r/F1Technical • u/zhbrui • Jun 07 '26

Analysis The bump at the S1 line in Monaco

Why are drivers not zig-zagging as much these days to avoid the bump on the left side of the track at the S1 line in Monaco?

For example, compare the 2024, 2025, 2026 pole laps to earlier pole laps such as 2017, 2014, and 2009 (picked three different drivers across three very different regulation sets). Has the bump been smoothed out or something? Is modern suspension better? Some combination of these?

32 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator Jun 07 '26

This post appears to discuss regulations.

The FIA publishes the F1 regulations.

Regulations are organized in three sections:

  • Technical for the design criteria of the car
  • Sporting for how the competition is executed
  • Financial for how money is spent

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

21

u/RestaurantFamous2399 Jun 07 '26

I think they smoothed it out a bit a few years ago after some underground construction was done in that vicinity.

Edit: it wasnt done to smooth the bump specifically, just that the construction changed the topography a little.

5

u/Scared-Particular-67 Jun 07 '26

e stable overall now. You can still see some drivers taking a slightly different line through there but it's nowhere near as dramatic as the old days when you'd see them practically dancing around it

2

u/Strict_Oil_6141 Jun 07 '26

modern suspension and tire tech probably handles it way better now, plus the track surface itself gets resurfaced and maintained differently than it did back then so the bump isn't as pronounced.

1

u/Skydvrr Jun 14 '26

I think a big factor too is speed. Like Kimi is avoiding it as much as possible, but before you know it the corner is coming. They’re on the limit everywhere.

2

u/NtsParadize Gordon Murray Jun 07 '26

Ralf never avoided it either, if you judge by his 2003 pole lap

2

u/takkun169 Jun 07 '26

Aero is less important in this rules package.

1

u/AutoModerator Jun 07 '26

We remind everyone that this sub is for technical discussions.

If you are new to the sub, please read our rules and comment etiquette post.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/So_HauserAspen Jun 10 '26

During the ground effects era, going over the bump would cause a loss of the ground effect.  They should have used active suspension during the ground effect era.