Oliver Bearman has revealed his stunned reaction to Ferrari’s dramatic rear wing innovation on its SF-26 car after witnessing the device flip “upside down” for the first time during Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The 18-year-old Haas driver was directly behind Lewis Hamilton when Ferrari unveiled what quickly became a big talking point during last week’s the test. Instead of a conventional DRS opening, the rear wing rotated a remarkable 225 degrees, appearing to invert itself on the straights.
Speaking to reporters in Bahrain, Bearman admitted his first thought was that something had gone badly wrong.
“I was behind Lewis, and I saw it, and I was like, f***, what happened? I thought it was broken, but honestly, it’s super innovative,” said the Haas driver.
Videos of the system spread rapidly through the paddock on Thursday morning, briefly halting the usual rhythm of testing as engineers and team members scrambled to analyse the footage.
Ferrari’s solution stood out immediately for both its scale and visual impact compared to rival designs.
Bearman acknowledged that while the concept was eye-catching, its effectiveness would ultimately be judged on performance.
“It looks pretty slick as well, so if it works on track, then they’ve done something right, that’s for sure,” he said.
The innovation arrives amid sweeping regulation changes for 2026, with teams placing greater emphasis on efficiency and overall car weight. While Ferrari’s rotating assembly appears to offer significant drag reduction potential, Bearman noted the trade-offs involved.
“It looks cool, but it’s heavy as well,” he said.
With weight playing an increasingly decisive role in lap time under the new rules, teams must carefully balance aerodynamic gains against added mass and mechanical complexity.
Bearman suggested the concept itself was not entirely unexpected within the paddock.
“Everyone, I think, has considered it, including ourselves. But, there’s always a compromise to be made on those things,” he admitted.
Ferrari reverted to an earlier rear wing specification later in the day, but that did little to quiet discussion around the SF-26. As with any standout technical development, scrutiny quickly followed.
However, FIA single-seater technical director Nikolas Tombazis moved to clarify the governing body’s stance, confirming the design complies with current regulations.
“We have, generally speaking, encouraged solutions that reduce drag,” he said.
“That’s why the DRS regulations of last year, which were limiting the amount of opening, those have not been maintained this year in order to give more freedom.
“And the Ferrari solution, we believe, is OK.”
With regulatory approval secured, Ferrari’s bold approach has added an early flashpoint to pre-season preparations – and, for Bearman, it provided an unforgettable first glimpse of just how far teams are willing to push innovation in Formula 1.
Read also: Ferrari flips F1 aero on its head with radical SF-26 rear wing
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