Ferrari<\/a> grabbed most of the headlines by rolling out two novel developments <\/a>across the final week in Bahrain. Mercedes also upgraded its 2026 challenger but was \u201clargely overlooked\u201d, according to F1 technical expert Sam Collins.<\/p>\n \u201cMercedes has been rather quietly getting on with its pre-season test programme in the garage and out on track, while I think it\u2019s probably fair to say that things have been a little bit less quiet for Mercedes in the paddock and back at base,\u201d Collins noted.<\/p>\n \u201cA big upgrade package on the car was largely overlooked in the second test, but on the very final day of the test, the team introduced a new rear wing with new endplates and these fascinating little extensions on the upper edge of the wing.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cThis is sure to be generating a lot of interest from the teams\u2019 rivals. At first I thought these might just be sensor housings, but a closer look suggests they are indeed aerodynamic parts, and that\u2019s fascinating. I wonder if they took inspiration from an early long-tailed Porsche 917.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flaps aren\u2019t individually moveable but still, this is a really interesting area to keep an eye on.\u201d<\/p>\n Mercedes quietly dropped a new rear wing design<\/p>\n Mercedes\u2019 unique approach to front wing<\/p>\n Mercedes has also opted for a unique front wing design, which features just one moveable flap on each side of the mounting location.<\/p>\n![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xpb_1397057_hires.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xpb_1395207_hires.jpg\")
<\/p>\n