FIA Tightens 2027 Rules to Outlaw Ferrari's Exhaust Wing

The FIA has formally shut down Ferrari's exhaust wing by rewriting the 2027 technical regulations to block the device entirely. The governing body ratified a new exclusion zone around the tailpipe, while also closing a related loophole rivals like Mercedes had exploited since Miami.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's FTM device used exhaust flow to feed a tiny winglet and generate extra rear downforce. Because Ferrari shifted the differential rearward to create space beneath the deformable structure, the concept was baked into its 2026 architecture, making it nearly impossible for rivals to copy mid-season. The FIA's intervention prevents an expensive development arms race and locks the concept out before teams commit serious 2027 resources.

The details:

• The Core Ban: Article C2.3.7 establishes a strict exclusion zone around the tailpipe, barring any bodywork within a 20mm radius beyond the exhaust cylinder. This directly kills Ferrari's original winglet design.
• Rival Workarounds Blocked: Mercedes had been running a small tailpipe bracket since Miami that acted as a less aggressive winglet. Revised Article C3.9 now imposes tighter restrictions on tailpipe placement and adjacent bodywork, eliminating that alternative.
• Austria Testing: During Austrian GP first practice, Lewis Hamilton ran with the exhaust wing while rookie Dino Beganovic trialed both configurations. Ferrari is gathering data to decide whether the device pays off at certain circuits this season.
• Further Restrictions: The updated 2027 rules also clamp down on floor body stay positioning relative to sidepod bodywork, plus add limits on suspension geometry and damper behavior.

What's next:

Ferrari is now racing to extract maximum value from its remaining legal advantage. If Austria's data shows the drag penalty outweighs downforce gains at low-drag tracks like Monza, the team could shelve the winglet for those rounds. With the regulatory path forward definitively sealed, the focus shifts to optimizing the current package before the tighter 2027 framework arrives.