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

Ferrari F1 Motorsportcom

Ferrari has been the talk of Formula 1 pre-season testing this week with its innovative updates to the SF-26.

First, on Wednesday, Motorsport.com reported that the Italian outfit had placed a small wing in front of the exhaust pipe to exploit the gas flow through medium- to low-speed corners. 

Then on Thursday, the penultimate day of 2026 testing, a further innovation was fitted to the rear wing where the upper flap flips 180 degrees once opened. This is as a result of the flap opening at the pivot in the centre rather than the end like DRS previously, meaning it also allows the rear of the flap to open as well.

It ends with the front portion pointing downwards with the rear part facing upwards and means that the trailing edge, the rearmost part of the upper wing flap, takes on a completely different profile once it is opened. 

This creates a sort of expansion, with the front centre of the flap becoming the guiding element of the outgoing flows. It is also no coincidence that, in order to perform the rotation, there is no longer a central actuator on the mainplane that raised the wing, but instead a different system is placed on the endplates.

The design is certainly unique and it shows that the 2026 regulations allow teams considerable freedom in the design of the rear wing opening mechanism. So unsurprisingly, different interpretations have emerged during pre-season with some remaining closer to the philosophy of the old DRS – maintaining the pivot point on the trailing edge.

Others, however, such as Alpine, have chosen an alternative route by adopting a wing which collapses by rotating around the leading edge. But it remains to be seen which design is the best way forward, and Motorsport.com understands that Ferrari's rear wing is only a test item rather than a permanent feature. 

Photos from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 5

Lando Norris, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lando Norris, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lando Norris, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
George Russell, Mercedes

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Alexander Albon, Williams

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lando Norris, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
George Russell, Mercedes

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lando Norris, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
George Russell, Mercedes

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lando Norris, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
George Russell, Mercedes

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Alexander Albon, Williams

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Alexander Albon, Williams

Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Day 5, in photos
Formula 1
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