Lewis Hamilton looks forward to Ferrari’s ‘Macarena’ wing debut at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Ferrari is poised to introduce its new “Macarena” wing at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix after the active aerodynamic feature was expedited for an earlier debut than initially scheduled.
According to F1’s updated regulations, drivers are permitted to alternate between two distinct wing configurations: one aimed at minimizing drag on straight sections and another designed to maximize downforce in corners.
The straight-line mode (SLM), which adjusts the upper flaps on both the front and rear wings to decrease drag, is restricted to specific straights on the circuit and is controlled by the driver similarly to last year’s Drag Reduction System.
Ferrari has adopted a unique strategy regarding the new rule, with one variant of its straight-line mode featuring a rear wing that flips the upper flap completely upside down when engaged.
Referred to as the “Macarena” wing by team principal Fred Vasseur during preseason testing, it distinguishes itself among the various interpretations of the new active aerodynamic regulations—most of which are similar to last year’s DRS device.
Ferrari tested the innovative wing for a limited number of laps during Bahrain testing but chose to utilize a more traditional version for the season’s opening round last weekend in Australia.
Lewis Hamilton, who evaluated the Macarena wing in Bahrain, stated that the design is now ready for racing after the team accelerated its introduction on the car.
“I don’t think there’s any [extra learning needed] — we got all the running needed [in testing],” Hamilton remarked.
“I’m very thankful for the team’s efforts, because it was actually intended to arrive later, and they worked diligently to develop it and bring it here.
“So for me, it’s fantastic to see that the team is competing, pushing, and truly working hard back at the factory to deliver upgrades, as that’s essential in this sport.
“Last year, I didn’t get to witness the team’s full capabilities in that mode, as we were concentrating on this year’s car.”
Hamilton noted that the wing did not feel different from inside the car during testing but is “eager to see its performance here.”
When asked about the name, he added: “I don’t know if it has an official name. Someone mentioned Macarena, and I have no idea why.”
Hamilton finished fourth in the opening round in Australia, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc in third, but was over 16 seconds behind race winner George Russell at the finish.
Hamilton indicated that Mercedes has a considerable lap time advantage based on the outcome in Australia, but remains hopeful that Ferrari can narrow the gap as the season unfolds.
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“I believe it’s largely dependent on development—the pace of development is quite rapid for everyone right now, so there will be interest in who introduces upgrades in the upcoming races,” Hamilton stated.
“They do have a significant advantage; you saw in qualifying it was, I don’t know, 0.8 seconds or something like that, and in the race, I think it was between 0.4-0.5 seconds when they were in clear air, which is a substantial gap.
“So it will be intriguing to observe the development; we will attempt to catch up, and I am confident we can, but I can’t say it’s guaranteed.”
Hamilton mentioned that a considerable portion of his former team’s advantage becomes evident when SLM is activated, but he also believes Mercedes has an edge in energy management.
“I mean, it seems primarily on straights, so I think it would be, at the moment, everywhere on the straights,” he explained.
“It appears more pronounced when they engage the SLM; that’s when they make a significant leap, so whatever is happening in that phase is something we need to comprehend, and they seem to have a bit more [electrical] deployment.
“So less de-rating at the end of the straights than us so far. Therefore, we must work on figuring out how to extract more from our engine.”
Source: espn.com
