Ferrari arrived at the Japanese Grand Prix with its innovative rotating rear wing, nicknamed the 'Macarena' by team boss Frederic Vasseur, but chose not to run the experimental design during practice. The SF-26s will compete in Suzuka without major changes, despite rivals bringing development parts to Japan. The decision reflects Ferrari's cautious approach to early-season upgrades, particularly given the budget cap's impact on freight costs for transporting large components.

This strategy shift comes after the cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, forcing Ferrari to reassess its development timeline. Charles Leclerc admitted before the weekend that closing the gap to Mercedes at Suzuka was unlikely. The team plans to use April's race-free period to fast-track planned developments, with particular focus on reducing weight ahead of the Miami GP in May. Like several other teams, Ferrari's current car sits above the minimum weight limit.

While the 'Macarena' wing showed promise in straightline performance, Ferrari found it caused greater instability than conventional designs when the rear flap was closed. The team concluded the wing's movement wasn't well correlated with the front wing's transition between straightline and cornering modes. This highlights the complex challenge of developing aerodynamic components that work harmoniously together. Ferrari also tested a new halo flap material in Suzuka and focused on improving battery charging capacity, an area where it lags behind Mercedes.