The Maranello team is ready to return to the track in Florida after the five-week break that followed the last race
The fourth race of the season, but it feels like the first
After more than a month of discussion and speculation, it is finally time to get back to serious action. Formula 1 resumes the 2026 season this weekend with the highly anticipated Miami Grand Prix. The Florida race, beyond all the glamour that surrounds it, is eagerly awaited by fans because it effectively represents a second season opener, given all the technical regulation adjustments introduced by the FIA and Formula 1 following the numerous debates and controversies after the first three rounds.
A challenge for Ferrari
Carlo Bussi, head of power unit performance at Ferrari, presented the team’s first American trip of the season by summarising all the elements modified by the federation’s intervention.
“Starting from Miami,” explained the Ferrari engineer, “the total electrical energy available in qualifying has been reduced, while the power of automatic harvesting on the straights has been increased, in order to reduce the need for drivers to lift off the throttle before braking. At the same time, the preparation procedure for a timed lap has been simplified and the behaviour of the hybrid system made more flexible and predictable. As for race starts, the use of the MGU-K electric motor at low speed has been enabled for cars struggling during acceleration, thus reducing safety risks. Finally, overtaking safety has been improved through a reduction in electrical power and flexibility in energy management in track areas where large speed differences can be dangerous, such as blind corners or short straights with high lateral acceleration.”
Beyond being the first real on-track test of these new measures, the American race will also be particularly interesting due to the challenges it presents in terms of energy management for these new-generation power units.
“From a power unit perspective and in relation to the 2026 regulations, the circuit can be considered moderately demanding both in terms of energy harvesting difficulty and the importance of electrical deployment,” Bussi added. “The potentially most critical aspect concerns the sequence from Turn 7 to Turn 17: the length of the two straights allows the battery to be fully depleted and creates overtaking opportunities, while the series of slow corners that connects them is particularly demanding both for battery harvesting and turbo management. The high temperatures and humidity typical of May also make Miami a challenging track in terms of cooling. The circuit is especially demanding for the turbocharger, which from this year can no longer benefit from the electrical assistance previously provided by the MGU-H.”
We will start to understand the true performance level of the SF-26 from Friday onwards.
The Miami Grand Prix therefore serves as a critical turning point for Ferrari as the 2026 season enters its next phase with updated technical regulations. By addressing energy management hurdles, turbocharger stress, and extreme cooling requirements, the team aims to optimize the SF-26’s performance on the challenging Florida circuit. As the field tests the new hybrid system behaviors and safety-focused power limits for the first time, Maranello’s ability to adapt to these “second season opener” conditions will be a decisive factor in the championship battle.
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