Ferrari’s “Macarena” rear wing set for further testing in Japanese GP FP1. Ferrari will continue testing its innovative “Macarena” rotating rear wing .

Vasseur confirms more tests for Ferrari’s rotating wing in Japan

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has confirmed that the innovative rear wing known internally as the “Macarena” will return to the track during Free Practice 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix, as the team continues to evaluate the new solution during race weekends.

Macarena yes or Macarena no?

As reported in recent days, Ferrari decided to bring the rotating-profile rear wing – nicknamed the “Macarena” – to China earlier than originally scheduled in its development plan.

However, the Shanghai weekend was far from the most convenient opportunity to fully evaluate the new component. The Chinese Grand Prix weekend followed the Sprint format, meaning that track time was extremely limited. As a result, the rear wing only appeared on the two Ferrari SF-26 cars of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton during the sole Free Practice 1 session before being removed ahead of Sprint Qualifying.

This situation was far from ideal for the two Ferrari drivers, who were forced to quickly adapt their setup ahead of the crucial afternoon session that ultimately determined the starting grid for the Sprint race.

The Macarena wing will return

Immediately after Sprint Qualifying, team principal Frédéric Vasseur explained to Sky Italia that the run with the new rear wing had essentially been “a reliability test.”

In other words, the decision not to use the component for the rest of the Shanghai weekend should not be interpreted as a rejection of the concept. Speaking later to Canal+, the French manager confirmed that Ferrari still intends to continue evaluating the flip-style wing in upcoming sessions.

“We need to test it to make it reliable, and the only way we have to do proper tests is during FP1. We will try it again in Japan and then we will see when we introduce it permanently,” concluded Fred Vasseur.

The next opportunity will therefore come at Suzuka, where Ferrari plans to gather additional data during the opening practice session before making a final decision on when the “Macarena” rear wing will become a regular part of the SF-26 package.

Ferrari’s experimental approach in Shanghai suggests that the “Macarena” wing is much more than a simple upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in how they intend to manage drag throughout a full lap. By opting for more tests in Suzuka, Freed Vasseur is ensuring that when the wing finally stays on for a full race weekend, it won’t just be fast, but “bulletproof” against the massive vibrational loads seen on long straights. In Japan we will see if the second round of testing allows Ferrari to finally unlock the true potential of their most daring 2026 innovation.