Mercedes make radical car change in Bahrain test after Ferrari 'loophole' found
Mercedes have unveiled a radical new car part design on day three of the final 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain.
The 11 teams are taking to the track for the final time ahead of the 2026 season Friday in Sakhir.
It has so far been Mercedes that have set the pace, with Kimi Antonelli topping the timesheets on day two after team-mate George Russell did so in day one.
The test has seen a number of innovative concepts tested across various teams, with Ferrari unveiling a new exhaust wing upgrade where the wing pivots at 270 degrees when the new in-car active aerodynamics system is enabled.
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Audi, meanwhile, are trialing a design similar to Mercedes' previous 'zero sidepod' concept, while Cadillac have debuted a revised engine cooling system.
It was Ferrari's new design, though, that raised many eyebrows in the paddock, with Italian outlet AutoRacer reporting that both Mercedes and Red Bull were 'surprised' after viewing the telemetry data.
The concept could help to increase straight-line speeds by up to 10km/h, though Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has stressed that the part was only on the Ferrari as a test in Bahrain, and it may not be on the car permanently by the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
In basic terms, the wing design reduces drag on the straights by effectively disabling the rear wing's usual function.
The same outlet notes that the design cannot be copied 'easily' due to the complexities involved, with Ferrari having developed the concept over the winter.
Mercedes, meanwhile, showed up to Bahrain on day three with a new rear wing design of its own.
They have added a second small section on each corner of the wing's upper plane, that effectively acts an extension.
There is also a minor change to the shape of the upper plane, which now curls upwards and straightens out at each side, while the lower plane is more three-dimensional.
AutoRacer say that this is the latest attempt among teams to work within the 'volume of the regulations' to the absolute limit, and like with Ferrari's new design, there is no indication that it would breach any regulation for 2026.
Motorsport, meanwhile, describe the two additional sections as 'two horns', which work to generate more downforce while keeping additional drag minimal with DRS, as most of the section 'moves with the flap'.
The new solution also increases the height of the rear wing beyond simply the two conventional planes, a solution that is said to have never been seen before on the grid.
The concept is part of the teams' attempts to explore the new active aerodynamics system, which replaces DRS for 2026.
That new regulation means that the DRS system, which worked by lifting the upper panel of the wing on a straight when a car was under one second behind a rival, is now no more.
Instead, the front and rear wings have moveable elements which can be enabled by drivers at different stages throughout the lap,
There is a 'corner mode' - where the wing is closed - that allows for greater downforce where it is needed, while a 'straight mode' gives reduced downforce to improve top speeds.
Unlike with DRS, both systems are able to be used throughout the lap, regardless of a car's position on the ttrack - which explains why each of the 11 teams are so keen to look for ways to improve them.
Ryan Smart