The Scuderia benefits from the fact that this second commercial filming session has been scheduled after the FIA’s latest clarification of the energy management regulations, which was officially defined on Monday, April 20. This means that the new regulatory framework will already be in place on the red car, allowing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to explore and better understand the latest technical updates before the resumption of the season after the break month.
One wonders whether at Maranello they had anticipated the possibility that the Monza filming day would take place after the FIA’s updated energy management rules were confirmed. In any case, Ferrari will have an important opportunity at the iconic Italian circuit to gather meaningful information that will contribute to shaping the SF-26 package for the Miami Grand Prix.
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza has been informed that the Scuderia’s second commercial filming day will take place behind closed doors. For the 200 kilometres permitted by the FIA, Ferrari has called upon its two official drivers. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will split the mileage, driving with Pirelli demonstration tyres.
Ferrari has chosen a road-style run to evaluate the behaviour of the power unit 067/6 on one of the most demanding circuits in terms of battery energy recovery and deployment. Monza is widely considered one of the most critical tracks for energy management, making it an ideal reference point for this type of evaluation.
Of course, the track engineering team led by Matteo Togninalli will also be able to collect extremely useful data on the aerodynamic package of the red car, which has been developed during the break period within the Gestione Sportiva according to the development plan already defined by Loïc Serra.
In addition to the engine software, which will aim to maximise torque usage at full power while accepting a slight reduction at lower rev ranges—even at the cost of a small increase in fuel consumption—the aerodynamic department led by Diego Tondi will be carefully “measuring” the behaviour of the SF-26.
Hamilton and Leclerc will once again run with the revised and corrected rear wing, following its brief appearances during free practice sessions, in order to comply with the four-tenths opening and closing range required by the regulations. It is also not excluded that there could be an evolution of the FTM system, the flap designed to redirect the hot exhaust gases, improving aerodynamic efficiency both at the rear wing level and in the extraction of airflow from the diffuser.
For the Miami package, the Italian side has also prepared a different front wing and modifications to the floor, as well as a reduction in minimum weight. The telemetry data collected after Monza will be fundamental in finalising the specification of the SF-26, which will return to action in Florida after the forced break period.
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