Ferrari’s ‘objective’ with Lewis Hamilton’s rear wing flipping at F1 testing is not speed but energy

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Ferrari revealed one of the most radical developments in recent years at the 2026 F1 Bahrain pre-season test this Thursday, with Lewis Hamilton able to flip his rear wing.

The Scuderia did not enjoy many laps during the morning session, but Hamilton got tongues wagging during his mere five tours of the Bahrain International Circuit. It marked the second straight day that Ferrari were the talk of the paddock because of their new updates in Sakhir.

Ferrari’s new rear diffuser at the 2026 Bahrain test caught the eye on Wednesday, having hit the track with new elements to control the outwash effect and stall the rear wing. But their rear diffuser adjustments were just the start, as Ferrari’s new rear wing has stolen the show.

Hamilton gained 10km/h (6.2mph) on Bahrain’s straights by flipping Ferrari’s rear wing, with the Scuderia able to rotate the upper flap by 180° when they engage the new straight mode. Various teams have created different ways to use their active rear aero, but Ferrari’s is a first.

Ferrari believe flipping the SF-26’s rear wing can save ‘significant’ energy in 2026

F1 has introduced straight mode (which is when drivers can activate the active front and rear aero) as part of the 2026 regulations to address concerns that the new engine formulae with a near 50/50 electric/combustion power split may see drivers run out of energy on straights.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

And it is due to the increase in energy management created by the 2026 F1 regulations that Ferrari have developed their flipping rear wing that Hamilton unveiled at the Bahrain test on Thursday. RacingNews365 notes gaining speed is ‘not the objective’ with Ferrari’s rear wing.

Ferrari feel Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can gain a ‘significant speed differential’ at the end of the straights by rotating the upper flap on their rear wing by 180°. But it is more valuable for Hamilton and Leclerc that Ferrari’s rear wing can save a ‘significant’ amount of energy.

Ferrari have shown how radical teams can be under the 2026 F1 regulations

The benefit of flipping the active element of the SF-26’s rear wing will likely vary from circuit to circuit. But the idea behind Ferrari’s unique rear wing development is to reduce as much drag as possible, whilst creating lift to enhance the expansion section of their rear diffuser.

It remains to be seen whether another team has come up with the same idea as Ferrari, and whether any teams can now try to copy the Scuderia’s design. Alpine had appeared to have the most innovative rear wing by laying the element flat, before Ferrari’s design broke cover.

Most F1 teams have simply chosen to follow the same method they used with DRS (the Drag Reduction System) by using an actuator to lift the forward edge of the movable wing flap as their active rear aero in 2026. Yet Ferrari have shown just how radical F1 rear wings can be.