Ferrari’s new 2026 Formula 1 rear wing, seen during pre-season testing in Bahrain, surprised other teams with its unusual design that can flip 180 degrees to help reduce drag on straights.
To make this full flip work, Ferrari’s engineers moved the control mechanism into the wing’s endplate instead of the traditional central location, creating a very compact but strong system.
This setup is similar in concept to a controversial Mercedes design from 2011, which used actuators in the endplates as part of a system that was later banned, although Ferrari’s purpose and details are different.
The wing’s pivot point has also been changed and the whole structure has to handle more extreme forces than past designs, because the flaps are larger and used often during a lap.
Even though some questioned whether it would fit the rules when fully rotated, the FIA has approved Ferrari’s solution under the new 2026 technical regulations.