Frédéric Vasseur has confirmed Ferrari’s intention to bring new updates to the SF-26 in Formula 1 very soon, describing the package as “one and a half” upgrades expected already in Miami. The Italian team is choosing an aggressive approach for the 2026 F1 season, aiming to maximize the potential of the SF-26 while keeping pace with Mercedes. The performance shown in Shanghai confirmed that the car is strong and well-conceived, currently trailing only the Mercedes W17. Meanwhile, neither McLaren nor Red Bull appeared capable of challenging the two Ferrari drivers this weekend, emphasizing that it is now a race to catch up with Mercedes.
Ferrari’s performance in China confirms early impressions
The results in Shanghai reinforced the impressions from the season opener in Melbourne. For the moment, there appear to be two dominant forces in Formula 1: Mercedes and Ferrari. Both teams have demonstrated the potential to control the championship, with Ferrari’s SF-26 boasting a chassis that may even be superior to that of the Mercedes W17, although the German car still holds an advantage in terms of Power Unit performance. The ongoing challenge for Ferrari is to close this gap while maintaining reliability and maximizing race pace.
As confirmed during the Bahrain pre-season testing, Ferrari has been working intensively to bring evolutionary updates to the car. Frédéric Vasseur had already emphasized that this championship will be won by the teams capable of introducing new components quickly, drastically improving overall car performance with every upgrade.
New Ferrari updates planned for Miami
The update schedule originally followed the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. However, with the official cancellation of both Middle Eastern races, the season now features a longer gap, nearly a month, between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami round, which is the fourth event on the calendar. It is precisely in Miami that Ferrari plans to introduce a significant step forward in their SF-26 development.
Frédéric Vasseur confirmed this plan, explaining that the upgrade package was initially intended for Bahrain but has been postponed due to schedule changes. He also highlighted that the scope of the updates could be substantial, depending on the pace of work at the Ferrari factory. If development proceeds particularly quickly, the team might even deliver “one and a half packages,” representing a major evolutionary step for the SF-26 and an opportunity to challenge Mercedes more closely in the upcoming races.
Overall, Ferrari’s approach underlines a commitment to aggressive development and rapid deployment of updates. The SF-26 has proven to be a competitive car in terms of chassis performance, and with careful refinement of aerodynamics and powertrain, the Italian team aims to reduce the current gap to Mercedes. The Miami Grand Prix will therefore be a critical milestone in the 2026 season, potentially marking the first significant upgrade of the year for Ferrari and providing a platform for further improvements in their pursuit of race victories and consistent podium finishes.
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