Loic Serra says rival teams copying some of Ferrari’s original SF-26 solutions is evidence of a “virtuous circle” that has developed inside Maranello, as the technical director praised the work behind the Scuderia’s successful 2026 development programme. Ferrari is now preparing its third major aerodynamic upgrade package for Zandvoort, followed by the ADUO 2 power-unit improvement expected at Monza.
The 2026 season has been particularly productive for Ferrari, not necessarily because of the number of victories achieved, but because of the team’s approach to developing the SF-26. Several original solutions introduced on the car have subsequently been copied by rivals, something Serra views above all as recognition of the work carried out throughout Ferrari’s technical organisation.
Ferrari SF-26 development strategy delivers results
Speaking at length to AutoSprint, Loic Serra discussed the internal processes behind Ferrari’s progress. The SF-26 was deliberately conceived with substantial development potential, allowing the team first to establish that there were no fundamental structural problems before committing its available resources to improving a solid foundation.
That philosophy was already evident in the original concept of the car, with Ferrari creating an SF-26 designed with significant development headroom rather than attempting to extract every possible performance gain from the initial specification.
The developments introduced so far have worked, including the two most significant packages brought in Spain and Miami. Ferrari’s next major step will arrive in the Netherlands, where a third substantial group of aerodynamic updates is scheduled for the Dutch Grand Prix. The team has also accelerated work on its latest SF-26 floor development for Zandvoort as it continues trying to extract more performance from the current car.
The chassis itself is working very well, although Ferrari’s engine deficit still prevents the SF-26 from excelling at every circuit. The gap should narrow further with ADUO 2, which is expected to add around 15 horsepower at Monza. The planned Ferrari Monza power-unit upgrade therefore represents another important stage of the team’s second-half development programme.
Loic Serra: “A virtuous circle has been created internally”
Serra was asked what it means for Ferrari to see some of its ideas copied by rival teams during this phase of the regulation cycle. Rather than taking personal credit, the French engineer highlighted the importance of the people responsible for conceiving and developing those concepts.
“Ferrari being copied at this stage? More than for myself, I’m happy for the people who had the ideas that we then developed. A virtuous circle has been created internally, which is very important throughout the entire development and production chain. I don’t want to take any credit; teamwork is the most beautiful thing about this job. However, I wouldn’t say that the team has changed its approach compared with the recent past. In fact, I think all teams can only work in this way.”
For Serra, Ferrari’s progress is therefore less about one individual innovation and more about a process in which ideas can move effectively through design, development and production. That approach remains particularly important while the SF-26 is still evolving and engineers continue to discover new areas of potential.
Ferrari must remain open-minded as SF-26 development continues
“We’re still in a development situation at the moment, so everything is very dynamic. There’s still a lot to discover and we have to continue to keep an open mind and be very curious in understanding how we can constantly improve the car.”
Loic Serra also rejected the suggestion that his own arrival or presence has been decisive in Ferrari’s progress, insisting that Formula 1 development cannot be reduced to the contribution of a single person.
“My presence being decisive for the team? Honestly, I don’t think individuals make the difference, and that also applies in my case. I don’t think anything can be attributed specifically to me… We work, win and lose as a team, which takes precedence over individuality.”
That collective approach has shaped a season in which Ferrari has continued to introduce upgrades rather than relying solely on the initial potential of the SF-26. The team has also been examining the remaining areas of the SF-26 to improve after the summer break, with aerodynamic development and power-unit performance both remaining important priorities.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton give Ferrari similar development feedback
Loic Serra explained that Ferrari does not judge the effectiveness of its technical work purely through race victories. Instead, the team evaluates whether the developments it introduces are delivering the intended improvements. One particularly encouraging aspect is that the SF-26 has proved capable of winning with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
“Wins aren’t a factor that we directly control, but we measure the effectiveness of what we bring in terms of developments. We are the benchmark for evaluating our own work. However, it’s a very positive thing that the SF-26 has proved capable of winning with both drivers.”
“Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are different in the way they express themselves and communicate, but very often the input we receive from them is the same. When Ferrari brings a development to the track, they both then improve.”
For Ferrari’s technical department, that convergence in feedback provides another encouraging element as development continues. With a major aerodynamic package due at Zandvoort and the ADUO 2 power-unit step planned for Monza, the Scuderia intends to keep the same open-minded and collaborative approach that Serra believes has already created a productive cycle inside Maranello.
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