had prepared the 2017 development wing as one of Lewis Hamilton’s spares.
Of course, the team can’t have an infinite amount of parts on site due to space constraints and with tests being conducted with the wing yesterday it makes sense that it remains.
Unless Hamilton suffers two incidents that cause damage to his race and first spare it’ll not see the light of day, but given the drastic airflow difference this development wing has when compared with the usual specification it does seem a little strange for it to be on-site.
McLaren MP4-31, detail
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
McLaren evaluated its front brake drum in a more closed configuration during FP1 and FP2 but temperature sensitivity on Saturday has forced the team to retreat to the usual open configuration (above).
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ocon move to Force India could be key to F1 driver market
Next article Sainz stuck with "disaster" supersofts but doesn't regret Q3
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Giorgio Piola
The fascinating story behind McLaren's most iconic F1 car
Formula 1
Formula 1 Apr 3, 2024
The fascinating story behind McLaren's most iconic F1 car
Emilia Romagna GP: F1 technical images from Imola's pitlane
Formula 1
Formula 1
Emilia Romagna GP
Apr 21, 2022
Emilia Romagna GP: F1 technical images from Imola's pitlane
The F1 downforce choices that proved key at the Saudi GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Mar 29, 2022
The F1 downforce choices that proved key at the Saudi GP
More from
Red Bull Racing
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
5 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe