Ferrari Set to Deploy Distinctive 'Macarena Wing' at Japan Grand Prix Following Shanghai Performance
Ferrari experienced a mixed outing at Shanghai, where Lewis Hamilton achieved his maiden podium finish with the Scuderia alongside Charles Leclerc, though the SF-26 ultimately finished third. The Prancing Horse is preparing to reintroduce their innovative 'Macarena wing' aerodynamic solution at the upcoming Japan Grand Prix.
The Scuderia put on an impressive display at the Shanghai circuit, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc trading positions throughout the race in a compelling team effort. However, the SF-26 ultimately had to accept third place on the day, finishing 25 seconds adrift of the victorious Kimi Antonelli. Despite the gap, this marked a significant milestone for Hamilton, who finally secured his first podium result in Ferrari colors.
Rather than abandon their experimental aerodynamic concepts, Ferrari has opted to continue exploring innovative solutions. The team's distinctive 'Macarena wing' – a unique design that caught observers' attention earlier in the season – has not been shelved. Instead, the Italian outfit plans to bring the wing back into active service at the Japan Grand Prix, signaling their commitment to maximizing performance through creative engineering approaches.
The decision underscores Ferrari's determination to close the gap to their rivals through continuous development, even when experimental designs have yet to deliver decisive advantages. With the championship race intensifying, every marginal gain becomes crucial, and the return of the 'Macarena wing' represents the team's unwillingness to leave any performance potential untapped as they head to one of the season's most demanding circuits.
Original source
Motorsport.com
Related Regulations
Hover over badges for quick summaries, or scroll down for full official text and simplified explanations.
Full Regulation Text
Article C3.16.3
FW SLM Actuator Aperture
Chapter: C3
In Simple Terms
Teams are allowed to have small openings (apertures) in the front wing or nose for the steering linkage mechanism that moves the wing. These openings have strict size limits and can only rotate within a 10-degree range in each direction to prevent unfair aerodynamic advantages.
- Aperture must fit within a defined 20x20x120mm box with 10° rotation limits in all three directions
- The opening can only be as large as necessary to accommodate a 5mm offset of the steering linkage's swept movement
- Located on Front Wing Bodywork or Nose assembly only
- Designed to prevent teams from exploiting the aperture for illegal aerodynamic benefits
Official FIA Text
FW SLM Actuator aperture within [20, 20, 120] RV with [10°, 10°, 10°] rotation limits on Front Wing Bodywork or Nose, not exceeding size necessary for 5mm offset of FW SLM Linkage Swept Bounding Volume.
Article C3.12.3
Tail Bodywork to Floor and Upper Bodywork Assembly
Chapter: C3
In Simple Terms
F1 cars must have their rear wing and bodywork pieces fit together neatly with no gaps. Teams can use slightly rounded edges (up to 25mm curves) where different bodywork sections meet, but everything must be properly aligned and trimmed to fit precisely.
- Tail bodywork and upper bodywork must be properly fitted together with no gaps or misalignment
- Maximum fillet radius of 25mm allowed at intersections where different bodywork volumes meet
- This rule ensures aerodynamic consistency and prevents teams from exploiting gaps between bodywork sections
- All edges and intersections must be neatly trimmed and finished
Official FIA Text
Tail and Upper Bodywork to Floor Assembly must be trimmed to each other. Fillet Radius no greater than 25mm may be applied along intersections between volumes.
Article C17.4.5
TRC/FSC Outsourcing
Chapter: C17
In Simple Terms
Teams are allowed to outsource the design, engineering, and manufacturing of their front and rear wing components to outside companies, as long as the work follows the technical regulations outlined in section C17.1.9. This means teams don't have to do all this work in-house.
- Teams can hire external companies to handle design and engineering of front and rear wings
- Manufacturing of these components can also be outsourced to third parties
- All outsourced work must still comply with the technical regulations in C17.1.9
- This provides flexibility for teams in how they structure their technical operations
Official FIA Text
Supplying Team may Outsource Concept-Design, Engineering and/or Manufacturing of TRC or FSC to third party provided work meets C17.1.9 requirements.
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