Ferrari officially enters the week of its Monza filming day with the SF-26 set to appear in a significantly updated specification, featuring a large number of important developments. These upgrades are expected to gradually debut on track, with Miami targeted as the first major race where the full package could be seen in action.
On April 22, the Scuderia Ferrari team will carry out its first filming day of the season at the Monza circuit. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur and his technical group will use the 200-kilometre run to evaluate the early effectiveness of the SF-26 upgrade path ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
This filming session is considered crucial, as it will help define the direction of a season that has started on a relatively positive note for the Maranello-based squad. Ferrari is currently dealing with a notable power unit deficit, and Monza will be the first opportunity to test improvements in energy management and overall efficiency.
In addition to power unit-related work, Ferrari is also preparing important aerodynamic updates, an area that has been one of the strengths of the SF-26 package so far in the hands of the Italian team.
The April break, influenced by geopolitical instability in the Middle East, forced Formula 1 teams to reconsider their original development plans. Several teams, including Ferrari, have taken advantage of this unexpected pause to validate early upgrades through filming-day runs, ensuring that the SF-26 development direction is correct.
Below are the key innovations that Ferrari is preparing to bring to the track first in Monza, and later in Miami if initial validation proves successful.
SF-26 finally underweight and the performance gain
According to reports from Autoracer.it, Ferrari is not expected to introduce a radically different SF-26 concept, as the current design philosophy established at the beginning of the season is working well. The main visible change expected for Miami is a slightly revised engine cover, designed to improve overall cooling efficiency.
One of the most heavily focused areas of development is the rear of the car, where engineers have been working to generate more efficient downforce while improving the important “Flick Tail Mode” behaviour, which plays a key role in aerodynamic stability.
The two small winglets on the Halo structure will also return on the SF-26. These were first introduced in Japan and had previously raised concerns from the FIA. However, the use of carbon fibre in the latest iteration is believed to have resolved the issue, allowing Ferrari to run them without further complications.
The new components will also help bring the SF-26 into an underweight condition, a key performance milestone that is expected to deliver around one tenth of a second in performance gain per lap.
Another major update is a completely redesigned front wing. While the central section remains unchanged, almost every other element has been modified. The changes focus on the movable flaps, the main profile, and the endplates, with the aerodynamic flow adjustments also impacting the front wheel wake and corner performance.
In addition, the updated “Macarena” rear wing is already being prepared and has reportedly been shipped to Miami for the early May Grand Prix. However, there is still a possibility that it could debut earlier in Canada, depending on validation results and performance correlation data.
The main target for this new aerodynamic package is to unlock significant performance gains on long straights, with estimates suggesting improvements of around 8 to 10 km/h in ideal conditions on Miami’s high-speed sections.
Finally, Ferrari has also worked on optimising the hydraulic system, focusing on both weight reduction and operational efficiency, contributing further to overall performance gains across the SF-26 platform.
Regarding the filming day programme, Charles Leclerc will be the first driver to test the new upgrades, completing his 100-kilometre allocation before handing over the SF-26 to Lewis Hamilton for the remainder of the session.
In summary, Ferrari’s technical push at Monza signals a team that is not content with its early-season form. By addressing the weight limit and refining the aerodynamic efficiency of the SF-26, Maranello is providing Leclerc and Hamilton with the tools needed to close the gap on the straights. If the Monza data correlates with the simulator, the Miami Grand Prix could mark a significant turning point in the Scuderia’s 2026 campaign.
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