Ferrari unveils exhaust flap on SF-26 to boost downforce

Ferrari unveiled a novel exhaust-mounted flap on the SF-26 during final pre-season testing in Bahrain. The device, variously described in paddock reports as a full-width flap, a small “flick-up” wing or a miniature beam wing, sits directly behind the tailpipe and around the rear-wing pylons in an area of bodywork that is usually restricted. Ferrari said the flap redirects hot exhaust upward to boost rear-wing efficiency and acts as an extension of an enlarged diffuser to raise rear downforce; the team stressed it interacts with diffuser sub-structures and replaces earlier small winglets, stopping short of calling the solution a blown diffuser. The car also displayed a smaller-than-average exhaust tailpipe with a metal upper section and a visible temperature strip.

The flap required and received special FIA permission because of its proximity to the rear axle line and because it exploits allowable volumes in the 2026 regulations around the twin rear-wing pillar and tail-section box regions. Ferrari kept the development hidden until Charles Leclerc put the car on track, and Motorsport Italia called the solution “unprecedented.” Rivals immediately noted the concept would likely demand a complete rear-end redesign to replicate — McLaren’s Andrea Stella was reported to have inspected the component at length — and teams said the small performance edge it might provide could persist for months as others chase packaging changes. Several outlets said the late timing of Ferrari’s reveal and the diffuser-extension packaging would make rapid copying ahead of the Australian Grand Prix difficult, though teams with the necessary internal volume could eventually adopt a similar idea.

Ferrari linked the flap-and-diffuser package to its decision to run a smaller turbo this season to help race starts and continued work on engine and gearbox compatibility and hybrid recharge behavior in first gear during the Bahrain sessions. On-track times gave context but left questions: Charles Leclerc posted the third-quickest time in testing while both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton trailed Max Verstappen and Red Bull on energy-recovery metrics, underscoring lingering hybrid-performance differences. If the exhaust-mounted flap proves effective in races, Ferrari could gain an early aerodynamic advantage and influence the shape of the F1 2026 aerodynamic battleground before the season begins.