Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton has highlighted a series of technical upgrades introduced by Ferrari for the SF-26 at the Shanghai International Circuit during the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
The Maranello squad had already attracted attention in the paddock after unveiling an unconventional rear wing design often referred to as the “Macarena wing”. The component first appeared during pre-season testing in Bahrain and quickly became a talking point due to its reversed or flipped configuration compared with conventional rear wing designs.
The nickname “Macarena wing” emerged across the paddock as a reference to the famous 1993 pop song by Los Del Rio, with the unusual aerodynamic layout drawing comparisons to the dance movements associated with the track.
“I’m really proud of the work the team in Maranello has done to bring this part much earlier than planned,” Hamilton said during the Chinese Grand Prix media day.
Originally scheduled for a mid-season introduction, Ferrari managed to accelerate the development process and deploy the rear wing as early as the second round of the championship.
Due to the late completion of the component before the team’s departure for China, the part reportedly had to be transported to Shanghai inside the luggage of team personnel to ensure it arrived in time for the race weekend.
In addition to the rear wing concept, the official technical submission to the FIA confirmed that Ferrari has also introduced a small winglet attached to the halo pillar of the SF-26. According to the team, the component provides a modest gain in aerodynamic load.
Ferrari stands as the only leading team to declare upgrades for the Chinese Grand Prix. Rivals including McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull Racing have arrived in Shanghai with unchanged specifications.
Elsewhere on the grid, several teams have introduced smaller updates. Racing Bulls has modified the rear corner of its car with an altered brake duct winglet to improve airflow management.
Meanwhile, Haas has revised its rear impact structure with the addition of a small winglet aimed at increasing local aerodynamic load.
Further development work has also been carried out by Audi, which introduced updates to the nose and front wing of the R26 to improve load extraction along the slope of the structure. In addition, revised front wing flap and endplate geometry aim to enhance aerodynamic performance in the front section.
Finally, Cadillac has implemented structural changes to the mirror stay and diffuser winglet cascade after durability concerns emerged during the previous round in Melbourne.
With technical development already accelerating early in the season, aerodynamic innovation is expected to play a decisive role as teams continue refining their cars throughout the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
Read Also
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari lacks straight-line power against Mercedes after Sprint Qualifying at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Isack Hadjar reveals his conversation with Helmut Marko after his Red Bull debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, including praise for his qualifying performance.
Liam Lawson explains Racing Bulls’ struggles in Sprint Qualifying at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, citing circuit characteristics and tyre graining in Shanghai.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!