Ferrari is bringing back its "Macarena" rear wing for the Chinese Grand Prix

Just hours before the first practice sessions of the Chinese Grand Prix F1, Classic Ferrari for sale Ferrari is preparing to unveil one of the most talked-about technical elements of the preseason. The Italian team has confirmed that it will use its rotating rear wing during the first free practice session in Shanghai, a wing first seen on track during winter testing in Bahrain.

This aerodynamic component attracted attention during the second week of testing at the Sakhir circuit. Unlike conventional movable wing systems, the device developed by Ferrari doesn't simply change the angle of the upper flap. The mechanism allows the element to pivot on its own axis when the car switches to a low-drag configuration for straight-line speeds. By rotating 180 degrees, the wing creates a larger opening for airflow, thus reducing aerodynamic drag when the car reaches its maximum speed. Once the acceleration phase is complete, the system returns to its initial position in order to provide the necessary support in the turns.

A new regulation to exploit

This approach aligns with the new technical philosophy introduced with the 2026 regulations, which place significant emphasis on active aerodynamic systems. Ferrari's engineers have thus sought to exploit the ambiguities in the regulations to maximize the benefits of this principle. In Bahrain, testing was limited to a few laps, but it was enough to reveal the originality of the solution developed in Maranello. A point recalled by the seven-time world champion: "We spent about a full day with that fin."

The Briton also highlighted the effort made to accelerate its development and bring it into competition sooner than expected: "I'm really grateful to the team, because it was actually planned for later, and they worked incredibly hard to develop it and bring it here." Beyond the technical aspect, the rapid introduction of this evolution takes place within a specific sporting context. Ferrari is seeking to reduce the gap observed with Mercedes Benz during the opening round held at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. The Australian race saw the Silver Arrows take the lead from qualifying, more than eight tenths of a second ahead of Scuderia Ferrari, and then in the race, with a one-two finish for the German team.

Ferrari, the only contender against Mercedes?

Ferrari had nevertheless displayed a solid competitive level with a podium finish for Charles Leclerc and a fourth place for Lewis HamiltonBut the gap remained significant, more than ten seconds behind the leader at the finish. The Briton emphasized the importance of technical development in a season where all the teams are progressing rapidly: "The pace of development is quite high for everyone at the moment, so people will be interested to see who brings improvements in the upcoming races."

According to him, the gap with Mercedes remains significant but not insurmountable: "In qualifying it was around eight tenths, and in the race between four and five tenths when they had a clear run. That's a huge difference." The seven-time world champion, however, believes that Scuderia has the means to get back in the fight: "We will try to catch up with them and I believe we can do it, but it's not a certainty."

The Chinese Grand Prix weekend will offer a first concrete glimpse of the effectiveness of this rotating wing in race conditions. However, the sprint format limits the available track time, with only one free practice session before sprint qualifying. Ferrari will therefore need to quickly gather data to understand the real-world behavior of this aerodynamic solution and determine if it can become an asset in the technical battle that is expected throughout the season.

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