Ferrari tested a novel winglet on the front of the halo during practice and the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix but removed it ahead of qualifying. The team faced questions over its legality from the FIA and a rival protest threat. Officials believe it acted as a windscreen to redirect airflow.
Ferrari, led by technical director Loic Serra, introduced a small fin on the front pillar of the halo for the Chinese Grand Prix. This innovation appeared during free practice, sprint qualifying, and the sprint race but was absent from Saturday's qualifying and the main race on Sunday. The part, made of plastic rather than metal, aimed to redirect airflow upward in a disturbed cockpit area, possibly functioning as a windscreen or deflector, similar to those on F1 cars. It complemented the team's 'Macarena wing' setup. Reporters from The Race indicated that the FIA raised legality doubts after initial approval by scrutineer Jo Bauer. A rival team reportedly threatened a post-race protest, prompting Ferrari's caution. The team deemed the potential gain—only a few hundredths of a second—not worth risking their third and fourth places. This approach echoes former president Sergio Marchionne's philosophy: “Out of a hundred borderline solutions,” he told engineers, “some may be banned, but the others will remain on the car.” Serra's strategy explores regulatory grey areas to foster innovation without rigid constraints.
