A calculated advantage for Ferrari ahead of 2026
Ferrari are set to enjoy a “calculated” advantage in the development of their 2026 Formula 1 car, an edge that could prove particularly valuable in the opening phase of the season compared to McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull. In a certain sense, the Maranello-based team have outsmarted their rivals by finishing the 2025 championship further down the order.
The Scuderia will benefit from a significant advantage over McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull during the first six months of development for the 2026 car. By ending the 2025 Constructors’ Championship in a less competitive position, Ferrari have effectively positioned themselves to exploit the regulatory framework governing aerodynamic development.
How the ATR system shapes development
The ATR system (Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions) limits how teams can develop their cars through wind tunnel testing and the use of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). CFD relies on mathematical models to simulate, collect data and analyse how airflow moves around and through a Formula 1 car.
As previously explained, teams that finish higher in the championship face stricter limits. This year, the mid-season reset took place between the Canadian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix, on 22 June. From the Monday preceding the Austrian race weekend, teams were allocated their new percentages, determining how many hours they could use in the wind tunnel and for CFD simulations.
At the start of the season, Ferrari were able to exploit around 60 additional hours compared to McLaren, split across 48 tests and 12 hours of Wind On Time. Now, looking ahead, Ferrari could benefit from a substantial advantage during the first half of the 2026 season.
More aerodynamic sessions and a key statistic
On 22 June, Mercedes were second in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of Ferrari. The following Sunday, however, the Scuderia reversed the order once again, dropping more firmly behind McLaren in the standings. As a result, Ferrari were able to “enjoy” a higher number of wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations through to December.
The term “items” refers to specific configurations, car components or virtual tests that a team wishes to carry out. The number of CFD items therefore represents the total simulations or development projects that a team can run within a given period, in this case from June 2025 to December 2025.
According to Rosario Giuliana, Ferrari’s fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship will allow the team to carry out the equivalent of two to three additional aerodynamic sessions per week compared to the teams ahead of them in the standings.
AutoRacer.it reported that “the technical office had agreed with Fred Vasseur that they could not give up the potential two tenths per month, perhaps even three, of development on the 678, compared to the half a tenth per month achieved this season”.
As a consequence of finishing fourth, Ferrari will benefit from an 85% coefficient for aerodynamic testing sessions under the ATR rules during the first half of 2026. This represents a 15% advantage over McLaren, a margin that could play a crucial role in shaping the competitiveness of the new Ferrari at the start of the next regulatory era.
This calculated tactical finish by Ferrari underscores the immense importance of the ATR system in the modern F1 era. Sacrificing a higher 2025 ranking for enhanced development time on the crucial 2026 car could be a masterstroke. The additional wind tunnel and CFD time will allow the Maranello team to refine the fundamental concepts of their new challenger before their rivals, potentially delivering the fast start Fred Vasseur believes is essential for the coming regulation change.
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