Why Ferrari could turn the tables on Mercedes with its new weapon in China

Speculation in the Italian media earlier this week suggested Ferrari may fast-track the introduction of its much-talked-about ‘Macarena’ rear wing as early as the Chinese Grand Prix. The solution drew significant attention throughout the Bahrain pre-season test, where it quickly became one of the most discussed technical innovations in the paddock.

GPblog understands that the Maranello outfit will be able to draw on multiple versions of that concept available in Shanghai. Three different specifications of the rear wing are expected to be transported to the circuit, despite the design already being included within the pool of components the team could draw from.

Ferrari’s innovative rear wing concept works by allowing the entire main plane of the wing to rotate slightly around its axis, effectively changing its angle relative to the airflow. The main advantage of this solution is a reduction in drag on the straights, improving overall aerodynamic efficiency.

At a circuit like Shanghai - which features one of the longest straights on the entire F1 calendar - this could translate into higher top speeds while also reducing battery energy consumption and limiting the risk of clipping towards the end of the straight.

By lowering aerodynamic drag, Ferrari’s rear wing concept means the power unit does not need to rely as heavily on electrical deployment to reach the same speeds along the straight. This allows the battery to maintain its output for longer, reducing the risk of running out of energy too early.

That could be particularly important in the final part of the straight - the section where drivers usually attempt overtakes or, as seen in Melbourne, begin to lose speed due to clipping.

Putting an exact figure on the top-speed gain over the previous rear wing is obviously difficult at this stage without hard data, although the increase seen in Bahrain appeared to be far from negligible, reportedly in the region of 8 to 10 km/h.

It should also be noted that the Maranello outfit could still decide to shelve the wing for the race if deemed necessary, and continue the weekend using the previous specification.

According to the Mercedes team principal, the team responded well to difficulties in Melbourne and ultimately managed to achieve the result it had been aiming for, while also gathering valuable data and lessons that will be used to improve ahead of the next race.

The Austrian also warned that Mercedes should expect a tight fight at the front. While Ferrari already proved to be a serious challenger in Melbourne, Wolff believes several other teams may still have untapped potential and could emerge as threats during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.