The 2025 Formula 1 season has just ended, but the F1 teams were back on track in Abu Dhabi for the Pirelli post-season tests, already looking ahead to the major 2026 regulation changes.
Mule cars derived from the vehicles used this season hit the track, heavily modified with very low-downforce wings to simulate the behavior of next-generation cars.
Mercedes experiments: what are the protruding pipes on the W16 for?
The spotlight was on Mercedes, which debuted an unusual setup on the W16 mule car: two hydraulic pipes protruding from the nose, connected to a system that moves the final flap of the front wing. This solution is designed to replicate what will become active aerodynamics in 2026, with the abolition of the traditional DRS and the introduction of X-Mode and Z-Mode functions.
From a technical perspective, Mercedes’ approach is clearly provisional. The actuators are external, visible, and intrusive to the front airflow: a functional compromise useful for collecting data, but far from a final solution. The impression is that Brackley is still working on correlating the concepts rather than on a fully matured project.
Ferrari leads the way: hidden system and advanced development
The comparison with Ferrari is striking. The Maranello team had already introduced a similar system since the start of summer during the Pirelli tests at Fiorano, Hungary, and Mugello. Even in Abu Dhabi, the SF-25 mule car uses hydraulic actuators that are fully integrated under the nose, invisible and aerodynamically clean.
This difference tells a lot about the development status: Ferrari has decisively embarked on the 2026 path, while Mercedes is still experimenting with “handmade” solutions authorized by the FIA solely to allow Pirelli to gather reliable data on the new compounds.
It is no coincidence that Maranello also brought out the 2026 prototype steering wheel, which Charles Leclerc had already used in free practice at Yas Marina, and is running a well-established mechanical configuration, including the rear suspension introduced in Spa.
Revealing tests: 2026 has already begun
These tests are not just for Pirelli. They clearly indicate who has already shifted resources and development towards 2026 and who is still in an exploratory phase. With cars that will change radically — 50% electric power units, 100% sustainable fuel, active aerodynamics, and no DRS — time becomes the real key factor.
Mercedes is collecting data, while Ferrari is already refining it. The protruding pipes on the W16 nose are the most obvious symbol of this difference.
The 2026 fight started this week – and Ferrari just fired the first warning shot.
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