Red Bull F1 team adds T-wing to 2017 car at Monaco Grand Prix

While rivals including Mercedes and Ferrari favoured the T-wing, allowed by a loophole in the regulations but banned from 2018, Red Bull started the season without one.

In a bid to close the gap to the front of the field, Red Bull is on an aggressive development push, and after appearing to take a step forward at the Spanish Grand Prix, has brought more to Monaco.

The T-wing run by both drivers in first practice is the most-visible element, with Renault also adding one to mean all F1 teams have now done so.

While Max Verstappen's Barcelona race finished on the first lap, he reckoned there was reason to feel optimistic about Red Bull's upgrades.

"I think it was a good step forward," he said.

"Of course I didn't do the race, so I don't know how it was, but I felt good all weekend at Barcelona. Then my race was finished after 700 metres.

"I think it was a good step forward, but we have to wait and see."

Red Bull had one of its most competitive weekends of the 2016 season in Monaco, with Daniel Ricciardo taking pole position and only losing the race after a pitstop blunder.

Verstappen is not sure that his team can repeat that strong form this year, though.

"We are not in the same position as last year, let's say that," he said.

"It will be harder. But you never know. We always try to do our best and if you feel comfortable in the car, that's always a big plus as well around this track."

The Dutch driver is confident he will have a better weekend, after crashing out of his only two Monaco GP starts so far, and in qualifying last year.

"We'll try to stay out of the walls," he said.

"I learned a lot from it, a lot of small things that can make an improvement in every aspect of the car and also myself.

"I feel good. That's the plus."