The Maranello team continues the development of the Ferrari SF-26. Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, the third round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the engineers led by Frederic Vasseur have introduced two small updates on the Italian cars. In both cases, these are micro-aerodynamic interventions designed to optimize airflow management in specific areas of the car.
Ferrari struggles in FP1: improvement in FP2 but not enough
Ferrari did not get off to the best start at Suzuka. Issues related to hybrid energy management were expected, considering the typical challenges of a circuit with few heavy braking zones. Added to this is the reduced use of straight-line mode imposed by the FIA: compared to the Chinese Grand Prix, the use of movable aerodynamics drops to around 20%, a far from negligible figure.
However, what troubled the Italian car the most was its handling through corners. While the behavior on Hard tyres appeared overall neutral, the extra grip of the Soft compound revealed several clear and unexpected weaknesses. There was noticeable instability, particularly in specific sections of the track: in the first sector, through the snake section, and in sector two between Turns 13 and 14.
This behavior did not satisfy the Ferrari drivers, who were forced to work hard to keep the car under control. Setup changes now seem necessary, although it remains to be seen whether the main focus will be aerodynamic or mechanical. At the same time, the evolution of the track must be carefully considered.
The Suzuka asphalt has been resurfaced, and this factor requires careful evaluation. Solid reference points are needed to avoid chasing a level of grip that is expected to increase significantly over the course of the weekend. In essence, the first session was useful in defining a development direction and identifying the right path forward, with the aim of eliminating the instability seen during FP1.
Unfortunately, the expected step forward in the second free practice session did not fully materialize. There was a small improvement, but the balance of the car still leaves room for improvement. A long night of analysis will be required to understand how to best optimize the setup and fully exploit the positive characteristics of the SF-26, which, at least for now, remain largely untapped.
Suzuka: fine-tuning work on the SF-26
Beyond what was observed on track, a couple of small updates introduced by the Maranello team for the third round of the championship can be identified. These are localized interventions in two specific areas of the car. It should also be noted that the Halo winglets were not reintroduced, and the so-called “Macarena” wing specification has been temporarily set aside to allow for further evaluation.
However, there are still notable changes. The first concerns the front section of the floor. By analyzing comparisons produced by Giorgio Piola, it becomes clear that the connection between the floor and the car body has undergone a visible reshaping for Suzuka. The element now appears more curved, with a slimmer fairing around the tie-rod. This reprofiled design is intended to optimize the behavior of the local airflow.
The goal is to improve the car’s aerodynamic efficiency, aiming for a performance gain linked to the floor. The second update, not mentioned in the usual official FIA documentation, concerns the upper part of the car. To identify it, attention must be directed to the area around the roll hoop.
This is the “inverted L-shaped” flap connected directly to the bodywork. The new version features a wider section and a more pronounced downward curvature. Once again, the purpose is aerodynamic: to influence the airflow passing through this area and better direct it toward the rear of the car.
The roll hoop flap modification on the Ferrari SF-26
In both cases, these are fine-tuning interventions: micro-optimizations aimed at refining airflow management on the Ferrari SF-26. All of this comes while waiting for the first major upgrade package of the season, expected at the Miami Grand Prix. The effectiveness of these changes will now need to be evaluated on track, an analysis the team will continue after the second free practice session.
Ferrari is therefore focusing on minute aerodynamic details to stabilize the SF-26 on Suzuka’s challenging new surface. Based on the content of the technical observations from Friday, the team is working to bridge the gap before the major Miami updates, hoping these micro-adjustments provide the balance the drivers are currently missing.
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