Ferrari are reportedly re-evaluating the timing of a key technical and organisational update initially planned for the Miami Grand Prix weekend, as the Scuderia continues its careful development path during the 2026 Formula 1 season. After a competitive opening phase of the campaign, the Maranello-based team is now focusing on optimising the full potential of the SF-26 package before introducing its next major evolution.
One of the most anticipated steps in Ferrari’s development programme involves a significant aerodynamic upgrade package, which includes a revised floor concept and a newly designed rear wing concept internally referred to as the “Macarena” specification. These elements are expected to play a crucial role in reducing the performance gap to rivals, particularly the two Mercedes W17 cars that have shown strong early-season form.
The upgrade direction has been in development for several months under the supervision of Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur and the technical leadership at Maranello. Internal sources suggest that the recent operational break in April has allowed engineers to accelerate production and validation processes, potentially bringing the upgrade closer to readiness than originally expected. However, despite this progress, Ferrari are now assessing whether Miami is the optimal moment for its competitive introduction.
As part of the preparation programme, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are expected to take part in a filming day at Monza, where an updated version of the SF-26 will be run in a controlled environment. This “Version 2.0” specification will be used primarily to gather early feedback from both drivers and compare real-world behaviour with simulator expectations, offering Ferrari additional data before committing to full race deployment.
Ferrari also reconsider Lewis Hamilton race engineer transition
Alongside the technical upgrade plan, Ferrari are also reviewing the timing of an important personnel change within the race operations structure. It had been widely reported that Cédric Michel-Grosjean was set to begin his role as Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, marking a significant shift in the seven-time world champion’s communication and trackside leadership setup.
The former McLaren engineer, who has already completed an integration period within Ferrari’s operational environment, was expected to take over responsibilities from Carlo Santi, becoming Lewis Hamilton’s primary race engineer. However, recent indications suggest that Ferrari may postpone this transition by a few additional race weekends to ensure a smoother handover process during a critical phase of the championship.
According to reports from the Italian website AutoRacer, Cédric Michel-Grosjean has already been actively involved in Ferrari’s testing programme, including supporting reserve drivers during TPC sessions at Mugello. This has allowed him to become more familiar with Ferrari’s internal systems, procedures, and communication structure, while gradually building rapport within the wider engineering group.
Despite this integration work, it now appears increasingly unlikely that Cédric Michel-Grosjean will replace Carlo Santi as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer before the Miami Grand Prix. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur is reportedly taking a cautious and structured approach to the decision, carefully evaluating the timing of such a sensitive mid-season operational change.
The Italian side believes that both the technical upgrade introduction and the race engineer transition represent key strategic moments in their 2026 Formula 1 campaign. As a result, the team is prioritising stability and performance consistency before committing to any major shift that could affect Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation process or Charles Leclerc’s ongoing development within the car.
While no final decision has been officially communicated, the current expectation within the paddock is that both the SF-26 upgrade package and the Lewis Hamilton race engineer change could be pushed back slightly, as Ferrari aim to maximise long-term performance gains rather than rush short-term implementation.
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