The 2026 Formula 1 season, and the host of new technical regulations implemented by the sport, have shaken up the grid.
Ferrari using innovative ‘flip-flop’ wing at Chinese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are trying something different at the Chinese Grand Prix
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
And left the teams looking for answers ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Among those teams is Ferrari, who are hoping to close the gap to Mercedes at the front of the field. While George Russell and Kimi Antonelli locked out the front row in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Ferrari locked out the second row, with Charles Leclerc finishing third and Lewis Hamilton fourth.
Now, the team is bringing their innovative “flip-flop” rear wing to the Chinese Grand Prix in an effort to close that gap.
Under the new regulations the Drag Reduction System (DRS) is no more, removed in favor of an active aerodynamics system that allows for movable front and rear wings. During pre-season testing in Bahrain we saw teams try new approaches to the rear wing, including Alpine.
But the most striking change was Ferrari’s “flip-flop” design, which some have taken to calling the “Macarena” wing:
Speaking with the media ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton praised the team for pushing to bring the upgrade to the second race of the season.
“We did a full day or so on the wing, so I think we got all the running needed for it,” said Hamilton. “And I’m so grateful for the team too, because it was actually supposed to be later down the line and they worked really hard to develop it and get it brought here. So it’s great to see that the team are fighting, the team are pushing and chasing and really working overtime back at the factory to be able to bring upgrades, because that’s the name of the game.
“I think last year I didn’t get to see the team’s full potential in that mode, because we were focused on this year’s cars.”
Ferrari confirmed that the team will be trying that rear wing in the only hour of practice, ahead of qualifying for the F1 Sprint race. Whether the team then uses that rear wing in sprint qualifying remains to be seen.
It also remains to be seen what we should be calling the rear wing.
“I don’t know if it has an official name,” joked Hamilton. “Someone said ‘Macarena’, I have no idea why! It’s the ‘flip-flop’ wing!”
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