Ferrari’s potential edge explained: will it show as early as Australia?. Ferrari impressed during F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain with innovative upgrades to the SF-26.

F1 | Ferrari may have an edge over its rivals: will it be visible already in Australia?

Ferrari drew significant attention from rivals and media alike during the Bahrain test sessions thanks to several innovations introduced on the SF-26. The big question now is whether that potential advantage will already be visible in Melbourne.

During pre-season testing, which took place in both Barcelona and Bahrain, Ferrari showcased a number of new developments on its 2026 challenger. The first innovative component introduced by the Maranello team was located around the diffuser area, while the element that generated the most discussion was undoubtedly the rear wing. On the second day of the second week of F1 testing in Bahrain, Ferrari fitted Lewis Hamilton’s car with a rear flap capable of rotating by 180 degrees. Just five laps from the seven-time world champion with this new specification were enough to attract widespread attention across the paddock — and beyond.

The Ferrari “advantage”

In the latest episode of the Up To Speed podcast, journalist Will Buxton and former F1 driver David Coulthard discussed Ferrari’s Bahrain performance ahead of the new Formula 1 season. Buxton focused in particular on the Scuderia’s rear wing: “Ferrari is the F1 world champion of testing, which, as we know, means absolutely nothing. Every team opens its rear wing. Ferrari’s doesn’t just open — it flips 180 degrees.”

Buxton added: “So this wing, by rotating 180 degrees, effectively becomes like an aircraft wing and generates lift.”

It remains unclear whether Ferrari will use this type of rear wing during the season or whether it was simply an experimental test solution. According to Buxton, however, the Maranello outfit could gain a particular advantage at race starts: “All the other cars lined up on the first, second or third rows. Lewis Hamilton was further back, in ninth position. By the time they reached Turn 1, Lewis was already leading. At the moment, Ferrari looks like it could qualify at the back of the grid and still be leading the Grand Prix by the first corner.”

Former F1 driver David Coulthard, however, urged caution — especially with the Australian Grand Prix in mind: “Melbourne has a short run to the first corner, it’s a narrow track and Turn 1 has a tight apex, where we’ve seen incidents in the past. So I don’t think we’ll see the same level of dominance off the start as at other circuits.”