Why F1’s Straight Mode Will Not Feature At The Monaco Grand Prix

Formula 1 cars will not have their rear wings opening at the Monaco Grand Prix, marking the first time this has happened in dry conditions since 2011.
DRS was scrapped at the start of the 2026 season and replaced by a new system called straight mode, which has featured at the first five grand prix weekends of the year.
Straight mode works by reducing drag through opening both the rear and front wing when drivers are in specified areas of the track.
Unlike DRS, straight mode is not an overtake tool, with every driver able to use the system regardless of their position relative to other cars.
However, the FIA have confirmed that straight mode will not be in operation at Monaco, with rear wings staying closed throughout each lap around the street circuit.
There are three key reasons why the FIA have chosen to prevent straight mode from being used on the streets of Monaco.
The FIA have made clear that straight mode can only be activated when drivers are not at the limit of tyre grip, as opening the flaps prematurely could trigger a serious accident, as Jack Doohan discovered at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
The start-finish straight in Monaco, which previously hosted a DRS zone, still requires drivers to steer before heavily braking for a very tight turn one.
Straight mode also carries a minimum activation time of three seconds, meaning even the quicker sections of the circuit, such as between the Nouvelle Chicane and turn 12, would not provide enough time for effective use.
Driver safety is also central to the decision, as straight mode can deliver up to an additional 20km/h, which would see cars arrive at Monaco’s famously tight corners at significantly higher speeds.
With slow-moving cars potentially sitting on corner exits, the FIA determined that the added speed would create unacceptable risk across the circuit.
Straight mode is expected to return for the following round at the Barcelona-Catalunya GP after the Monaco weekend concludes.
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