Ferrari prep new floor and sidepods for major Austin F1 upgrade

Ferrari are preparing a new floor and revised sidepods for the United States Grand Prix as the team brings its final major upgrade package of the season.

The changes to the SF-26 are expected to make their debut in Austin, although components which are not ready in time could be introduced a week later in Mexico. It will be Ferrari’s fourth significant aerodynamic update of the 2026 Formula 1 season and comes before development attention switches fully towards next year’s car.

Ferrari target more stable SF-26 floor

The floor is the main part of the package, with Ferrari looking for more downforce while making its performance less sensitive to changes in the car’s operating conditions.

That could give Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton more freedom with set-up. The SF-26 has at times needed to run stiffly to keep the floor working effectively, making the car more difficult to manage through different types of corner.

Revised sidepods and bodywork will accompany the floor changes, with Ferrari also chasing better aerodynamic efficiency. The front and rear wings are not expected to undergo major redesigns, beyond the usual changes required for the characteristics of the Circuit of The Americas.

Ferrari have continued developing the SF-26 despite work already being well under way on their 2027 car. Smaller changes appeared earlier this month before the team turned its attention to the larger Austin package. The upgrade arrives after Leclerc finished second to Max Verstappen in Singapore, with Kimi Antonelli third and Hamilton sixth.

Red Bull have won the last two Grands Prix with Verstappen, while the competitive order has shifted several times this season as the leading teams have introduced new parts. Austin will now show whether Ferrari’s final substantial changes to the SF-26 can move them closer to the front before development of the car winds down.

The United States Grand Prix starts the final triple-header before Mexico City and São Paulo. See the dates and UK start times in our remaining 2026 F1 schedule.

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