Ferrari’s new rear wing, nicknamed the “Macarena”, has attracted considerable attention in the Formula 1 paddock during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. The innovative component has sparked discussion among teams and observers alike, with some wondering whether Red Bull could now find itself under pressure.
During the final week of pre-season Formula 1 testing in Bahrain, Ferrari had already drawn significant attention thanks to a new rear wing that was briefly fitted to Lewis Hamilton’s car for just five laps. The wing, later humorously referred to as the “Macarena” by team principal Fred Vasseur, did not make its race debut at the opening round of the season but now appears set to be introduced during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
During a media session in Shanghai, the new Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar was asked whether this new specification could allow Ferrari to move ahead of Red Bull in the competitive order. The French-Algerian driver did not hesitate before delivering his answer.
The new wing from Maranello
Speaking to Formula 1’s official television channel, Isack Hadjar discussed the balance of power among the teams so far this season. At the Australian Grand Prix he had secured the third position on the starting grid, but a technical problem prevented him from finishing the race. Ferrari, meanwhile, had started the race from fourth and seventh positions on the grid.
This weekend in China, which also hosts the first Sprint event of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Ferrari could introduce the Macarena rear wing for the first time in a competitive session. When asked whether this development might allow the Maranello-based team to move ahead of Red Bull, Hadjar responded immediately: “Yes.”
However, the Red Bull driver wearing the number 6 believes Ferrari may already have been faster than Red Bull even during the season opener in Australia. “I think they are already ahead, to be honest,” he explained. “I believe they just made a small mistake in qualifying, because they were ahead for the entire weekend and then in Q3 they weren’t.”
Isack Hadjar then added another candid remark about his expectations for the Chinese Grand Prix weekend: “So yes, honestly I don’t expect to find ourselves there again; I don’t see myself starting third on the grid, but you never know.”
Hadjar’s admission highlights the growing pressure on Red Bull-Ford as they navigate the complex power delivery requirements of the 2026 regulations. While the “Macarena” wing represents a significant aerodynamic leap for the SF-26, Hadjar’s comments suggest that Ferrari’s base package is already inherently superior to the RB22 in race trim. For a rookie to openly concede that his team is the underdog heading into a Sprint weekend is a rare moment of transparency in the world of F1 politics. As the cars hit the Shanghai International Circuit, the focus won’t just be on whether the “Macarena” wing functions as intended, but whether Red Bull can find any response to a Ferrari team that seems to have mastered the early development curve of this new era. If Hadjar’s predictions hold true, the battle in China may be a defensive one for the Milton Keynes squad.
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