Tech Show: Is the FIA right to ban active aero for Monaco?
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What changes has the FIA made regarding active aero for Monaco?
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 Adewo, 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 very, very long way. Monaco, was that your first Grand Prix working?
No, it was my second one. I think Barcelona was my first Grand Prix in 1973, but Monaco in 73 as well. So, yeah, it's changed a lot during the years, I have to say, probably for the better. But it's a lot different. It's still the same character of a circuit. But, you know, it used to be, I would say, more dangerous, I suppose you might call it. It's got a bit tamer lately, but it's still a fantastic circuit. If somebody said to me, you've got the chance to drive a Formula One car at a sort of reasonable pace, what circuit do you want to go on? It'd be Monaco because it's just a lovely place to drive around. I've actually had a go in a Formula One car when I worked at Brabham back in the 70s and we had a misfire after the morning warm-up.
And Bernie said to me, you know, you had to drive it back half a lap and up through the Casino Square and back down the hill before the tunnel. And instead of turning right into the tunnel, you turned left. And that's where the sort of awnings were with the trucks. And I had sort of authorization from Mr. Eccleston to give us some welly to see if we'd fixed the misfire because the next time it was going to be out there was in the race. So there's a few pictures of me going up the hill, no helmet on, no nothing, hair streaming backwards. And yeah, a bit of excitement. I must have met. It's impressive. It's an impressive place. Lovely to go there and lovely to drive around. An absolute pain in the butt as a circuit to work at.
But, you know, you have to put up with some of these things.
Yeah, very, very slightly easier perhaps than it used to be, given that they've got the proper pits and everything's not quite so spread out. But, yeah. Ultimately, if the Monaco Grand Prix didn't exist and you proposed it as an idea, you would be looked at as if you were just a lunatic.
A village idiot. You'd be the village idiot. But, yeah, I mean, it's just got its own character. It's just part of tradition. And I think in some places like that, you know, okay, it will be a procession, 99.9%. but it can also be such a difficult race because of the weather. The rain comes in over the mountains from Italy quite often, and you don't see it until it's there, really. So it's quite a difficult thing.
How does Monaco's unique circuit challenge F1 drivers?
I mean, most teams will have people out looking for it just to try and find the rain because your weather forecast's all right, but it's because it's in this little sort of bay, anything can happen, basically. So we've had a lot of races where it's been... absolutely lashing it down, and suddenly it just changes. And it's a circuit because of its undulations, cambers, etc. When it's wet, it's wet, but it dries quickly as well because the water runs off quite quickly. We've even had a race where they had a water leak in the hotel above the tunnel. So everything on the circuit was dry, but the tunnel was wet because of the water coming down through the floor. So, yeah, all sorts of experiences there, I have to say.
Yes, it's a good place. It's one race where, as I say, it's a pain in the butt to work at, but it's definitely worth going and feeling the atmosphere and living the atmosphere.
Absolutely. It's a unique race, an amazing challenge technically and for drivers. And there's always stories there, as you've pointed out. And one of the things that we actually will not be talking about from the Monaco weekend is Active Aero, because we're not going to see Active Aero in use. That's one of the special rules for this weekend.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What changes has the FIA made regarding active aero for Monaco?
0:02–3:04
2
How does Monaco's unique circuit challenge F1 drivers?
3:04–16:08
3
How do weather conditions affect racing at Monaco?
16:08–22:01
4
What are the implications of banning active aero on race strategy?
22:01–56:06
5
What is the 'Rev 1' engine map and why is it significant?
56:06–1:00:21
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from The Race F1 Podcast
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