The subtle change that has big consequences for Perez and Verstappen

The rear wings used at the Italian Grand Prix are unique as teams try everything they can to minimise the drag and eke out every drop of top speed they possibly can.

With drivers on full throttle for 75 per cent of the Monza lap, the absolute minimum downforce is required with skinny rear wings being bolted on down the years.

However, owing to the low drag wings used, the DRS is not as effective at Monza simply because there is minimal drag for the Drag Reduction System to reduce.

Teams can often bring two versions of rear-wing for drivers to try in practice: one the lower downforce specification and the other a higher downforce offering.

During practice, Red Bull duo Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen tried both versions - with Perez opting for a different specification to the driver chasing his 10th win in a row this weekend.

In Free Practice 1, as seen below, Perez opted for the low downforce option, with Verstappen running the higher downforce wing.

Article continues below the images.

Perez and Verstappen changes

In Free Practice 2, the drivers gravitated towards the lower downforce wing with Verstappen just going a little further than his Mexican teammate.

As can be seen below with the name of Red Bull's title sponsor, the letters on Verstappen's car are slightly more 'squashed' than on Perez's example.

It means that, in the second practice session at least, Perez opted for a more stable wing that produces more downforce, but also more drag.

However, this is also an advantage for Perez as the higher drag configuration means a more efficient diffuser and DRS with higher top speeds, crucial for overtaking.

Things stayed the same for FP3, pointing towards continuity into qualifying.