Ferrari is preparing the final major upgrade package for the SF-26 at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, with changes expected to alter the overall appearance of the car. The Maranello team is set to revise the floor, sidepods and bodywork as it searches for more performance before development focus shifts almost entirely towards its 2027 Formula 1 project.
Fred Vasseur had already announced that further developments were coming, while Charles Leclerc called strongly for upgrades in Singapore despite finishing on the podium because he believes the SF-26 has lost outright performance compared with its rivals. Ferrari performed well on a circuit that places heavy demands on rear-end stability, an area where its engineers have made significant progress since the beginning of the season. The upcoming package should provide another indication of whether the team can address those limitations, with the Austin upgrades particularly important after Charles Leclerc’s recent concerns.
Ferrari SF-26 to receive new sidepods, floor and bodywork
According to AutoRacer.it, the main modifications are interconnected because Ferrari will work on the floor, sidepods and general bodywork. There had also been speculation about a new front wing developing the concept introduced in Barcelona, but that is not expected to arrive.
Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren have all revised the shape and purpose of their sidepods through different design approaches. Ferrari is believed to have modified the same area without adopting particularly aggressive or extreme downwash solutions. The changes to the floor are intended to generate more downforce from the underside of the car while improving aerodynamic stability across different operating conditions and broadening the SF-26’s performance window.
The floor’s contribution to performance varies depending on the chosen ride height and the movement of the car’s aerodynamic platform. Maranello’s engineers have therefore worked on managing the airflow passing underneath the SF-26 in an effort to extract additional performance without destabilising its balance. The wider competitive picture can also be explored through the Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
Revised sidepod inlet designed to improve airflow
Further changes are expected to be visually noticeable. Giuliano Duchessa explained that the evolution will be accompanied by a relatively small but clearly visible modification to the sidepods.
“Linked to this evolution will be a slight but fairly evident modification to the sidepods: the sidepod inlet will become slightly narrower, revising the frontal volume and freeing up space for the management of the external airflow. This choice should improve the path of the air towards the floor and the rear of the car, reducing losses in the central section of the car.”
That solution will also require Ferrari to reconsider its thermal compromise. New bodywork and revised cooling openings on the engine cover are expected to help hot air escape more effectively. The interaction between all these elements will ultimately determine how successful Ferrari’s final major package of the season proves to be.
Austin package will also provide important correlation data
Ferrari is therefore searching for more downforce from the floor while also aiming to manage airflow around the bodywork more efficiently. The expected performance gain should come from the combined effect of these different components rather than from one isolated development.
After Austin, major SF-26 development is expected to end because Ferrari’s primary focus has already moved towards the 2027 project, with only small circuit-specific adaptations potentially remaining. The Texas weekend will therefore be important not only for outright performance but also for checking correlation between the track and Ferrari’s various development tools at the factory. Fans preparing for the event can also find the full 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule and Austin guide.
Ferrari already shifting resources towards its 2027 car
The next Ferrari, currently identified as project 679, is expected to have a different appearance while maintaining a connection with the SF-26 in terms of what is considered an excellent chassis. A significant proportion of the available budget will instead be concentrated on developing the new power unit, which Ferrari wants to deliver the horsepower required to compete against Mercedes’ engine.
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