Mercedes have quickly established themselves as the frontrunners for the 2026 Formula 1 championship after just two rounds, thanks largely to their powerful and highly efficient Brixworth-built power unit. The Silver Arrows’ dominance in both qualifying and race pace has reinforced their reputation as the benchmark in the sport’s new technical era.
Following Lando Norris’ remarkable breakthrough last season as a first-time title-winner, F1 fans are once again expecting a fresh name at the top. However, the first two rounds of the 2026 season have already indicated that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are setting the pace, with Mercedes securing commanding one-two finishes in both Melbourne and Shanghai. Ferrari, meanwhile, has emerged as the second-fastest team on the grid, but they remain a step behind in outright performance.
Not only does Mercedes’ 2026 power unit currently outperform the rest of the grid, but data from Kimi Antonelli’s performance at the Chinese Grand Prix also suggests that the W17 has a significant advantage in tyre management. This has made it clear to Ferrari that bridging the gap will require both strategic ingenuity and technical refinement.
Ferrari plans private test at Monza to counter Mercedes’ edge
To address the performance gap, Ferrari has organized a private filming day at Monza, widely regarded as one of the most challenging circuits for energy management. According to Motorsport Italia, the FIA approved Ferrari’s request to use their second annual filming day of the season at the Italian temple of speed, allowing engineers to focus on efficiency and power unit development.
Under current F1 regulations, each team is permitted two filming days per year. During these sessions, teams are limited to 100 km on track and must use special tyre compounds not seen during race weekends. By selecting Monza—a circuit notorious for stressing an F1 car’s electrical battery stores—Ferrari aims to simulate the toughest conditions while gathering precise data for both energy management and race performance.
The choice of Monza is deliberate. Data from the Chinese Grand Prix highlighted that Ferrari’s power unit recorded the second-lowest average top speed among the five engine manufacturers on the grid, according to Formula Data Analysis. Ferrari’s engine chief, Enrico Gualtieri, will use the private test to adjust the torque curve, aiming to give Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc two key advantages: more efficient use of electrical power and improved tyre preservation.
This approach is intended to counter a specific strategy developed by Mercedes engineers to reduce the impact of super clipping—an effect that causes drivers to experience a sharp drop in speed at the end of long straights. By refining their torque delivery and energy deployment, Ferrari hopes to close the gap and make their race strategy more competitive against the Silver Arrows.
Private test offers opportunity to refine technical innovations
While the exact date of Ferrari’s filming day at Monza has yet to be confirmed, Motorsport Italia speculates it will occur before the end of April, coinciding with the five-week break prompted by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. This downtime provides an ideal window for Ferrari engineers to conduct focused testing and fine-tune critical components.
The Monza session could also allow Ferrari to evaluate some of their latest innovations in real-world conditions. The highly anticipated Macarena wing, which showed promising results during the Shanghai Grand Prix, is expected to feature in the next round of testing ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. While there is no guarantee that the wing will be used during the race itself, it is likely to appear in practice sessions as engineers gather further data to maximize the benefits for both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
By combining the private test with ongoing development work on the SF-26, Ferrari is hoping to reduce the advantage currently held by Mercedes. The team is focused on energy efficiency, mechanical grip, and tyre management, aiming to transform their insights from Monza into tangible performance gains in the coming races. The outcome of this focused effort could play a crucial role in Ferrari’s attempt to challenge Mercedes’ early-season dominance in 2026.
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