After the Ferrari SF-26 shakedown at Fiorano, paddock insiders used the media session to discuss a technical solution spotted on the new Mercedes W17 at Silverstone. In particular, the focus was on the Brackley car’s diffuser, featuring a clearly visible cut or opening that many have already described as an extreme aerodynamic solution.
A detail that was immediately noticed in the images circulating online, potentially hiding an aggressive interpretation of the 2026 regulations. However, while Mercedes has drawn plenty of attention, Ferrari appears determined not to be distracted.
The Mercedes diffuser: Loïc Serra’s clear response
During the press conference reserved for the media, Loïc Serra, Ferrari’s Technical Director, was asked for his opinion on the philosophy behind the solution seen on the Mercedes.
Loic Serra’s answer was clear and, in some ways, deliberately detached from the technical discussions that have been shaping the days leading up to the first tests in Barcelona:
“At the moment we are focused exclusively on our own car. It will still take some time to really understand what the others are doing,” explained Ferrari’s chassis technical director.
“I think Barcelona and the subsequent tests will give us a clearer picture. At the moment I don’t have any specific comments on this aspect.”
Ferrari avoids premature comparisons
These words confirm that in Maranello there is no rush to chase or comment on rivals’ solutions, especially at such an early stage of development for the 2026 cars. The chosen approach is one of caution: gathering data, completing the planned programme and only later evaluating whether competitors’ choices will represent a real advantage.
The Mercedes diffuser could prove to be a stroke of genius or a high-risk solution in terms of reliability and aerodynamic operating window. To understand this, time will be needed, as also underlined by Andrew Shovlin, who reiterated that the initial objective remains ensuring safety and reliability.
In the meantime, Ferrari continues its own work without distraction, fully aware that only the track, starting with the Barcelona tests, will reveal whether the W17 has truly found a technical shortcut or whether the SF-26 has taken the more solid and effective path.
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