IMOLA – New updates for Ferrari at their first home race. The Imola upgrades follow the initial aerodynamic package introduced in Bahrain, this time focusing on different areas. In Maranello, the main development is on the rear end, where new cooling ducts for the wheel assemblies have appeared. Meanwhile, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur speaks of ongoing work on the mechanical side, which is also relevant looking ahead to 2026, although its benefits are unlikely to be seen before Austria.
The updates at Imola
Ferrari arrived at the 4.909-kilometre Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari with some changes to the rear axle. Documents published by the FIA before the race weekend confirmed modifications to the brake cooling ducts. Ferrari remains vague in its description, but there’s reason to believe that the updates also involve the internal channels housed within the brake drums—an area closely watched on championship-leading McLaren.
It is an extremely sensitive zone, influencing aerodynamic drag, the management of hot air discharged from the rear of the car, and especially the temperatures of brake discs, calipers, and tires. It’s no coincidence that Red Bull has also worked in this area, whose importance is highlighted by the attention paid to McLaren’s brake cooling system. In Ferrari’s garage at Imola, there was also a new high-downforce rear wing and beam wing package, carried over from 2024. However, the team intended to use it only in case of rain.
Mechanical changes in the pipeline
There was also great curiosity surrounding the rumored updates to the rear suspension, a report first circulated by AutoRacer. Asked about the matter in the Imola paddock, Lewis Hamilton said he knew nothing about it, while Frederic Vasseur was more forthcoming: “We are working on every area of the car, focusing especially on the mechanical side, because it’s something we can carry into next year and benefit from performance-wise throughout the season.”
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations will radically change the power unit, chassis, and aerodynamics, making development in those areas less relevant for next season’s car. However, Frederic Vasseur clarifies: “On the mechanical side, it’s a bit different. I don’t want to give examples, but if you work on things like suspension or brakes, and the regulatory foundations don’t change, it’s useful for the following season as well.” – the French manager pointed out.
Therefore, in Maranello, possible updates to the internal spring-damper group of the rear suspension continue to be evaluated. However, according to what has been learned in the Imola paddock, if the green light is given, the changes are unlikely to appear on track before the Austrian Grand Prix.
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