FIA Introduces Special Engine Maps To Restrict F1 Top Speeds At Monaco Grand Prix

Monaco has long represented one of Formula 1’s greatest challenges, but the new technical regulations transform that challenge further in 2026.
Active aerodynamics will be disabled throughout the entire lap at Monaco for the first time this season, in order to minimise safety risks on the iconic street circuit.
The FIA normally defines activation zones within sections of track where cars are not operating at the limit of grip, ensuring wings can be deployed without compromising stability.
One of the criteria requires that any activation zone must exceed three seconds, avoiding brief deployments that increase driver workload without offering meaningful performance or efficiency benefits.
Last season at Monaco, drivers used DRS on the pit straight for just over five seconds, reaching speeds of approximately 290km/h during that phase.
The new 350kW MGU-K now delivers significantly greater power in the acceleration phase, allowing cars to build up to high speed considerably faster than before.
Given the risks approaching the Turn 1 braking zone, where a bumpy surface demands maximum downforce to prevent lock-ups, the decision was taken to fully disable straight mode.
Beyond the aerodynamic restrictions, a specific engine mapping called Rev1 will also be applied at certain grands prix, including Monaco, to further manage car speeds.
The goal of Rev1 is to prevent excessive speed in areas such as the pit straight, the tunnel, and the uphill section towards Massenet.
In standard mode, the electric motor delivers 350kW up to 290km/h before power is gradually cut back, dropping to 250kW at 310km/h and reaching zero at 345km/h.
Under the Monaco-specific Rev1 mapping, cars will only receive the full 350kW output up to 200km/h before the derating phase begins cutting power back.
At 270km/h under Rev1, the MGU-K output will decrease to around 100kW, and by 300km/h its contribution will drop entirely to zero.
Monaco is not considered a demanding circuit for energy management, thanks to numerous braking zones that allow for efficient and consistent battery harvesting throughout a lap.
In overtake mode at Monaco, the MGU-K will stop deploying maximum power at 200km/h rather than 335km/h, though the derating curve will not be as steep as in Rev1.
At 260km/h, the standard map provides approximately 150kW from the electric motor, while overtake mode will deliver nearly 100kW of additional power on top of that figure.
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