Ferrari appears set to begin its evaluation of a new high-downforce rear wing at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc rather than Lewis Hamilton. Images taken inside the team’s garage on Thursday indicated that the updated component had initially been fitted only to Charles Leclerc’s SF-26, potentially giving the Monegasque driver the first opportunity to assess it during opening practice.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, looked likely to start the weekend with the version of Ferrari’s Macarena rear wing used at the Belgian Grand Prix. The difference between the two specifications could become an important part of Ferrari’s Friday programme, particularly because Charles Leclerc may already have experience of the new design through the Maranello simulator.
Ferrari prepares aggressive Hungarian GP rear-wing upgrade
The updated Ferrari Macarena rear wing has been developed for the very different aerodynamic demands of the Hungaroring. Spa-Francorchamps rewards efficiency and high-speed performance, whereas the circuit outside Budapest places much greater emphasis on downforce, balance and grip through prolonged corners.
Straight-line speed is less decisive in Hungary, allowing Ferrari to pursue a more aggressive configuration than had initially been expected. The team has therefore focused on increasing aerodynamic load as it attempts to exploit the SF-26’s strength in low-speed corners.
One visible feature of the revised design concerns the small flaps positioned along the trailing edges of the wing. The Italian media also reported that Ferrari had introduced three strakes in the central section, echoing some of the more radical solutions previously used at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Ferrari head of aerodynamics Diego Tondi oversaw the development of the component. The configuration features two vertical support pillars beneath three curved central flaps, creating an unusual arrangement that is possible because Ferrari’s Macarena concept does not rely on the conventional mechanism used to raise the upper rear-wing flap when Straight Mode is activated.
Why Charles Leclerc may be better prepared for the new wing
The decision to place the upgrade on Charles Leclerc’s car first may be connected to the contrasting simulator programmes followed by Ferrari’s two drivers. Charles Leclerc makes extensive use of the team’s simulator and is therefore likely to have already completed virtual running with the high-downforce specification before arriving at the Hungaroring.
That preparation would allow Charles Leclerc to compare the simulated behaviour of the component with its performance on the circuit. Ferrari could then use his feedback to identify any differences in aerodynamic balance, cornering behaviour or correlation between the virtual model and the physical car.
Lewis Hamilton would not have the same reference point. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion stopped using Ferrari’s simulator before the Canadian Grand Prix in May after concluding that it was not helping his development or on-track performance.
When recently asked whether he had returned to the simulator, Lewis Hamilton confirmed that he had not. He also indicated that abandoning it had produced a substantial improvement in his form.
Lewis Hamilton explained that he had spent the previous season trying to work with Ferrari’s simulator but had experienced similar concerns earlier in his Mercedes career. Although he considers simulators potentially powerful and valuable engineering tools, he believes they can also provide misleading feedback.
According to Lewis Hamilton, his long experience with simulator technology, which stretches back to 1997, has taught him that virtual preparation is not always beneficial. He felt that Ferrari’s system had been particularly misleading throughout the previous season and maintained that his performance improved significantly after he stopped using it.
Ferrari faces an important comparison during Friday practice
Ferrari’s opening practice work will establish whether the updated rear wing delivers the expected benefit at the Hungaroring and whether the team chooses to install it on Lewis Hamilton’s car later in the weekend. Charles Leclerc’s simulator preparation could make him the more logical driver to conduct the initial correlation work, although Ferrari has not publicly confirmed that Lewis Hamilton’s simulator decision determined the allocation.
The comparison will also help Ferrari decide whether the increased downforce justifies any compromises elsewhere in the SF-26’s aerodynamic package. The Hungaroring’s limited number of long straights gives the team greater freedom to prioritise cornering performance, but the drivers must still retain sufficient efficiency when Straight Mode is active.
Charles Leclerc has already warned that Ferrari cannot simply assume the Hungaroring will favour the SF-26. The rear-wing evaluation will therefore form an important part of establishing whether Ferrari can convert the circuit’s favourable characteristics into a genuine performance advantage.
Lewis Hamilton will also arrive with considerable confidence at a venue where he has historically excelled. His Hungarian Grand Prix record strengthens Ferrari’s hopes, but the opening sessions may begin with Charles Leclerc holding the more complete technical preparation for the team’s latest aerodynamic development.
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