Ferrari hoping to steal crucial advantage on F1 rivals with major upgrade

Ferrari will introduce the latest evolution package on the SF-26 in Austin, with the aim of securing at least one more victory between now and the end of the season. 

This is an evolution that has been planned for some time, not a “Plan B”, and is linked to performance issues that, following the introduction of the ADUO2-based Power Unit, have not met the Scuderia’s technical expectations. 

In fact, it is an aerodynamic package that focuses on modifications to the underbody and the sidepod profiles, in part foreshadowing solutions that will, in fact, be part of the 2027 car. 

In some respects, it seems appropriate to compare this development to the one recently introduced by Mercedes, though, in that case, it did not yield the results expected by the Brackley team’s engineers.

As for Ferrari, with six races remaining, it is fair to say that the car’s dynamic and aerodynamic characteristics are now well-established; therefore, the final development planned for the season cannot aim to radically overhaul the aerodynamic concept, but rather to reinforce its strengths while simultaneously seeking to broaden the car’s operating window.

What emerged from the last two races in Malaysia and Singapore was, in fact, that in terms of dynamics, the SF-26 responded consistently to the specific setups for the two tracks, effectively reducing the performance gap that still exists with the power unit. 

At the same time, it was clear that while the balance achieved through a precise setup ultimately resulted in better tyre management, it could not, in fact, compensate on the straights for a lack of pure power. 

The development to be introduced in Austin, as mentioned, will focus on an evolution of the underbody, which will allow not so much an increase in downforce but rather, based on the data collected, a different distribution of downforce: in short, a modification to the SF-26’s aerodynamic profile. 

So far, and it’s worth reiterating, the SF-26 has proven to be one of the cars generating the most downforce this season, but with a characteristic that makes it virtually unbeatable in slow-speed sections, yet it is decidedly more vulnerable in fast corners. 

It is for this reason that the performance seen at Sepang and  Singapore served as further confirmation of these characteristics, which the team certainly does not want to lose with an eye toward 2027, but wishes to extend to the fast mixed-section stretches of the tracks, namely those layouts that make up the majority of the circuits on the calendar.

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Ferrari's Austin upgrade could be delayed

At this point, it is still unclear whether all parts of this extensive package, which has been in development since before the summer break, can be implemented in Austin. 

Specifically, it appears that the components related to the reshaping of the sidepods, in particular, may arrive at the last minute in Texas; as a result, their debut could be postponed by one week to Mexico.

In any case, it will be crucial to assess to what extent the modifications to the underbody alone are capable of meeting the goals that Ferrari’s aerodynamicists have set for themselves.

The SF-26 has not won since the British Grand Prix, a victory achieved in part due to a problem with the wheel shield on Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, but on that occasion, at a track that is very demanding from a dynamic standpoint, it had demonstrated that its overall performance was no fluke. 

Since then, its rivals, first McLaren, then Red Bull, have proven more effective, preventing Ferrari from returning to victory. 

Austin first and Mexico City next, with very different characteristics, particularly due to the extremely thin air in the latter, will serve as two crucial testing grounds to assess whether the latest direction in aerodynamic design, which forms the basis of the 2027 project, is the right one. 

In Maranello, and among the fans as well, there is a strong hope that this will allow the team to start the season with greater confidence, but also to conclude the current one by demonstrating that the current concept has not yet reached its peak, even if it is nearing the limits of development.