During the Barcelona closed‑doors shakedown, Ferrari used wet conditions to evaluate a partial active aero mode on the SF‑26. The configuration kept the rear wing closed while flattening the second and third elements of the front wing; the team ran full‑wet Pirelli tires and logged telemetry to assess aerodynamic behaviour and hybrid energy trade‑offs. Charles Leclerc completed wet laps in the setup, and unofficial social‑media footage also showed Lewis Hamilton in the same configuration. Rain limited running, and only two teams collected meaningful mileage that day; media were excluded from the closed session, so the footage and team comments provided early but limited insight.

The partial mode was added in the December 2025 draft regulations; earlier rules had barred active‑aero use in wet conditions. Under the 2026 technical package, active aerodynamic devices may change state on straights, can close automatically when a driver lifts or brakes, and a separate Overtake Mode replaces DRS. The FIA will publish circuit‑specific Activation Zones under Article B7.1.1 at least four weeks before each event; teams will have many more activation zones than under the DRS regime, and when fully enabled those zones allow both front and rear wings to open and are usable every lap.

Drivers and teams said the 2026 cars already feel very different because they carry considerably less downforce, and the new systems increase cockpit workload by adding manual wing operation, Overtake Mode management and a greater need to manage electrical power during races. The wet partial mode offers a degraded option that leaves only the front wing in its straight‑line configuration, giving teams a way to use active aero without opening the rear wing in wet conditions. Ferrari’s shakedown aimed to check hardware, tire behaviour and the balance between aerodynamic gains and hybrid energy demand—an early test of how lighter cars and 50‑50 electric/biofuel power units will affect race operations.

Sources