Ferrari has taken the first step, and during Pirelli’s tests of next season’s soft tires, it has tested the new front wing with movable flaps, which will replace the DRS from 2026. Charles Leclerc was in charge of testing what will be a revolutionary element for next season.
Ferrari tests the new wing
The Italian team was one of the teams present at Pirelli’s soft tire tests for next season, and did so with this season’s car, the SF-25, driven by Charles Leclerc. During the tests, the FIA authorized participating teams to test the new front wing, one of the revolutionary elements for next season, which will replace the DRS, with movable flaps to help cars overtake.
Ferrari was the first team to venture out to test this element of the car, taking advantage over the other participants, such as Alpine, Racing Bulls, and McLaren, and over the rest of the teams that are not present at these tests, such as Aston Martin. On the other hand, this part, as it is currently configured, may not be final, which has led these teams to prefer not to invest in a model that will not be the final prototype. However, it does give an idea of how the cars might behave, so Ferrari is taking a small advantage that could end up making a difference.
The 2026 wing
To be more specific, Ferrari has developed a prototype for this test equipped with an active positioning system that modifies the angles of the flaps during the race, using hydraulic propulsion. Although it has been activated manually in these tests, it is expected to be electrically powered next year. This system evolves variable aerodynamics, which is beneficial for the new cars, which will weigh less and will not be as dependent on ground effect, which is so important today.
Aston Martin and 2026
Aston Martin, by not participating in these tests, is at a clear disadvantage over its rivals who have participated. With regard to the front wing, although the data obtained by Ferrari is by no means definitive, it does give the Italians a certain advantage in knowing first-hand how the car may behave, and any slight advantage in the development of the 2026 car could make all the difference in the construction of the car.
At Aston Martin, however, they seem to be more concerned about tire performance and are waiting for official data from Pirelli so they can enter the data into their simulator and begin new aerodynamic tests to see how it affects a team that has suffered greatly in recent years from tire degradation.
But in the case of the wing, it is surprising that the other teams participating in the tests, such as Alpine, Racing Bulls, and McLaren, have not wanted to try the new wing despite it not being the final version, as they could have gained a significant advantage, as Ferrari itself has done.
2026 will see one of the most radical changes in the history of F1, and some teams are already testing key elements for next season on the track. For the time being, Aston Martin continues to work at the factory, with Adrian Newey focusing on aerodynamics and Honda preparing the power unit. The 2025 World Championship has passed the halfway point, with racing continuing on the track, but the real race is being fought in the factories, with the aim of reaching 2026 with as big an advantage as possible.