Ferrari once again caused a stir during the first and only free practice for the Chinese GP with its rotating spoiler. The concept, which already caused a commotion during winter testing in Bahrain and has since been nicknamed the ‘macarena rear wing’, seems at first glance to be a golden aerodynamic find. Yet, to Lewis Hamilton’s surprise, the spoiler had disappeared again during sprint qualifying. What are Ferrari’s plans for this concept?
Read more Sprint Race GP China: New disappointment for Max Verstappen, Russell supreme once again
After FP1 in China, Ferrari was once again in the spotlight because of the macarena rear wing. Speaking to the press, Lewis Hamilton downplayed the effect of this concept. “I don’t think there are any immediate noticeable advantages,” said the seven-time world champion. During the subsequent sprint qualifying, both he and teammate Charles Leclerc drove with a conventional design again. This earned them P4 and P6 respectively. Experts speculate that Ferrari is doubting the reliability of the macarena rear wing.
Future plans
The fact that Ferrari removed the wing for the rest of the weekend indicates that the concept did not yield the desired results. However, another sound is heard in the paddock. The Scuderia is said to be unsure if the system is reliable enough to last a full weekend. After all, a lot of pressure is put on the wing, especially when it has to rotate 180 degrees at high speed. Lewis Hamilton later stated that the macarena wing had made a ‘premature debut’.
“I don’t actually know why we went back to it anyway,” he admitted honestly. “We had to rush a lot to get that wing here (in China, ed.), while we initially only wanted to use it from race four or five. The team acted incredibly quickly, but in the end, we only had two,” he revealed. “So maybe it was just too early. The car was otherwise still fine. We will do our best to bring the wing back as soon as it is ready.” With race four and five, he refers to a possible debut during the Bahrain GP or the Saudi Arabian GP, although it is still uncertain whether those weekends will take place.
Read more Results sprint race Chinese GP 2026
How does Ferrari’s macarena rear wing work?
In 2026, the front and rear wings operate in Straight Mode or Corner Mode. Corner Mode is the neutral position, where the flaps at both the front and rear remain closed to generate more downforce. This provides extra grip, allowing the car to go through corners faster. On the straights, however, there are so-called Straight Mode zones, in which drivers can open the wings via a button on the steering wheel. This reduces air resistance and ensures a higher top speed.
Ferrari’s macarena rear wing pushes the boundaries of this concept. In Straight Mode, the spoiler flap rotates 180 degrees, effectively opening the entire wing and causing even less resistance. On paper, this should lead to higher top speeds and thus better lap times. Especially on fast circuits like Jeddah, Monza, and Spa-Francorchamps, this can provide an advantage. It is, by the way, not Ferrari’s only trick. In China, the team also experimented with small canards – aerodynamic elements – on the base of the halo. These are intended to guide extra air over the driver’s helmet and towards the central air intake.
Read more Ralf Schumacher: ‘Red Bull exodus is now having its impact, even Racing Bulls seems better’
Read everything about the Chinese GP here
