Rival aero designers see Ferrari exhaust flap as ‘detrimental’ trade-off that makes the SF-26 faster

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Rival aerodynamicists feel Ferrari’s exhaust flap on the SF-26 at the 2026 Bahrain test may be a trade-off, by sacrificing rear wing efficiency for the diffuser’s performance.

The work of Ferrari’s head of aerodynamics Diego Dondi and his crew in Maranello has been one of F1’s biggest talking points in Bahrain this week. Ferrari stunned many with a new flap on their exhaust on Wednesday, which they unveiled alongside tweaks to their rear diffuser.

Eyes were also glued to the Ferrari SF-26 on Thursday morning, as Lewis Hamilton produced just five laps before he was confined to their garage due to a reliability problem that was not tied to the engine. His issues did not stop Ferrari’s flipping rear wing from stealing the show.

Rival F1 aero designers think Ferrari’s exhaust flap is a net plus at the expense of their rear wing

Ferrari have started to push the boat out with their upgrades at the second and final test in Bahrain. But a few rival aero designers have told Craig Scarborough that the flap that Ferrari introduced on their exhaust might be ‘detrimental’ for the performance of their rear wing.

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

The Scuderia have essentially introduced a blown device that blankets off half of the exhaust exit on the SF-26 to create a lot of upwash. But while the plate can improve the efficiency of the rear diffuser on Ferrari’s car, they have accepted a trade-off for a net performance gain.

Scarborough said on Peter Windsor’s YouTube channel: “I think this is working much more with a diffuser to encourage more flow to come up from the diffuser with these extensions. And it gives you downforce. It probably has an effect on the top rear wing, as well.

“A couple of aerodynamicists have been in touch with me today and said it could actually be slightly detrimental to the rear wing performance. But the gain is in the diffuser. So, they balance off, and you get an overall net increase in performance.”

Ferrari are pushing the limits with the design of their 2026 F1 car

Ferrari’s exhaust flap needed special approval from the FIA, as the Scuderia have pushed the boundaries of the new rulebook for the 2026 F1 season with its design. As part of the latest F1 chassis rules, teams cannot have any item mounted more than 60mm from the rear axle.

The pride of Italy thus designed their gearbox for the SF-26 so that the differential sits as far back as possible, which ensures the plate is within the 60mm limit. The performance trade-off that some rival teams envisage also did not stop Ferrari from unveiling a new rear wing.

Hamilton gained 10km/h (6.2mph) on Bahrain’s straights with Ferrari’s flipping rear wing, as rotating the upper element that was previously used as DRS (the Drag Reduction System) by 180° significantly reduces drag. Their wing is another example of Ferrari pushing the limits.