Ferrari lead key F1 upgrade fight with staggering double-digit changes

Ferrari has confirmed eleven updates to the SF-26 for the Miami Grand Prix, with every team bar Aston Martin delivering at least one new development after the five-week F1 hiatus.

The paddock returns to action at the Miami International Autodrome, and there have been plenty of upgrades declared in the official FIA disclosures document.

Substantial changes were expected from the Scuderia, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton treated to a swathe of new parts in the fight to close the gap to Mercedes at the top of the F1 pecking order.

McLaren, meanwhile, teased a brand new MCL40 ahead of the Floridian round, with the constructors' champions porting seven updates to its car, including a comprehensive reworking of the bodywork.

A revised front corner, engine cover and sidepods are joined by a new floor body, rear corner and rear wing, all aimed at increasing load and improving flow conditioning.

The Woking-based squad has also introduced circuit-specific cooling louvres to handle the oppressive heat and humidity in Miami.

Mercedes has brought a relatively modest two upgrades, with more expected from the championship leaders at the subsequent round in Canada.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will have to make do with repositioned tailpipes, done to reduce drag and improve downforce response, and a front corner on the W17.

The RB22, on the other hand, is one of the more obviously refined packages, with considerable changes to the sidepods. Red Bull, like McLaren, has introduced seven upgrades, including a new front wing, front corner, engine cover, floor and rear corner. Not to mention its own answer to Ferrari's inventive "Macarena" rear wing, which is expected to be used in free practice. The Laurent Mekies-led team is also believed to have shaved around 6kg off its car.

Ferrari's mammoth eleven developments are headlined by a reprofiled front floor and floor edge and a heavily revised rear of the car.

In addition to a new diffuser, rear suspension — to go with a reprofiled front suspension — and beam wing, there are also changes to the rear wing, including endplate, and rear tail of the SF-26. Further forward, there is a new front corner and a revised front wing endplate.

Down the grid

Williams will have seven new parts on the FW48, including various new parts of bodywork.

Racing Bulls, meanwhile, will not just be sporting a special livery on the VCARB 03, as the car has seen six enhancements to it over F1's spring break.

Aston Martin, as mentioned, is conspicuously without updates to the AMR26, and Haas has only amended the diffuser on the VF-26, with a view to increasing local aerodynamic downforce through a device added to the floor winglet.

Audi has a reworked front suspension, floor edge and diffuser, whilst Alpine has updated the front corner on its car, as well as adjusting the nose camera mounts.

The rear suspension has been reprofiled, with an additional element also added to the rear impact structure.

The team has also confirmed that Pierre Gasly will have a new rear wing, but Franco Colapinto will have to do without for now; however, he will have a new chassis for the event.

"Expanding on the information in the FIA Car Presentation document related to new parts the team has brought to this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, it includes a number of aerodynamic components, as well as the team introducing a new chassis," Alpine confirmed. 

"The latest chassis for Franco forms part of the intended development programme for the season.

"With the gap in the race calendar, the team has also been able to bring a new rear wing one race earlier than anticipated, with only one rear wing being available for this weekend's event, which was sent from Enstone on Wednesday. Pierre will run and test the rear wing on Friday in the extended Free Practice 1 session."

Finally, Cadillac has brought nine upgrades to the Sunshine State, all with the purpose of increasing performance and aiding ride height sensitivities.

A movement and profile change of the mirror stays should provide better structural integrity to a part of the car that had proven problematic in the opening rounds of the campaign.