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With the Miami Grand Prix on the horizon, the Formula 1 development race has intensified. Both Ferrari and Red Bull have utilized their strictly regulated 200-kilometre filming day allowances this week to validate critical aerodynamic upgrades, signaling a high-stakes technical battle for the upcoming round.
Ferrari conducted its filming day at Monza on Wednesday, splitting the 200-kilometre allocation between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc took the wheel for the morning session, with Hamilton assuming duties in the afternoon.
While the session was officially classified as promotional, it served as a vital technical exercise. The team utilized the track time to debut a comprehensive upgrade package for the SF-26, which includes a new front wing, a revised floor, a new rear wing specification, and various aerodynamic refinements.
Crucially, the test provided the first opportunity to gather real-world data under the FIA’s revised energy-management regulations, which were implemented on 20 April. Given the specific demands of the Miami circuit, where energy harvesting and deployment will be a decisive performance factor, the long straights and heavy braking zones of Monza offered an ideal testing ground. Ferrari also continued to refine its "Macarena" rear wing, focusing on the reliability and hydraulic actuation of the reverse-profile concept.
Simultaneously, Red Bull held its own filming day at Silverstone, with Max Verstappen piloting an updated iteration of the RB22. The car featured several aerodynamic adjustments, most notably the addition of two small wings mounted laterally on the Halo, designed to optimize airflow around the driver’s helmet.
The most significant development, however, is Red Bull’s decision to adopt its own version of Ferrari’s "Macarena" rear wing. By embracing this reverse-profile philosophy while retaining a central support, Red Bull is signaling a shift in its development trajectory. Having long served as the sport's aerodynamic benchmark, the team is now actively following Ferrari’s lead on one of the most unconventional technical concepts of the 2026 season.
Early internal estimates suggest that this design shift could yield a performance gain of 5–10 km/h on the straights, depending on the specific drag-reduction settings employed. As both teams head to Miami, the effectiveness of these respective interpretations of the "Macarena" wing will be a primary focus of the paddock.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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