Hamilton hails Ferrari as 'macarena' rotating wing set to debut

Ferrari bring their upside-down rear wing design first seen in Bahrain testing to second race weekend of season; watch the Chinese GP Sprint weekend with Practice at 3.30am and Sprint Qualifying from 7.30am on Friday, live on Sky Sports F1

Thursday 12 March 2026 08:10, UK

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Ferrari have brought their innovative rotating rear wing - being dubbed the 'macarena' - to the Chinese Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton proud the team are "pushing and chasing" for upgrades so early in the season.

The Scuderia caused a stir on the penultimate day of testing in Bahrain last month when they debuted the unique rear-wing design on their SF-26 car.

When the car is in straight-line mode, instead of the usual method of the top element of the rear wing flattening to reduce drag, Ferrari's design rotates into an upside-down position.

The design was not brought to last week's season-opener in Australia but was spotted in the pit lane on the car ahead this weekend's Sprint weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, which features one of the longest straights on the calendar at 1.1km.

"We did a full day or so on the wing, so I think we got all the running needed for it," said Hamilton of its initial running in testing.

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"And I'm so grateful for the team too, because it was actually supposed to be later down the line and they worked really hard to develop it and get it brought here.

"So it's great to see that the team are fighting, the team are pushing and chasing and really working overtime back at the factory to be able to bring upgrades, because that's the name of the game.

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"I think last year I didn't get to see the team's full potential in that mode, because we were focused on this year's cars."

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On whether he had felt any difference when running what is being called the 'macarena' - the 1990s dance sensation - Bahrain, Hamilton said: "Unfortunately, it did the same, we just see it in the mirror.

"So I'm looking forward to seeing what it will do here."

More to follow....

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Friday March 131.05am: F1 Academy Practice3am: Chinese GP Practice (session starts at 3.30am)*5.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference*6am: F1 Academy Qualifying*6.45am: Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 7.30am)*

Saturday March 142.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*4.30am: Ted's Sprint Notebook*5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday March 152.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*10am: Ted's Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime