How Ferrari’s complex active aerodynamics nearly caused a massive Lewis Hamilton crash in Austria. Ferrari's active wing comes under scrutiny after Lewis Hamilton's Austrian GP moment.

Ferrari’s disappointing Austrian Grand Prix produced another intriguing technical talking point after former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson highlighted what he believes may have contributed to one of Lewis Hamilton’s biggest moments of the race.

Although Ferrari’s overall lack of straight-line performance and race pace dominated the post-race discussion, Anthony Davidson suggested that an additional technical complication involving the SF-26’s innovative rear wing system may also have affected the seven-time Formula 1 world champion during a crucial phase of the Grand Prix.

While chasing Oscar Piastri during the closing stages, Lewis Hamilton suffered a dramatic snap of oversteer at the penultimate corner of the Red Bull Ring. The Ferrari driver reacted instantly, avoiding what could easily have been a heavy accident at exactly the same section of the circuit where Max Verstappen crashed during qualifying the previous day.

Anthony Davidson highlights possible Ferrari active wing complication

Reviewing the incident during Sky Sports F1’s post-race analysis, Anthony Davidson suggested that Ferrari’s much-discussed active rear wing — commonly nicknamed the “Macarena wing” — may have played a role in the sudden loss of stability.

Throughout the race, Davidson noticed Lewis Hamilton repeatedly pressing the pink button on his steering wheel, which controls the opening and closing of Ferrari’s low-drag rear wing configuration on the straights.

According to Davidson’s interpretation, the Maranello team’s system may require more manual intervention than rival designs because the movable aerodynamic element appears to react more slowly when returning to its high-downforce position before corner entry.

Rather than operating entirely seamlessly, the driver may need to ensure the rear wing has fully returned to its normal position before braking or turning into a corner. Even a slight delay could temporarily reduce rear downforce, making the car significantly more nervous during turn-in.

Davidson explained that his analysis of the onboard footage suggested Lewis Hamilton initially believed he had reactivated the wing before the corner, only to realise moments later that the system had not completed the process. The additional steering-wheel input required during corner entry may have contributed to the sudden oversteer that nearly sent the Ferrari into the barriers.

Despite the scare, Anthony Davidson praised Lewis Hamilton‘s lightning-fast reactions, noting that the Briton’s ability to catch the slide prevented what could have become one of the defining incidents of the Austrian Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s aerodynamic innovation remains under the spotlight

Ferrari introduced its innovative rear wing concept to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve top speed, an area where the SF-26 has struggled against Mercedes-powered rivals throughout much of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The design has since also been adopted by Red Bull, while McLaren is expected to introduce its own interpretation as part of an upcoming upgrade package.

Ironically, however, the Italian side continues to suffer from a noticeable straight-line speed deficit despite the aggressive aerodynamic concept, largely because the team’s power unit still trails Mercedes and Red Bull in outright performance. Team principal Fred Vasseur and both Ferrari drivers have already acknowledged that engine development remains a longer-term project, with further gains expected later in the season.

For Lewis Hamilton, the Austrian Grand Prix ultimately ended in fifth place after Ferrari opted for a three-stop strategy in an attempt to remain competitive against the leading cars. Oscar Piastri eventually secured fourth place by just under five seconds, while later in the race Lando Norris overtook Charles Leclerc, dropping the Monegasque to eighth position.

Whether Anthony Davidson’s theory proves entirely accurate or not, the incident has once again drawn attention to Ferrari’s bold technical solutions. As Formula 1 development intensifies ahead of Silverstone, every detail — from power unit performance to aerodynamic systems and driver workload — could prove decisive in Ferrari’s effort to return to the front of the field.