United States Grand Prix · News
Ferrari set to bring a brand new floor to United States GP
Ferrari is expected to debut a new floor in Austin, with revised sidepods and bodywork potentially following at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Ferrari is expected to bring a new floor to the United States Grand Prix as part of its fourth upgrade package of the 2026 season, despite having shifted much of its development focus to next year.
The floor is expected to appear at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, where the race runs from 23–25 October. Ferrari’s aim is to generate the same or greater downforce while allowing a slightly less stiff set-up, widening the range in which the car can operate effectively.
Ferrari targets a broader operating window with its new floor
The new floor is expected to be the central element of Ferrari’s final major upgrade package of the season. Revised sidepods and bodywork are also anticipated soon, though they may not arrive until the Mexican Grand Prix, scheduled for 30 October–1 November.
The change follows a season in which the SF-26 has been developed amid competition from several teams. For more on Hamilton’s perspective on the car’s development, read our report on how the SF-26 reflects his input and development aims.
Ferrari enters the Austin weekend second in the constructors’ standings, with 444 points. Mercedes leads on 578, while McLaren is third on 339 and Red Bull fourth on 332.
Vasseur says the competitive order can still change
Red Bull arrives after a commanding Singapore weekend, where Max Verstappen took pole for both the sprint and the main race and won both. But Ferrari team chief Fred Vasseur resisted calling the Milton Keynes squad the team to beat, pointing instead to the shifts in form among Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull during the season.
Vasseur said the order could change when teams bring upgrades, and stressed that Ferrari’s priority should be concentrating on its own work rather than its rivals. The Austin package will therefore offer Ferrari a chance to assess whether the new floor delivers the intended aerodynamic performance and set-up flexibility.
Ferrari’s next updates could also sharpen attention on the relationship between its drivers as the season continues. Our coverage of the Leclerc-Hamilton rivalry narrative examines a separate discussion around the team’s pairing.