Explained: How Ferrari pushed F1 2026 regulations with Chinese GP developments

Ferrari has been extremely creative at the start of this regulation set, with their ‘FMT’ and ‘Macarena’ rear wing both drawing attention from fans and rivals alike.

But, in China it’s added another surprise to the SF-26, as they continue to probe the regulations in a different way to years gone by.

Ferrari bring upgrades for Chinese Grand Prix

Ferrari have mounted a new winglet on the front pillar of the halo for the second race weekend of the season, as it continues to hunt for ways to increase efficiency.

This is not a race-specific solution, as it clarified in the car presentation document. Instead it’s about improving the airflow’s behaviour before it reaches the cockpit and perhaps more importantly, the driver’s helmet.

“Introducing a winglet element to the halo pillar as a minor update. Not event specific, it simply returns a small aerodynamic load benefit.”

After all, the cockpit, halo and driver’s helmet all contribute losses that the aerodynamicists are trying to minimise. It’s why a faring around the halo is already permissible and why there’s been various design solutions used in the past to combat these issues.

Ferrari also has form when it comes to looking for performance associated with the design of the halo.

Its most controversial solution arose from the mirrors being hung from the side of the safety structure in 2018, which it then installed ‘eyebrow winglets’ above.

The eyebrow winglets survived for just one race, before being outlawed by the FIA, with only the mirrors able to be hung from the halo thereafter.

The ‘Macarena’ wing, as it has been oddly dubbed, made another appearance in China too, as the team continued to put the prototype through its paces and gather more data.

The team is reportedly working on a new version of the rear wing solution that should arrive around the Canadian Grand Prix.

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