Ferrari SF-26

A place to discuss the characteristics of the cars in Formula One, both current as well as historical. Laptimes, driver worshipping and team chatter do not belong here.
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Cuky
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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Lets just hope it won't be one big what it says in the top left in background

bhall II
bhall II
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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Can anyone think of a reason why it might be beneficial to shed counter-rotating vortices onto a driver’s face?

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F1NAC
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Joined: 31 Mar 2013, 22:35

Re: Ferrari SF-26

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There is a lot of pressure on that wing to preform.

Sphere3758
Sphere3758
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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F1NAC wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 11:15
There is a lot of pressure on that wing to preform.
quite literally :D

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AR3-GP
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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Image
Beware of T-Rex

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bananapeel23
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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Beautiful piece of engineering with that fully uninterrupted wing, without the drag penalty of an Alpine/Audi style folding wing. The lack of an actuator must increase wing efficiency quite a bit, even if the overall wing span is a bit shorter, so there might not be an overall downforce gain.

balalev
balalev
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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Is this the same one they had in Bahrain, or is it an upgraded version?

Emag
Emag
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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bhall II wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 10:17
Can anyone think of a reason why it might be beneficial to shed counter-rotating vortices onto a driver’s face?

https://i.imgur.com/oIEszOB.jpeg
I am surprised that's allowed actually. Wouldn't this cause visibility problems for the driver? It's sitting rather low, right in the middle. I know you spend most of the time looking left/right while driving, but I wouldn't be surprised if that covers a big chunk of a car in front of you down a long straight.

As for its purpose, I think it's just for drag reduction around driver's helmet. I dont know how effective it would be, but obviously Ferrari think its effective enough to justify putting it.
Developer of F1InsightsHub

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F1NAC
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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balalev wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 12:57
Is this the same one they had in Bahrain, or is it an upgraded version?
Same

Hinges for connecting planes looks broken. Obviously because upper planes open up, but what is their purpose then

aberracus
aberracus
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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F1NAC wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 14:12
balalev wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 12:57
Is this the same one they had in Bahrain, or is it an upgraded version?
Same

Hinges for connecting planes looks broken. Obviously because upper planes open up, but what is their purpose then
Good finding, it could be limits ? Hard limits for the final position of the wing in drag generating position.

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AR3-GP
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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F1NAC wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 14:12
balalev wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 12:57
Is this the same one they had in Bahrain, or is it an upgraded version?
Same

Hinges for connecting planes looks broken. Obviously because upper planes open up, but what is their purpose then
I think the mechanics are pushing on the wing, so it has rotated slightly. At speed the downforce would keep the wing closed.
Beware of T-Rex

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FrukostScones
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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I strongly advise against using this contraption. Actuating the rotation seemed too slow and I think this thing is not ready yet. I consider this endeavor a high-risk and doomed for failure. Typical Ferrari: overreacting under pressure. They will only verschlimmbessern (trying to knee-jerk improve while doing the opposite) their near perfect car.
"I ain't with the FIFA, I'm in Tokyo." LH

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bananapeel23
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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FrukostScones wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 14:31
I strongly advise against using this contraption. Actuating the rotation seemed too slow and I think this thing is not ready yet. I consider this endeavor a high-risk and doomed for failure. Typical Ferrari: overreacting under pressure. They will only verschlimmbessern (trying to knee-jerk improve while doing the opposite) their near perfect car.
There is nothing wrong with the wing. The drag penalty upon opening is tiny due to the low speeds, while the top speed benefit is substantial. They will be lifting and coasting or superclipping when it closes, so the drag penalty/time for the wing to start producing downforce after closing likely won’t be a problem either.

Obviously it would be great if it opened and closed quicker, but ~360ms is likely short enough for it to matter little in practice.

The wing is only problematic if it turns out to be unreliable. We have no way of knowing whether that is the case or not. Ferrari clearly appears to be confident, though.

FNTC
FNTC
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Joined: 03 Nov 2023, 21:27

Re: Ferrari SF-26

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If it takes more than 400ms from start to finish positions I assume they will get a DQ, so if they run it, it must be within that time. But even if it is less than 400ms, or 0.4s, it might be a bit slow, causing rear instability right before braking, that is another question.
Last edited by FNTC on 12 Mar 2026, 14:48, edited 1 time in total.

matteosc
matteosc
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Re: Ferrari SF-26

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aberracus wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 14:26
F1NAC wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 14:12
balalev wrote:
12 Mar 2026, 12:57
Is this the same one they had in Bahrain, or is it an upgraded version?
Same

Hinges for connecting planes looks broken. Obviously because upper planes open up, but what is their purpose then
Good finding, it could be limits ? Hard limits for the final position of the wing in drag generating position.
Yes, and maybe also flexing under load?