Ferrari has once again postponed the introduction of the Macarena wing: the SF-26 will arrive at the Japanese Grand Prix without the revolutionary update.
Once more, the Macarena wing will not feature in Japan, as Ferrari directs its resources toward upcoming races in Miami. The SF-26 will focus on closing the gap to Mercedes by optimizing the power unit, delaying the debut of the foldable wing to later events. Concerns over reliability remain too high, awaiting a revised version with improved setup.
The first two practice sessions at Suzuka have not been kind to Ferrari. As anticipated ahead of the Japanese weekend, the two Scuderia cars are off the pace compared to the Mercedes-powered teams. Charles Leclerc shows solid race pace, while Lewis Hamilton is still struggling to find full confidence on the Suzuka circuit. The area where the SF-26 is most at risk of taking a hit is in qualifying trim, where a single fast lap could expose the performance gap.
Heading into Qualifying, the Maranello engineers will need to explore a different setup approach. This will involve not only tweaks to energy management but also adjustments to the car’s balance. The primary objective in Japan is clear: limit the damage. Without any updates, it will be difficult for the Prancing Horse to seriously challenge the Brackley duo.
Ferrari without Macarena: first updates expected in Miami
Despite another attempt to introduce the innovative Macarena wing earlier than planned, Ferrari will again be forced to go without it in Suzuka. This was reported by Franco Nugnes on motorsport.com, revealing that Maranello’s engineers chose not to test the foldable profile during Free Practice. Aerodynamic instabilities persist during closure phases, indicating that further indoor testing is needed.
The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races also disrupted the plans previously set by Loic Serra, who is now focusing on Miami. In the United States, Ferrari plans a major evolutionary step that should reduce the gap to the W17. Among other developments, the team will work on lowering the car’s weight. In Japan, the focus will instead be on more aggressive use of the internal combustion engine.
Ferrari is therefore taking a calculated risk by delaying its most innovative technical solution until the American leg of the season. Based on the content of the latest reports from the paddock, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will have to rely on raw driving skill and engine mapping to stay competitive this weekend. While the Tifosi must wait longer for the “Macarena” wing, the focus remains on ensuring the car is bulletproof before its next major evolution.
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