P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Gary Anderson explains the pros and cons of Ferrari’s upside down rear wing, and how it differs to the other teams’ approaches for 2026
“After 50-plus years involved in F1, I thought I had seen just about everything until I witnessed the innovative new active rear wing concept introduced by Ferrari.
Ferrari’s new rear wing consists of three elements – a mainplane and two flaps – which rotate 225 degrees clockwise, ending up completely upside down and further rearward in straight mode before returning to corner mode.
The unique design of Ferrari’s rear wing aims to generate lift in straight mode, potentially reducing drag significantly compared to the more conventional approaches taken by other teams.
While Ferrari’s design offers potential aerodynamic advantages, other teams, such as Alpine and Audi, have pursued different strategies that may also have their own benefits in terms of airflow management and drag reduction.
Teams will need to carefully consider the pros and cons of each approach through CFD simulations and on-track testing to determine the most effective rear wing configuration for optimizing performance on race day.”