Ferrari workforce boss Fred Vasseur says rival groups copying its modern System 1 designs is a “good reward” for Maranello.
Ferrari got here into the 2026 laws cycle with a hanging automotive, the SF-26, which featured various intriguing areas of innovation.
At winter testing in Bahrain, the workforce connected a winglet to the construction behind the exhaust, internally dubbed Flick Tail Mode (FTM), which provides downforce to the rear-end of the automotive on the expense of a small quantity of further drag.
The subsequent day, Ferrari launched a rotating wing, nicknamed Macarena wing, which flips 180 levels between its nook mode and straight mode.
The exhaust wing specifically has been broadly copied by its rivals, even when Ferrari’s resolution has been laborious to completely reverse engineer as a result of the Scuderia designed parts of the rear of the automotive round it. The FIA has since outlawed the exhaust machine for 2027 by closing the loophole within the technical laws, to keep away from designs getting uncontrolled.
The upside-down wing has additionally since been adopted by Crimson Bull and trialled by McLaren. McLaren began engaged on the challenge as a response to what it noticed Ferrari do in testing, whereas Crimson Bull independently pursued a special design idea.
“We have been disillusioned to not decide that up as rapidly as Ferrari did after which Crimson Bull,” mentioned McLaren’s technical director Neil Houldey. “As quickly as we noticed it, we realised there was a chance there.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Eric Le Galliot
Talking completely to Motorsport.com, Ferrari workforce principal Vasseur mentioned it was a lift for his Maranello aerodynamicists and designers to be main the best way as he actively inspired them to undertake an modern mindset and take extra dangers.
When requested if rival groups copying the exhaust wing and rear wing was a praise to Maranello, Vasseur replied: “I am not there to have compliments. I am there as a result of I need to win. The most effective praise for me is to go on the rostrum.
“However sure, it is true that for the blokes within the workforce, to see Crimson Bull coming with the wing, and I feel most likely Crimson Bull began earlier than seeing our wings, however the others beginning to copy [it], and even the machine on the exhaust, for the blokes within the workforce who had the concept it is a good reward.”
Given Ferrari’s properly documented energy unit weak point, it isn’t a stretch to recommend its SF-26 may be thought of the most effective chassis in F1. Following a raft of upgrades, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton each gained a grand prix – in Silverstone and Barcelona, respectively – and Ferrari holds second within the standings.
The SF-26 was the primary automotive conceived below the auspices of technical director Loic Serra, who was initially signed in 2023 however solely joined from Mercedes on the finish of 2024 after a protracted gardening depart interval.
In line with Vasseur, that protracted course of is an efficient instance of why it takes so lengthy to show an F1 workforce round. “The frustration that you could have generally in F1 is that on the technical aspect the method is mega lengthy, as a result of you have got plenty of inertia,” he defined.
“For instance, we began to debate [with Loic] mid ’23 and he joined the workforce on the finish of 2024. Then he is targeted on the automotive of ’26, and he is nonetheless recruiting folks to assist him. It signifies that this course of is about years, when however we need to get outcomes subsequent week.
“I am very, more than happy with the alternatives that we made, with the set-up that we now have, and the collaboration that we now have within the workforce. The workforce is robust. The collaboration is mega robust.”
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Staff
