Gary Anderson: Hamilton's front wing concerns have merit — Ferrari design lags rivals

Lewis Hamilton recently questioned Ferrari's front wing design, suggesting the team missed a trick used by Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull. Gary Anderson, The Race's technical expert, examined the four leading cars and found Hamilton's visual assessment has merit — Ferrari's front wing assembly is indeed the simplest and potentially limiting performance.

Why it matters:

The front wing is the first component to interact with airflow, and its wake shapes the performance of the entire car. If Ferrari has fallen behind in this area, it could explain the SF-26's drag issues and inconsistency relative to rivals.

The details:

• Visual comparison: Anderson overlaid images of the top four teams' front wings (see original article for graphics). Key differences include the leading-edge separation point, flap trailing edge, and endplate geometry.
• Ferrari's design: The Scuderia's wing is the most straightforward, with a leading edge further forward than the endplate — sitting in "no-man's land" between the higher-set Mercedes/McLaren and the more integrated Red Bull.
• Missing diveplane: Ferrari lacks the horizontal vane on the outer endplate that Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren all have. This vane helps manage the airflow around the front tyre, directing it away from the inside and toward the rest of the car. Without it, more turbulent air flows inside, hurting downstream performance.
• Potential drag link: Hamilton has noted the SF-26 has too much drag. The simpler wing profile and missing diveplane could contribute to higher aerodynamic resistance, though Anderson stresses no single part explains the whole package.

Between the lines:

While Hamilton's observation is technically plausible, Anderson warns that visual impressions can lead windtunnel and CFD resources down blind alleys. Ferrari's entire flow structure must work in harmony — fixing just the front wing won't turn a poor car into a winner. Still, there is clearly more room for improvement on the Ferrari front wing than on its rivals'.