Ferrari are reportedly preparing a significant technical update package for the Miami Grand Prix, with sources suggesting that “at least half” of the SF-26 will feature new components as the Scuderia intensify their efforts to close the performance gap to Mercedes at the front of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
After what was widely described as a difficult 2025 campaign, Ferrari have made a notably stronger and more competitive start to the 2026 season. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have appeared considerably more comfortable and confident in the SF-26 chassis, with each driver already securing at least one podium finish in the opening races of the year.
Despite this encouraging improvement in form, Ferrari are still trailing the current benchmark set by Mercedes, with George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli delivering a dominant opening phase of the championship. The Silver Arrows have set the pace across the first three rounds, leaving Ferrari in the position of chasing performance gains ahead of the upcoming races.
With the Miami Grand Prix scheduled for next week, it has now been reported that Ferrari are preparing to introduce a heavily revised version of their 2026 car in an attempt to reduce that gap.
Ferrari preparing major Miami upgrade package with “at least half” new car components
According to Italian publication Corriere della Sera, Ferrari are expected to arrive in Miami with a significantly updated package, with the report claiming that “at least half of the car” will have been modified for the weekend.
The planned upgrades are believed to include a redesigned front wing along with what has been described as an “advanced” chassis specification. These new components are reportedly set to be evaluated during Ferrari’s filming day at Monza on Wednesday, providing the team with an early opportunity to validate the performance direction before they are officially introduced at a Grand Prix weekend.
The same report suggested that the update package could deliver gains of “a few tenths of a second per lap,” which would represent a meaningful step forward in Ferrari’s ongoing attempt to challenge Mercedes at the sharp end of the grid.
Ferrari are not the only top team expected to bring developments to Miami. McLaren are also reportedly preparing a number of adjustments to their MCL40 package as they continue their own development push. At the same time, Red Bull are said to be placing significant emphasis on what has been described internally as an “emergency package,” which is intended to stabilise and improve the performance of the RB22 after a challenging start to their campaign.
However, despite the development push from multiple rivals, the report also indicated that Mercedes are still expected to retain a performance advantage in the short term, with the Silver Arrows remaining the reference point for the field at this stage of the season.
Ferrari still evaluating Lewis Hamilton race engineer decision
In parallel with the car development programme, Ferrari are also continuing to assess their long-term race engineering structure for Lewis Hamilton, with no final decision yet made regarding his dedicated race engineer ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Following the opening three races of the 2026 season, there had been expectations that Ferrari might finalise a change in this area before the Miami weekend. However, Corriere della Sera reported that the team has not yet reached a definitive conclusion on the matter.
At present, Carlo Santi has been serving as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, following internal changes that saw Riccardo Adami reassigned to a different role after the conclusion of the 2025 season. Earlier reports had suggested that Ferrari had identified Cedric Grosjean as a potential long-term candidate for the position. Grosjean previously worked at McLaren, where he served as Oscar Piastri’s performance engineer, and is regarded as an experienced technical figure within the paddock.
From Ferrari’s perspective, a final decision on Hamilton’s race engineer is becoming increasingly important, particularly given the British driver’s strong adaptation and promising early-season performance in the 2026 campaign. Stability in communication and engineering structure is widely seen as a key factor in maintaining momentum as Ferrari attempt to convert their improved form into a sustained challenge at the front of the Formula 1 field.
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