FIA brings a new rule to the Monaco Grand Prix that’s fresh for this season
The FIA has introduced a new rule for the Monaco Grand Prix that we haven’t seen yet this season. This famous 78-lap race will take place on the streets of Monte Carlo on Sunday, June 7.
Monaco’s very tight track makes overtaking really tough during the race, so qualifying here is super important — more than at any other race this year. Looking ahead to 2026, there’s hope for more overtaking, thanks to new rules that let cars follow each other more closely.
In the past, the main DRS straight was the best spot to overtake, but cars often fell too far behind coming out of the last corner to make a move. Now, DRS has been replaced by an active aerodynamics system called ‘straight mode.’ With this, drivers can press a button on the steering wheel to lower the front and rear wings, boosting their speed on the straights.
However, for Monaco, this ‘straight mode’ won’t be allowed. According to The Race, the FIA is worried about safety when using straight mode on Monaco’s narrow streets. At other circuits, there’s a rule that drivers must use it for at least three seconds, but Monaco’s unique challenges make it too risky. The FIA believes the mode should only be used on tracks where cars aren’t pushing their tires to the limit.
Monaco is one of the toughest tracks for drivers, who need to stay super focused because they’re close to walls and barriers all the time. The FIA wants to avoid any problems with car stability that could cause accidents, including issues with cornering, traction, and braking.
So, the Monaco Grand Prix will feel even more special compared to other races in the 2026 season. There will still be an overtake mode that drivers can use after the final corner and along the pit straight. This makes the famous Sainte Devote corner a key spot to pass other cars during what could be a tough 78-lap race.
On another note, last year the FIA required teams to make two pit stops during the Monaco Grand Prix to try to make the race more exciting. But that plan didn’t work well. Some teams pitted their lead driver early while their other driver slowed down the cars behind, helping their lead driver jump into a clear space once the pit stops were over.
Because of that, the two-stop rule was dropped before the 2026 race.