Monaco’s most mad-cap design ideas

But while Monte Carlo’s glamour, intensity and uniqueness are the most obvious elements of the weekend that make it so popular, it has also thrown up some pretty memorable tech solutions in the past too.

Here we look at some of the craziest ideas that teams have used throughout the years in a bid to try to find extra performance.

1969

Here we have Bruce McLaren in his M7C which featured what became known as ‘guillotine wings’. These weren’t new for Monaco, and that’s why they don’t make the main list. But, with a win at all costs culture resulting in some rather precarious versions being deployed, Monaco was the point at which the governing body stepped in and said enough is enough.

Jean-Pierre Beltoise’s Matra MS80 Ford.

Photo by: Motorsport Images

The Matra MS80 didn’t feature a front mounted guillotine wing, just the high mounted rear wing which would also be banned as part of the clampdown. It is worth nothing that the car was fitted with a wider than normal front wing for the Monaco GP.

Jack Brabham, Brabham BT26A Ford

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Here’s Jack Brabham at the wheel of his BT26 which also featured high wings.

Chris Amon, Ferrari 312

Photo by: David Phipps

Ferrari’s high rear wing was adjustable, with the driver able to alter the angle of the wing to reduce drag on the straights. It was a DRS-style system well ahead of its time.

1974

McLaren M23 front wing, Monaco GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

In search of more front-end downforce, McLaren introduced its ‘winklepicker’ nose for the Monaco GP (for reference, the normal nose width is marked out with the blue dotted line). The narrower nose would allow for wider front wing elements, whilst small tabs were placed on the endplate (highlighted in yellow) so the driver could see where the wing ended from the cockpit.

1976

A mechanic works on the rear of the car of Jochen Mass, McLaren M23 Ford

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Trawling…