After introducing an innovative rear wing on Day 2 of the Formula 1 Bahrain tests, Ferrari has returned to a standard configuration, removing the rotation seen earlier in the morning.
Five laps. That was all it took for Ferrari’s rear wing to leave the entire paddock stunned on the second day of the second week of Bahrain testing. The Maranello team brought the SF-26 to the track with a truly innovative solution: when the ‘straight mode’ was activated, the wing’s flaps rotated a full 270° instead of the usual 90°.
Images of the rotating wing quickly went viral on social media, sparking curiosity and speculation among rival teams about its potential benefits and whether the modification was legal. According to Matteo Bobbi, the advantages were linked to reduced drag on straights and improved braking efficiency.
What happened to Ferrari’s rear wing?
After the lunch break, however, Ferrari appears to have returned the rear wing to its original setup, with flaps rotating only 90°. This decision was likely motivated by the team’s intention to test the “rotating” wing only for functionality and to gather initial data.
During the live broadcast, Sky Sport journalist Mara Sangiorgio reported receiving information on the change: “They told me they are already working on it. What we saw this morning was only an initial version of the rear wing,” she said.
It will now be interesting to see whether Ferrari reintroduces this new solution during the final days of testing or if fans will have to wait until the Australian Grand Prix to learn the team’s final decision. One thing is clear: Ferrari is aiming high for the new season and is experimenting with some genuinely innovative choices.
Ferrari’s brief run with a 270-degree rotating rear wing in Bahrain has therefore sparked intense technical debate, but the team’s quick return to a standard configuration suggests they are focusing on validating initial data before committing to the radical design for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix.
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