HOW THE FIA IS LIMITING F1 CARS’ TOP SPEED AT MONACO GP WITH NEW ENGINE MAPS

The FIA is implementing significant safety measures to limit top speeds at the Monaco Grand Prix, a direct response to the powerful new-gen MGU-K. Active aerodynamics will be disabled across the entire lap for the first time this season. With the 350kW MGU-K allowing cars to reach high speeds faster, the usual DRS activation on the pit straight provides no real performance benefit and increases risk into Turn 1's bumpy braking zone.

A specific engine mapping, dubbed Rev1, will also be enforced for the MGU-K. This map modifies the power clipping phase, preventing excessive speeds in critical areas like the pit straight and tunnel. In Monaco, cars will deliver the full 350kW only up to 200 km/h before power is rapidly reduced. By 270 km/h, MGU-K output drops to around 100kW, reaching zero at 300 km/h. This contrasts sharply with the standard map, which allows 350kW up to 290 km/h. These changes mitigate Monaco's inherent risks and could force teams to rethink traditional car setups, potentially shaking up the pecking order on Saturday.