Baku aerodynamic update: Ferrari brings Spa-inspired puzzle rear wing for low-speed grip and top speed. Ferrari brings a Spa-style puzzle rear wing to the Baku Grand Prix..

F1 | Ferrari brings Spa-style puzzle rear wing to Baku

Scuderia Ferrari is chasing a fifth consecutive pole position with Charles Leclerc in Azerbaijan. The team’s car, prepared in the Baku paddock, features the Spa-Francorchamps rear wing package, including a trimmed upper profile on the movable flap. Balancing top speed with grip through the more technical sections of the track will be crucial.

For the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari has introduced a very low-downforce rear wing setup. Unlike the extreme configurations seen at Monza, which did not produce the expected results and left the team trailing behind McLaren and, above all, Red Bull with Max Verstappen taking victory, this setup aims to optimize the compromise between speed and control.

The challenge in Baku is finding the ideal balance between the highly technical sections in the old city and the extremely fast final straight. Olivier Helvig, Ferrari’s performance engineer, explains: “The circuit features one of the longest straights of the season, so minimal drag is required. At the same time, sufficient downforce is essential to ensure confidence under braking and good grip in low-speed corners, as much of the track consists of slower turns.”

In preparation for Baku, the team opted for a “puzzle” rear wing to meet the complex demands of the Azerbaijan circuit. The main profile mounted on Lewis Hamilton’s SF-25 in the paddock is not flat like the one used at the Italian Grand Prix, but instead mirrors the solution previously seen at Spa-Francorchamps.

As observed in Belgium, the two outer supports of the movable flap are squared off to maximize aerodynamic load in that area, while the flap itself has a shorter chord and a more trimmed trailing edge compared to the Ardennes version. It also includes a small central V and a slight taper towards the outer edges, creating a finely tuned solution specifically for Baku.

This tailored approach takes into account Pirelli’s cooler conditions, with air temperatures expected between 15°C and 21°C, and the potential for rain. The engineers must be careful not to overheat the front tires, which could reach up to 40°C on the long straight after the finish line if pushed too hard.

Ferrari can also switch to a higher-downforce version if conditions demand it. During free practice, the key technical question will be whether to prioritize maximum straight-line speed for overtakes on the final section, or to focus on grip and balance to build a competitive pace through the twisty parts of the circuit.