Monaco in F1 2018 is a lap of first and second gear corners with walls on both sides. Top speed does not matter. Traction, turn in and a car that forgives the kerbs do.
This is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel. The values come from the setup screens of the hotlap you can watch below.
F1 2018 Monaco setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 6 | 11 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 |
| Anti-roll bar | 4 | 2 |
| Ride height | 3 | 7 |
| Tyre pressure | 22.2 psi | 19.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 100% |
| Differential off throttle | 68% |
| Brake pressure | 82% |
| Front brake bias | 53% |
| Ballast | 9 |
In F1 2018 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars, ride height and ballast all use a scale from 1 to 11.
Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down. The other tracks are in my F1 2018 setups list.
The hotlap
Here is the lap the setup comes from. Watch where the car is placed at Massenet and at the Swimming Pool, and how early the throttle goes down out of Portier.
Why this setup works in Monaco
The lap is 3.337 km with 19 corners, and the only place you are flat for more than a few seconds is the tunnel.
The wings. 6 and 11. The rear is at the maximum. That gives traction and a rear you can lean on at Casino, Tabac and the Swimming Pool. The front is only at 6, so the balance leans to understeer. In Monaco I would rather have that than a nervous rear, because a slide here ends in a wall. If you want more front, you have five clicks to play with.
The springs and bars. Springs 2 and 2, bars 4 and 2. Almost as soft as the game goes. Monaco is bumpy and you use kerbs at the chicane and the Swimming Pool. A soft car keeps its tyres on the road over all of that. The price is a car that is a bit lazy in quick changes of direction.
The ride height. 3 at the front, 7 at the rear. The high rear tips the car forward, which puts load on the front tyres and helps the car rotate in slow corners. It makes up for some of the understeer from the wings. It also adds drag, and at Monaco nobody cares.
The tyre pressures. 22.2 psi front, 19.5 psi rear. The rear is at the bottom of the range. Lower pressure means a bigger contact patch and more traction, and the lap is too slow to overheat the tyres.
Brakes and differential
Brake pressure is 82% with 53% at the front. The bias is quite far back, which helps the car turn while you are still on the brakes. In Monaco you trail the brake into nearly every corner, so that is useful. If the rear gets light into the chicane after the tunnel, go forward to 55%.
The differential is 100% on throttle and 68% off throttle. Fully locked on throttle gives the most drive on new tyres, and for one lap it works. It also punishes a heavy right foot. The 68% off throttle value is fairly open, so the car turns freely when you lift. Together with the rake, that is what gets this car around the hairpin.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Understeer at the hairpin, Mirabeau and Rascasse | Front wing 6 to 8 | The rear wing is five clicks above the front. Closing the gap gives the front more bite |
| Wheelspin out of the hairpin and Portier | On throttle differential 100% to 75% | A fully locked differential spins both rear tyres in first and second gear |
| The car feels slow to change direction at the Swimming Pool | Front anti-roll bar 4 to 6 | A stiffer front bar makes the car answer the steering faster |
| Rear moves on the brakes into the chicane after the tunnel | Front brake bias 53% to 55% | More front bias keeps the rear in line in the downhill stop |
| Front tyres lock into Sainte Devote or Mirabeau | Brake pressure 82% to 78% | Less peak pressure is easier to hold at the limit without ABS |
| The car bottoms out over the bumps before the chicane | Front ride height 3 to 4 | A little more room under the front of the floor |
For a race
You will not overtake much in a Monaco race, so qualifying and tyre life decide it. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- On throttle differential 100% to 75%. The rear tyres last longer and the car is calmer with a full tank.
- Front wing 6 to 7. A heavy car understeers more. One click keeps the balance where it was.
- Front brake bias 53% to 55%. A stable rear matters more than rotation when you have to do it for 40 laps.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
In F1 2018 you also manage the ERS yourself. Save the high modes for the run up the hill after Sainte Devote and for the tunnel. Everywhere else you are waiting for grip, not power.
Where the lap time is in Monaco
- Sainte Devote. Brake straight and turn in late. The exit sets your speed all the way up to Massenet.
- Massenet and Casino. Hug the inside barrier through the long left, then let the car run to the right for Casino. Miss the first apex and the second corner is gone too.
- Mirabeau. Downhill braking, the inside front goes light. Brake a little earlier than feels right.
- The hairpin. Full lock, first gear. Wait until the car points down the hill before you touch the throttle.
- Portier. The exit matters more than the entry. You carry it through the whole tunnel.
- The chicane. The hardest stop of the lap, downhill and over a bump. It is the one real place to pass.
- Tabac and the Swimming Pool. The quick part. The soft car wants a calm, early steering input here. Do not throw it at the kerbs.
- Rascasse. Slow in. The car understeers toward the outside wall if you rush it.
The way to learn Monaco is to build up. Start well inside the limit and brake a little later each lap. It is what I tell young drivers on any street track: you find the limit from below, not by going over it.
Monaco in 2018
The real 2018 Monaco Grand Prix was round 6 of 21, on 27 May. Daniel Ricciardo took pole for Red Bull in 1:10.810 and won the race, even though his car lost its MGU-K from around lap 28 and he had to nurse it home with less power. Sebastian Vettel was second for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton third for Mercedes. It was also the first race for the hypersoft tyre.
More F1 2018 setups
Every track is in my F1 2018 setups list. The round before this one is the F1 2018 Spain setup and the next is the F1 2018 Canada setup, a low downforce track that asks for the opposite car.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2017 Monaco setup, my F1 2019 Monaco setup and my F1 25 Monaco setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best wing setup for Monaco in F1 2018?
Front wing 6 and rear wing 11. If the car understeers too much for you, raise the front to 7 or 8.
What tyre pressures should I use in Monaco in F1 2018?
22.2 psi front and 19.5 psi rear. The rear is at the minimum for the best traction out of slow corners.
What differential should I use in Monaco in F1 2018?
100% on throttle and 68% off throttle for time trial. For a race, lower the on throttle value to around 75%.
Why is the suspension so soft in this setup?
Monaco is bumpy and you ride kerbs at the chicane and the Swimming Pool. Springs at 2 and 2 keep the tyres on the road there.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes. Lower the on throttle differential to 75% and the brake pressure to around 78% so the car is easier on the triggers.
Where can I overtake in Monaco in F1 2018?
At the chicane after the tunnel, and sometimes into Sainte Devote. The rest of the lap is too narrow.
How long is a Monaco race in F1 2018?
The full race is 78 laps of the 3.337 km track. In the game you can also pick 25% or 50% distance.