Ferrari’s work to adapt the SF-26 to Monza produced encouraging signs during Friday practice, with the Maranello team combining its updated power unit with a carefully revised aerodynamic package for the high-speed demands of the Italian Grand Prix. The circuit does not naturally play to every strength of the SF-26, but its early performance suggested that extensive preparation at Maranello had helped address some of the car’s expected weaknesses.
Rather than relying on the extreme circuit-specific rear-wing solutions traditionally associated with Monza, Ferrari has taken advantage of the SF-26’s adaptable chassis and the possibilities offered by Formula 1’s active aerodynamics. The result is a package designed to reduce resistance while preserving enough aerodynamic load to exploit the car’s strengths through the more technical sections.
Ferrari SF-26 Monza upgrades focus on efficiency
The updated power unit is an important part of the package, but Ferrari’s Friday performance was not based on engine development alone. The SF-26 has also shown an ability to adjust its aerodynamic configuration effectively between very different circuits, reducing the need for highly specialised wings such as those historically used at Monaco or Monza.
That adaptability has become an important feature of the 2026 car. Ferrari has demonstrated considerable versatility in changing its configuration from one venue to another, with Monza providing another example of that approach. The wider technical picture surrounding the Ferrari SF-26 power unit upgrade for Monza also underlines why overall efficiency matters alongside outright engine performance.
A specification already used at events including Belgium has returned for the Italian Grand Prix, with the floor board featuring a single vertical strake. The objective is to reduce aerodynamic load, helping the car achieve higher top speeds while also improving energy management. Ferrari has simplified the areas around the wheels as part of the same effort, avoiding more extreme aerodynamic solutions where they are not required.
Ferrari retains standard rear wing instead of extreme Monza solution
At the rear of the car, Ferrari has retained the standard Macarena wing that first appeared in Hungary and was subsequently used in the Netherlands. The cascading vertical flaps are absent at Monza, although the flaps connected to the second movable element remain because the team still needs to retain useful downforce.
The approach represents a significant change from the traditional philosophy of creating an especially extreme rear wing specifically for Monza. Active aerodynamics has given engineers more flexibility, allowing the Scuderia to search for an efficient compromise without requiring a completely bespoke low-downforce wing for the circuit.
The flap positioned behind the exhaust has also been modified. Ferrari has introduced a cut in its central section while leaving other areas unchanged. Rather than abandoning the aerodynamic benefit provided by the component, the team appears to have reduced its effect selectively to recover some additional straight-line speed.
That philosophy is consistent with the broader work carried out on the SF-26, including the FTM modifications introduced to reduce drag and improve efficiency. The overall objective is not simply to strip away downforce, but to remove resistance in targeted areas while retaining the load that remains valuable around the rest of the lap.
Updated Ferrari engine adds to promising Friday picture
The SF-26’s modular character has allowed Ferrari to adapt the car substantially without moving towards an entirely different aerodynamic concept. Friday’s running provided a positive first indication that the compromise was working, while the updated engine also delivered encouraging signs. Ferrari’s preparations had already been assessed by Charles Leclerc ahead of the weekend, including the engine and floor developments introduced for the Italian Grand Prix.
Telemetry offered further encouragement. The chassis performed particularly well through the more technical sections of the lap, while Ferrari also showed promising indications on Monza’s straights. That balance is particularly important at a circuit where reducing drag cannot come at the cost of making the car ineffective under braking, through direction changes or on corner exit.
The real test, however, will come in qualifying. Friday practice can indicate whether an aerodynamic package is behaving as intended, but it does not reveal the complete performance picture. Ferrari must now determine whether the SF-26 can maintain those strengths when the cars are pushed closer to their limits and outright lap time becomes the priority.
For now, the opening day at Monza has strengthened the impression that Ferrari arrived at its home Grand Prix with a well-prepared package. The combination of an adaptable chassis, revised aerodynamic details and an updated power unit has given the Scuderia reason for optimism, with qualifying set to provide the clearest indication yet of the SF-26’s genuine potential.
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