Ferrari keeps pushing with more SF-26 upgrades
Ferrari is not slowing down its development push, even after introducing its first major aerodynamic upgrade package in Miami. The Maranello team is already preparing another round of updates for the Spanish Grand Prix, with several key areas of the SF-26 set to be revised as the Scuderia continues its fight to close the gap to the front.
For now, Ferrari is waiting for the ADUO concessions verdict before making any interventions on the power unit, currently considered one of the car’s weakest areas, with an estimated deficit of around 30 horsepower compared to Mercedes. The SF-26 has also shown several weaknesses related to energy deployment, particularly during final qualifying runs, while wheelspin issues were also evident at Suzuka and Miami.
The reality is that Ferrari’s engine package remains a compromise. According to AutoRacer.it, adopting a more aggressive turbo delivery strategy to improve acceleration creates difficulties on circuits where rear tyre stress becomes a major factor. Canada is expected to be a particularly demanding test in that respect, although the so-called ‘Macarena’ rear wing concept could offer some assistance, even if not a complete solution. In Monaco, Ferrari instead opted not to activate any aerodynamic zones, meaning the wings remained closed throughout.
New front wing, floor and bodywork updates for Ferrari
According to information from Rosario Giuliana at AutoRacer.it, Ferrari’s first aerodynamic package delivered the expected gain of around four tenths of a second. From June onward, however, attention inside Maranello will increasingly begin shifting toward the 2027 project, which is expected to take up valuable wind tunnel time, especially amid uncertainty surrounding a possible FIA ban on the FTM winglet concept.
The upgrades have also highlighted one of the SF-26’s key strengths even more clearly: its performance in slower corners, where Ferrari appears particularly competitive compared to its rivals. The car already performs strongly in aerodynamic efficiency, but also benefits from solid mechanical balance and chassis behaviour.
Barcelona will bring another conventional development step, with Ferrari introducing a new front wing — an area often described as one of the more conservative aspects of the SF-26. Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly pointed to this zone, suggesting Ferrari’s rivals have extracted more performance there.
This will be the second specification of the front wing. The first version already debuted in Miami, though those changes were limited to the outer extremities. Because of the Sprint weekend format, Ferrari will not test the more substantial version in Canada, where the modifications are said to be much more visible.
Following Miami, Ferrari is also expected to introduce a further evolution of the wing element positioned ahead of the exhaust in Spain. The floor will undergo another revision as well, with a possible back-to-back comparison against the current version during the opening free practice sessions in Barcelona.
There could also be some refinements to the bodywork, though nothing particularly dramatic, as Ferrari reportedly does not believe radical intervention is necessary in that area. However, close attention remains on the development work carried out by Pierre Waché at Red Bull, particularly regarding the curvature philosophy of the sidepods. Even with ADUO concessions, Ferrari is not expected to completely overhaul the SF-26’s cooling system architecture.
Ferrari’s relentless upgrade strategy therefore highlights a team fully aware that standing still in modern Formula 1 is the fastest way to move backward. While waiting for the FIA’s ADUO engine concessions to bridge the painful 30-horsepower deficit to Mercedes, Maranello is maximizing every available avenue within the chassis and aerodynamic departments to keep the SF-26 in the fight. Rushing out a second-generation front wing and a revised floor for Barcelona proves that Fred Vasseur is encouraging an aggressive, risk-tolerant culture back at the factory. If these upcoming Spanish upgrades correlate as cleanly as their Miami package, Ferrari will not only cement its low-speed supremacy but will also unlock the rear-end stability needed to protect its tires when the power unit is finally unleashed.
