Ferrari is preparing a more aggressive version of the SF-26 for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps as it looks to challenge Mercedes. Engineers in Maranello have developed a package of solutions specifically tailored for the iconic Belgian circuit, with the aim of extracting maximum performance from the car while reducing the power deficit to its main rival.
The Prancing Horse heads to Belgium with a dedicated configuration designed to optimize the SF-26 for one of the fastest tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. Despite the engine disadvantage compared to Mercedes, Ferrari believes it can once again upset the predictions at Spa thanks to a more aggressive setup and a carefully planned technical package.
Following the unexpected victory at Silverstone, could Ferrari be in contention for another strong result in Belgium? The circumstances are certainly different, and Spa presents a completely different challenge, but the Italian team was able to exploit a more aggressive hybrid map together with a lower-downforce aerodynamic setup at Silverstone to increase top speed. Confidence and motivation are high in Maranello as Ferrari prepares for the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season with ambitious objectives.
A third major upgrade package is expected to arrive later in the season at Zandvoort in the Netherlands. After that, Ferrari is planning a significant evolution focused primarily on the turbocharger through the ADUO 2 system, which could make its debut on the SF-26 during the Madrid Grand Prix weekend. For now, however, all attention is focused on Spa.
Ferrari to run without FTM at Spa alongside an evolved “Macarena” wing
On paper, Spa-Francorchamps is not considered an ideal circuit for the SF-26, much like Silverstone and Barcelona before it. According to Motorsport.com Italia, Ferrari is expected to remove the FTM winglet to reduce aerodynamic drag along the circuit’s long Ardennes straights.
The Italian team had already experimented with this configuration during the first free practice session in Austria, when Dino Beganovic carried out aerodynamic tests without the Flick Tail Mode device. That experiment is now expected to become part of Ferrari’s race package at Spa in an effort to unlock higher top speeds. Closing off the exhaust outlet with the FTM system is estimated to cost around seven horsepower, which Ferrari hopes to recover by removing the device. Since the component is set to be banned from the 2027 Formula 1 regulations, engineers in Maranello will eventually need to find an alternative way of generating rear downforce.
Ferrari is also expected to introduce an evolved version of its “Macarena” rear wing. This solution has attracted considerable attention in recent days, with the FIA examining both Ferrari’s and Red Bull’s reverse-wing concepts because of the different ways they operate. However, Ferrari’s version on the SF-26 has reportedly not shown any issues, meaning team principal Frédéric Vasseur will seek to defend its legality and keep the design on the car.
The FIA could still decide to reduce the permitted transition time between the wing’s opening and closing phases. Nevertheless, Ferrari’s latest specification prepared for Spa is expected to deliver a few additional kilometres per hour in top speed. The team is also likely to run its lowest-downforce floor configuration, the same specification used successfully at Silverstone, provided the weather remains dry. Should rain arrive, as is often the case at Spa-Francorchamps, Ferrari will reassess its setup choices before the race weekend unfolds.
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