Ferrari's 180° Flipping Rear Wing Could Revolutionize F1 Starts
Ferrari has unveiled a revolutionary rear wing design that flips 180 degrees to cut drag, earning high praise from F1 analyst Will Buxton. He suggests the innovation, seen in testing, could give the car such a potent launch off the line that it fundamentally changes race strategy, turning poor grid positions into immediate overtaking opportunities.
Former F1 TV presenter Will Buxton has praised Ferrari's radical new rear wing design, which flips 180 degrees to drastically reduce drag, suggesting the innovation could give the team a massive advantage on race starts. The design, which essentially turns the downforce-generating wing into a lift-inducing airplane wing on straights, made the Ferrari appear "lightning in a straight line" during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Why it matters:
In the ultra-competitive world of Formula 1, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, a superior race start can define an entire grand prix. Ferrari's pursuit of this mechanical advantage highlights a key area of innovation under the current regulations and could be a critical factor in converting strong qualifying positions into race wins, or recovering from poor grid slots.
The Details:
- The 2024 regulations allow drivers to open both the front and rear wings on straights to reduce drag and increase top speed—a system known as DRS (Drag Reduction System).
- Ferrari's solution goes further: instead of simply opening, its rear wing physically rotates 180 degrees, flipping upside down.
- This transforms the wing's function from creating downforce (pushing the car down) to inducing lift, which further minimizes aerodynamic resistance.
- A small winglet at the bottom of the assembly helps maintain stability by keeping the rear tires planted, counteracting the lift effect.
- During practice starts in Bahrain, the SF-24's acceleration was notably potent, with Buxton hyperbolically claiming the car looked so good it could "qualify on the back row of the grid and be leading the grand prix by Turn 1."
What's next:
The true test of Ferrari's innovative wing will come under the pressure of race conditions, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix. While pre-season pace is often misleading, the underlying mechanical advantage in straight-line speed could be a tangible asset. If reliable, this technology may force rival teams to investigate similar concepts, potentially sparking a new development war focused on race-start performance and low-drag efficiency.