Ferrari causes shock in F1 testing with rear wing which flips 180 levels

Ferrari has been the speak of System 1 pre-season testing this week with its progressive updates to the SF-26.

First, on Wednesday, Motorsport.com reported that the Italian outfit had positioned a small wing in entrance of the exhaust pipe to take advantage of the fuel circulate by medium- to low-speed corners. 

Then on Thursday, the penultimate day of 2026 testing, an additional innovation was fitted to the rear wing the place the higher flap flips 180 levels as soon as opened. That is because of the flap opening on the pivot within the centre reasonably than the top like DRS beforehand, which means it additionally permits the rear of the flap to open as properly.

 

It ends with the entrance portion pointing downwards with the rear half going through upwards and signifies that the trailing edge, the rearmost a part of the higher wing flap, takes on a totally totally different profile as soon as it’s opened. 

This creates a type of growth, with the entrance centre of the flap turning into the guiding factor of the outgoing flows. Additionally it is no coincidence that, to be able to carry out the rotation, there isn’t any longer a central actuator on the mainplane that raised the wing, however as a substitute a special system is positioned on the endplates.

 

The design is definitely distinctive and it reveals that the 2026 laws enable groups appreciable freedom within the design of the rear wing opening mechanism. So unsurprisingly, totally different interpretations have emerged throughout pre-season with some remaining nearer to the philosophy of the outdated DRS – sustaining the pivot level on the trailing edge.

Others, nonetheless, corresponding to Alpine, have chosen an alternate route by adopting a wing which collapses by rotating round the forefront. But it surely stays to be seen which design is the easiest way ahead, and Motorsport.com understands that Ferrari’s rear wing is just a check merchandise reasonably than a everlasting characteristic. 

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