FIA formally bans Ferrari’s FTM exhaust wing idea from the 2027 System 1 season
The FIA has formally confirmed that the FTM, the progressive aerodynamic gadget positioned behind the exhaust, can be banned from the 2027 System 1 season. The governing physique has launched a brand new exclusion zone across the exhaust within the technical rules, a transfer designed to forestall one other pricey technical improvement battle within the years forward. Groups may even not be allowed to create aerodynamic buildings supported by the exhaust mounting, closing one other loophole that a number of rivals had already begun exploiting throughout the 2026 marketing campaign.
In latest weeks, ScuderiaFans.com reported that a number of producers had been ready to assist a proposal geared toward outlawing the small aerodynamic ingredient situated behind the exhaust. The idea was initially launched by Ferrari earlier than being copied—albeit by means of totally different interpretations—by a number of rival groups over the course of the season. The FIA has now made that call official, confirming that the FTM will not be permitted from 2027 onward.
FTM, brief for Flick Tail Mode, was one of the subtle improvements developed by Ferrari’s engineers throughout the design section of the 2026 System 1 automotive, highlighting how deeply built-in the idea was throughout the unique chassis and aerodynamic package deal. The answer cleverly exploited an space of the rules that remained largely unrestricted, particularly inside 60 millimetres of the rear axle.
Though the gadget partially obstructed the exhaust circulate—leading to a small engine energy loss measured at just a few horsepower—it generated important aerodynamic positive aspects by redirecting the exhaust gases. The exhaust plume was fastidiously guided to enhance the effectivity of the airflow exiting the diffuser, successfully extending its affect whereas additionally energising the decrease part of the rear wing. The general outcome was a measurable improve in aerodynamic effectivity and rear downforce.
After debuting the idea throughout pre-season testing in Bahrain, the place it instantly attracted consideration for the ingenuity of its absolutely built-in design, Ferrari continued refining the system all year long. Engineers finally developed what resembled a protecting cage surrounding the exhaust outlet, additional amplifying the aerodynamic results generated by the redirected exhaust gases.
Haas, which shares Ferrari’s rear-end structure, later launched an identical resolution, though its model was much less excessive and featured the addition of two small aerodynamic flaps. Different groups selected a distinct route altogether, counting on Article C3.9.2 of the technical rules to breed the identical underlying precept. They used the exhaust assist built-in into the rear deformable construction as the inspiration for recreating, a minimum of partially, the aerodynamic behaviour achieved by Ferrari’s unique FTM idea.
Up to now, no rival has managed to breed the complexity or total effectiveness of Ferrari’s FTM design. Nonetheless, the System 1 grid has seen a number of inventive interpretations impressed by the unique concept. Though the FIA authorized all of those options for the present season, the Federation recognised the rising danger that this space of the rules might evolve into one other costly technical battleground, with more and more subtle and expensive developments—very similar to what beforehand occurred with Mercedes’ extremely progressive ground ideas.
On the similar time, the FIA is working to cut back total aerodynamic downforce by roughly 40 factors forward of the 2027 season. In addition to stopping one other pricey improvement race centred round more and more elaborate aerodynamic units, eliminating the FTM idea may even contribute to attaining that downforce discount goal. The broader goal is to enhance power administration not solely by means of the subsequent technology of Energy Unit rules, but in addition by making important adjustments to each the aerodynamic and chassis rules.
To eradicate the potential for recreating the FTM from 2027, the FIA has launched a brand-new exclusion zone behind the exhaust by means of Article 2.3.7 of the System 1 Technical Rules. A cylindrical protected space is now outlined across the exhaust pipe, inside which no automotive part could also be positioned, with the only real exception of the exhaust itself.
In sensible phrases, the whole size of the exhaust should now be surrounded by a very empty cylindrical quantity, with a diameter 20 millimetres better than that of the exhaust pipe. This obligatory “air hole” prevents groups from positioning any aerodynamic elements throughout the space, successfully eliminating each doable try to recreate the aerodynamic impact beforehand generated by Ferrari’s FTM resolution.
Moreover, to cease groups from reproducing ideas much like these seen on different vehicles this season, the FIA has fully rewritten the part of the rules governing exhaust helps. The earlier wording, which successfully allowed these helps to be formed into aerodynamic appendages able to redirecting exhaust gases, has been eliminated fully.
Throughout Friday’s free apply classes, Ferrari additionally carried out analysis work with reserve driver Dino Beganovic, who accomplished runs with each the FTM-equipped configuration and a model with out the gadget. The aim of the programme was to not put together for the 2027 regulation adjustments, however fairly to raised perceive how the system performs on high-speed circuits, the place the extra downforce generated by the FTM might not all the time offset the corresponding improve in aerodynamic drag.
Jun 26, 2026
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