Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged Ferrari’s efforts to bring upgrades to their car early in the season, as they debut their innovative rear wing design at the Chinese Grand Prix. The wing, nicknamed the ‘macarena’, was first seen during testing in Bahrain. Hamilton expressed his gratitude to his own team for their efforts in developing and bringing upgrades forward.
Ferrari’s Innovative Wing Design
Ferrari’s new rear wing design caused a stir during testing in Bahrain. Instead of the traditional method of flattening the top element to reduce drag in straight-line mode, Ferrari’s design rotates into an upside-down position. The ‘macarena’ wing was spotted in the pit lane ahead of the Sprint weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, a track known for its long straights.
Hamilton said the team completed a full day of testing with the wing. He also expressed his gratitude to the team for working hard to bring it to China. He added that he didn’t get to see the team’s full potential last year because they were focused on this year’s cars.
Hamilton’s Initial Impressions
Hamilton said that during initial testing, the wing didn’t feel significantly different. He stated, “Unfortunately, it did the same, we just see it in the mirror.” He is now looking forward to assessing its performance at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Ferrari Aiming to Build on Competitive Start
Ferrari is looking to build on their competitive start to the season. They finished third and fourth in Melbourne. Hamilton pointed out Ferrari’s qualifying advantage in Melbourne, highlighting the gap his team needs to close. He stated that it would require a team effort to close the gap, but he is confident in his team’s ability to do everything possible back at the factory.
The Chinese GP Sprint weekend includes Practice and Sprint Qualifying. These will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.