Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari ‘pushing and chasing’ as ‘macarena’ rotating wing to debut at Chinese Grand Prix | F1 News

Ferrari have introduced their progressive rotating rear wing – being dubbed the ‘macarena’ – to the Chinese Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton proud the staff are “pushing and chasing” for upgrades so early within the season.

The Scuderia brought on a stir on the penultimate day of testing in Bahrain final month once they debuted the distinctive rear-wing design on their SF-26 automobile.

When the automobile is in straight-line mode, as an alternative of the standard technique of the highest aspect of the rear wing flattening to scale back drag, Ferrari’s design rotates into an upside-down place.

The design was not introduced to final week’s season-opener in Australia however was noticed within the pit lane on the automobile forward of this weekend’s Sprint weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, which options one of many longest straights on the calendar at 1.1km the place straight-line pace is essential.

“We did a full day or so on the wing, so I think we got all the running needed for it,” stated Hamilton of its preliminary operating in testing.

“And I’m so grateful for the staff too, as a result of it was truly supposed to be later down the road and they labored actually onerous to develop it and get it introduced right here.

“So it is nice to see that the staff are preventing, the staff are pushing and chasing and actually working time beyond regulation again at the manufacturing facility to find a way to convey upgrades, as a result of that is the secret.

“I think last year I didn’t get to see the team’s full potential in that mode, because we were focused on this year’s cars.”

On whether or not he had felt any distinction when operating the wing – which is now being known as the ‘macarena’ after the Nineties dance sensation – in Bahrain, Hamilton stated: “Unfortunately, it did the same, we just see it in the mirror.

“So I’m wanting ahead to seeing what it can do right here.”

‘Not an impossible gap to close’ – will Ferrari be closer to Mercedes in China?

Ferrari arrive in Shanghai aiming to build on a competitive start to F1’s new era last week in Melbourne, where they finished third and fourth behind the Mercedes drivers.

While the Scuderia’s drivers push eventual race winner George Russell hard in the opening stages of the Melbourne race before strategies diverged after a Virtual Safety Car, Hamilton says his old team’s qualifying advantage of 0.8s showed the outright gap Ferrari have to close.

“We knew that Mercedes have been wanting actually robust however little did we all know it was as large a spot that we noticed,” said Hamilton.

“It’s not an not possible hole to shut however simply it is going to take all arms on deck and I’m assured in my staff doing every thing again at the manufacturing facility to attempt and shut that hole.”

Hamilton – who gained final yr’s Sprint race in China in what stays the most effective results of his Ferrari profession up to now – performed down their probabilities of beating Mercedes this weekend however was hopeful of one other step ahead.

“It’s far to early to say and, secondly, we were eight tenths behind in qualifying in the last race,” he added.

“We haven’t added eight tenths of performance to the car in four days. I think it will still be very tough to beat Mercedes this weekend. You also have to assume the others are going to be picking up pace – like McLaren and the second Red Bull being in the fight as well.

“We’ll simply deal with doing the most effective job we will and extracting probably the most from the automobile.”

He added: “It’s not eight tenths however we may hopefully extract a bit extra from the automobile this weekend. So I’m actually excited for the weekend.”

Team-mate Charles Leclerc, who engaged in an exhilarating early ding-dong duel for the lead with Russell final Sunday, believes the longer race distance does, nonetheless, once more supply Ferrari their greatest likelihood to problem the Silver Arrows at the second.

“In qualifying it’s going to take a lot of work in order to change the advantage that they have,” stated Leclerc.

“Eight tenths in Melbourne was absolutely huge, I don’t expect it to be much closer here.

“Closer for certain, there are issues we’re optimising that we’ve not optimise in Melbourne, so it can get higher. But they nonetheless have a major benefit.

“In the race we are closer so I hope starting from this weekend we can put them under a bit more pressure.”

Sky Sports F1’s Chinese GP schedule

Friday March 13
1.05am: F1 Academy Practice
3am: Chinese GP Practice (session begins at 3.30am)*
5.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference*
6am: F1 Academy Qualifying*
6.45am: Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying (session begins at 7.30am)*

Saturday March 14
2.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*
3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*
4.30am: Ted’s Sprint Notebook*
5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*
6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP response: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted’s Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai for the primary Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, dwell on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime