
Crucial day at Monza
Ferrari is on track at Monza for the first of two filming days allowed by the regulations over the season. The Maranello-based team has decided to “spend” its first 200 kilometres of running to test several new developments ahead of its return to racing in Miami, Florida, scheduled from May 1 to May 3, after more than a month-long break.
As reported by AutoRacer.it, today at the Temple of Speed the team is also testing the updated “Macarena” rear wing, designed to address reliability-related issues associated with this aerodynamic component.
According to estimates, the wing should deliver a gain of between 8 and 10 km/h in “straight line mode”, the configuration in which drivers open both the front and rear wings in designated zones to reduce drag and maximise top speed.
Alongside aerodynamic updates—including the floor, wings, and other components—the Ferrari SF-26 has also been put on a weight reduction programme. According to the Italian publication, this diet should deliver an additional gain of around one tenth of a second compared to the SF-26 that competed in the first three Grands Prix of the season, all of which ended in identical results: three third-place finishes (two for Charles Leclerc and one for Lewis Hamilton).
Ferrari’s intensive filming day at Monza therefore highlights a proactive approach to the 2026 development race. By refining the reliability of the high-gain Macarena wing and successfully reducing the overall weight of the SF-26, the Scuderia is arming Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton with a much more potent weapon for the streets of Miami. As the championship restarts in Florida, the data gathered today will be fundamental in determining if Ferrari can finally break their streak of third places and challenge for the top step of the podium.
Considering that Ferrari is introducing these major active aero and weight-saving updates just in time for a Sprint weekend in Miami, do you think they’ve done enough “homework” at Monza to avoid the setup traps that often catch teams out when they only have one hour of practice?







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