How Austin and Mexico podiums are helping Ferrari shape the 2026 Formula 1 car. Ferrari uses lessons from Austin and Mexico podiums to refine suspension development for 2026.

Ferrari’s strong results at the Circuit of the Americas and Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez have provided the team with invaluable data to guide the development of the 2026 car. While no radical overhaul of the basic suspension layout is planned, subtle adjustments are being made to fine-tune the car’s response and maximize performance.

A detail that may have gone unnoticed by many fans—but was significant for Ferrari at the Mexican Grand Prix—was the consistency of the SF-25’s performance in both qualifying and race conditions. Charles Leclerc’s second-place finish might not dramatically change Ferrari’s 2025 season on its own, but the fact that the team secured podiums on two tracks with very different layouts and physical conditions (grip levels, air density, and altitude) is crucial. It shows that Ferrari engineers have managed to define an optimal setup for the SF-25, extracting the car’s full potential under a variety of conditions. Paradoxically, this has implications not just for the remaining races of 2025 but potentially even greater relevance for 2026.

Dynamic performance data from Austin and Mexico demonstrated that the SF-25 handled different load conditions well, with the ground effect remaining consistent without critical wear to the plank under the car. In 2026, this particular issue will no longer be a concern thanks to the removal of Venturi channels and the adoption of more aggressive suspension geometries, similar to the settings used in 2021. Insights gained from these races have helped Ferrari resolve lingering uncertainties about key design choices for the 2026 car. For the 678 project, fewer changes—or “revolutions”—are expected compared to initial plans. Had the current suspension layout continued to show weaknesses, the internal front and rear layouts would have required major revisions.

Regarding Ferrari’s suspension development, insider reports suggest that only the elastic response values of certain components—such as torsion bars and the heave damper, which manages ride height—will be adjusted. This indicates that the SF-25’s current dynamic behavior provides a reliable foundation for finalizing the 2026 suspension design. This is a significant advantage at a stage where teams are moving from initial configuration to prototyping critical components. Time is running fast, and for Ferrari, the 2026 season preparations are already in full swing.