The Scuderia boss said the innovative rotating rear wing will pay off and that the rest of the teams will end up imitating it. He also highlighted Ferrari's cultural shift towards greater risk taking.
Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, has said that the innovative "Macarena" rear wing on the SF-26 will be imitated by the rest of the teams in 2027. The design, which allows the upper plane to rotate on its own axis, has been key to the Scuderia's strong performance in the first half of the season: "There are other areas of the car where we have been aggressive, but it's certainly easier to be so in the first year of a regulation, before entering a phase of convergence in the coming seasons. When we started the design process for the Macarena, we weren't so sure. Will they copy us? Next year we will all be sure that it works" declared Vasseur.
The "Macarena" wing has been one of the most revolutionary inventions of the 2026 season. Its goal is to generate greater downforce in corners and offer extra top speed when open. Ferrari was not completely convinced of its effectiveness during development, but on track results have proven its worth. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have scored wins and podiums, and the SF-26 has become a serious rival for Mercedes.
Vasseur highlighted the cultural shift at Ferrari towards greater risk taking: "I insist to the team that they take risks. At Sauber we had a culture of risk, it's strange given that we were a Swiss team. At Ferrari we were perhaps too comfortable in our comfort zone" explained the Frenchman. The Scuderia has bet on innovation in a year of regulatory change, and the results are beginning to arrive.
Technical convergence is a common phenomenon in Formula 1. When a team finds an innovative solution, others tend to imitate it in order not to fall behind. In 2022, Red Bull set the path with its sidepods, and other teams like Mercedes adapted their design. In 2026, Ferrari has taken over with its rear wing.
The SF-26 has also stood out for its reliability and straight line performance, which has allowed Ferrari to face Mercedes. The Scuderia has won two of the last five races and has shown it can compete at the highest level. Vasseur trusts that the team can maintain this momentum in the second half of the season.
The regulation change for 2027 could give a significant twist to the standings, and teams will look to implement the systems that have worked best. Ferrari hopes its "Macarena" wing will be one of them. Vasseur believes the team has laid the foundations for the future with its bet on innovation and risk taking.
Ferrari's strategy of being a pioneer rather than a follower is paying off, and Vasseur trusts that this approach will set the path to follow. The Scuderia has shown that innovation, when combined with flawless execution, can be the key to breaking the title drought. The "Macarena" wing is the symbol of a new mindset in Maranello.
Ferrari seeks its first drivers' title since 2007, and the "Macarena" wing could be a key piece in that goal. The Scuderia has shown it can be competitive, and Vasseur trusts that the team can take the definitive step in 2027.
