Ferrari SF-26: Charles Leclerc puts F1’s new active aerodynamics to the test in rainy Barcelona. During Barcelona testing, Charles Leclerc tested one of the 2026 regulation innovations on his Ferrari SF-26.

F1 | Barcelona testing – Charles Leclerc tries a 2026 innovation on his Ferrari

During the Barcelona pre-season tests, Charles Leclerc had the opportunity to try one of the key innovations for 2026 on his Ferrari SF-26. The second day of testing marked the Monegasque driver’s first official laps in the car following the brief shakedown at Fiorano during the SF-26 launch. The Monegasque was able to complete the first proper laps in the car he will race in the upcoming 2026 season.

The #16 Ferrari was on track in the morning, with Lewis Hamilton taking over in the afternoon, in a rotation schedule that will continue over the next few days. Leclerc completed just over sixty laps in both dry and wet conditions, checking the proper functioning of all components and collecting early data on the new car.

Leclerc tests one of the new 2026 technical features

The four hours on track also allowed Charles Leclerc to experiment with one of the main innovations of the new technical regulations. Starting this season, Formula 1 cars feature active aerodynamics, enabling drivers to move not only the rear wing flaps, as was the case with the old DRS, but also the front wing flaps. The goal is to improve car performance across different phases of driving while maintaining a strong focus on safety.

For this reason, the active aerodynamics system behaves differently in wet conditions. On dry tracks, the front and rear wings open simultaneously, but in the rain the rear wing flaps remain closed, as they did with the previous DRS system. This is necessary to maintain higher aerodynamic downforce in wet conditions and ensure the safety of both car and driver.

This specific scenario was tested by Charles Leclerc during his initial laps in the SF-26. From images released on official F1 channels, it is evident that Charles Leclerc activated the active aerodynamics system to open only the front wing flap, leaving the rear wing unaffected.

This innovation is something teams, drivers, and fans will need to get used to quickly, as it introduces yet another variable in the ongoing evolution of Formula 1 cars under the new technical cycle.