Ferrari Ditches Distinctive Rear Wing Ahead of Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying
Ferrari has elected to abandon its unconventional rear wing configuration following initial practice sessions at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Scuderia's decision to swap designs comes as the team prepares for the sprint qualifying format at the circuit.
The Italian marque has made the strategic decision to shelve its distinctive rear wing ahead of sprint qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix. Following their opening practice running, Ferrari opted to revert away from the unique design that had garnered attention during the earlier sessions at the venue.
The move reflects the team's technical assessment as they navigate the demands of the weekend's sprint qualifying schedule. Ferrari engineers evidently determined that switching to an alternative configuration would better suit their competitive objectives as the racing action intensifies.
Original source
Crash.net
Related Regulations
Hover over badges for quick summaries, or scroll down for full official text and simplified explanations.
Full Regulation Text
Article B2.2.1
Sprint Qualifying Session
Chapter: B2
In Simple Terms
Sprint Qualifying is a short qualifying session that happens on Friday, about 2.5 to 3.5 hours after the first practice session ends. It determines the starting grid positions for the Sprint race that takes place later that day.
- Held on the first day of track running (Friday)
- Starts 2.5-3.5 hours after FP1 concludes
- Determines the grid order for the Sprint race
- Shorter format compared to traditional qualifying
Official FIA Text
Sprint Qualifying takes place on first day of track running, starting 2.5-3.5 hours after FP1 end. Determines starting grid for Sprint.
Article 30
Rear Wing Profiles Reference Volume (RV-RW-PROFILES)
Chapter: C
In Simple Terms
This regulation defines the maximum allowable space (or 'reference volume') where a Formula 1 car's rear wing can be positioned and shaped. Think of it as an invisible 3D box that the rear wing must fit within, with one angled plane cutting through it to set the upper boundary. If a team's rear wing extends beyond this box, it violates the rules.
- The rear wing must fit within a defined rectangular box measuring 465mm long (X-axis), 575mm wide (Y-axis), and 155mm tall (Z-axis)
- An additional angled plane cuts through this box, removing the upper portion and creating a sloped upper limit for the wing profile
- This volumetric restriction ensures all cars have comparable rear wing dimensions and prevents unfair aerodynamic advantages
- Teams must design their rear wing profiles to stay entirely within this reference volume during technical scrutineering
Official FIA Text
RV-RW-PROFILES is an axis-aligned cuboid [XR=165, 0, 725] to [XR=630, 575, 880], trimmed with plane passing through three points with all material below discarded.
Article C3.11.1
Rear Wing Profiles
Chapter: C3
In Simple Terms
The rear wing must fit within a specific design area and can have up to three separate sections. It cannot have inward-curving surfaces visible from underneath, and any inward curves visible from above must have a minimum radius of 100mm to ensure safety and fair aerodynamic performance.
- Rear wing bodywork must stay within the defined RV-RW-PROFILES design box
- Maximum of three non-overlapping sections allowed in the rear wing structure
- No concave (inward-curving) surfaces allowed when viewed from below
- Any concave surfaces visible from above must have at least 100mm radius to prevent sharp curves
Official FIA Text
Rear Wing Profiles Bodywork must lie in its entirety within RV-RW-PROFILES, comprise of up to three non-intersecting simply connected volumes, and contain no concave radius of curvature visible from below and no concave radius less than 100mm visible from above.
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