Ferrari has confirmed that its innovative “Macarena wing” will return to action during the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. After being presented in China, the Scuderia gathered useful data, but the wing did not have the opportunity to compete before being withdrawn from the SF-26.
During the Chinese Grand Prix, the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc was highlighted, with Ferrari finishing in third position, giving Hamilton his first podium as a Ferrari driver. However, the car crossed the finish line 25 seconds behind the leaders, a kind of eternity for a team looking to be competitive against the dominant force of Mercedes.
According to the latest analyses, the speed difference revolves around four tenths per lap, which is a considerable challenge. **The good news**, however, is that testing in China revealed that the SF-26 can match the silver arrows in the first two sectors of the track, losing most of its time on the straights.
Technical adjustments and engine performance
With the FIA debating potential regulatory changes for Miami, Ferrari will have to make an extra effort to narrow the gap with Mercedes. This involves not only optimizing the use of electrical energy in battery recharge strategies but also finding the lost power in their V6 engine.
It is estimated that there is a deficit of about 20-25 horsepower, especially noticeable at high revs. Moreover, it is suspected that the German brand uses a trick in its engine that allows it to operate with a higher compression ratio, maximizing the available power.
The return of the Macarena wing
The presentation of the Macarena wing in China was a key moment for gathering data before being discarded for the race. There were rumors that the wing had been rejected, but that is not the case. Although it was not approved for the second race of the season, the wing was designed to complement the needs of each circuit, with a special focus for Suzuka.
Ferrari’s engineers have been working on synchronizing the closure of the wing, which features actuators located on the side wings, to address aerodynamic balance issues that arose during testing. The data obtained will be vital for the simulations of the upcoming Japanese GP, where aerodynamics will play a crucial role.
Ferrari continues to develop the SF-26 with the aim of achieving greater aerodynamic efficiency and reducing drag, which will allow them to compete better in technical sections of the circuit. With a significant update planned for Miami, the team hopes that the improvements will be immediately felt in the performance of the competition car.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_9801eb90ad8e2ccaa9f38a8d495494c3c57974c7