Ferrari adopting a new ‘flip-flop’ wing at the Chinese Grand Prix

Changes Ahead in the 2026 F1 Season

The grid for the 2026 F1 season is looking quite different, thanks to a slew of new technical regulations.

As teams gear up for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, there’s a palpable sense of urgency. One team feeling this pressure is Ferrari, who are keen to narrow the gap to Mercedes at the top. At the season’s opening Australian Grand Prix, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli claimed the front row, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton taking spots in the second row—third and fourth, respectively.

In an effort to boost their performance, Ferrari will be introducing a unique ‘flip-flop’ rear wing for the upcoming race.

With the new regulations, the Drag Reduction System (DRS) has been replaced by an active aerodynamic system featuring movable front and rear wings. During pre-season testing in Bahrain, various teams, including Alpine, explored new rear wing approaches.

The most striking change, though, is Ferrari’s “flip-flop” design, which has garnered the nickname “Macarena” wing from some observers.

Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts with the media ahead of the race. The team was eager to incorporate this upgrade early in the season. “I practiced on the wing for about a day, so I think I got all the runs I needed,” Hamilton noted. He expressed gratitude towards the team for their hard work: “It was supposed to come much later, but they really pushed to develop it and bring it here.” This determination is essential in the competitive world of F1.

Hamilton continued, reflecting on last year’s challenges: “I don’t think we were able to maximize the team’s potential in that mode last year because we were focused on this year’s car.”

Ferrari has announced that its rear wing will be tested in just an hour of practice before the qualifying for the F1 sprint race. It remains to be seen if other teams will opt to use this innovative rear wing during sprint qualifying.