Ferrari arrived in Shanghai with a pair of eye-catching aerodynamic updates that quickly drew attention across the paddock. Alongside an experimental rear wing concept, the team introduced small winglets mounted on either side of the halo.

While the rear wing was only tested in practice, the halo winglets made it onto the car for the sprint session, where Ferrari was satisfied with their small performance gain. The components were designed to improve airflow around the cockpit area, helping overall efficiency and downstream aerodynamic performance.

However, as reported by The Race, the winglets were removed before qualifying and did not feature in the Grand Prix. The decision was not performance-related.

Instead, it followed discussions with the FIA regarding the interpretation of the technical regulations. Although both cars had passed scrutineering after the sprint, there were concerns that the design could be seen as sitting in a grey area of the rules.

Ferrari ultimately decided it was not worth the risk of a potential protest or post-race investigation, especially given the upgrade only delivered a marginal lap time gain.

There is also a suggestion that rival teams may have raised questions with the FIA, prompting further scrutiny of the concept.

With uncertainty surrounding its legality, Ferrari chose a cautious approach and removed the parts altogether. Talks with the FIA are expected to continue, and a final decision on whether the halo winglets return will depend on clearer guidance in the coming races.

Ferrari also experimented with its rotating rear wing concept, which attracted significant attention in the paddock. However, in this case the team chose to remove it already after free practice purely by its own decision, as it felt more analysis was needed before committing to using it in a competitive session.