Ferrari validates Miami upgrade package at Monza filming day

Ferrari has successfully concluded a high-stakes filming day at Monza, utilizing the full 200-kilometre allocation to put the SF-26 through its paces. With Charles Leclerc taking the wheel in the morning and Lewis Hamilton stepping in for the afternoon, the Scuderia treated the promotional session as a critical technical exercise ahead of the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.

A strategic data gathering mission

While filming day restrictions prevented back-to-back configuration comparisons, the team opted for a deliberate split between its drivers. By having Leclerc and Hamilton run the same setup, Ferrari focused on gathering clean, uninterrupted data across two distinct driving styles and varying track conditions. The team utilized Monza’s characteristic long straights and heavy braking zones to stress-test the power unit’s energy-recovery systems, a move designed to provide essential reference data for the energy-sensitive Miami circuit.

Technical refinements: wings, floors, and the "Macarena"

The SF-26 appeared at Monza sporting a significant suite of aerodynamic updates. Reports indicate the car featured new front and rear wing specifications, alongside a revised floor. Notably, the car was equipped with the latest iteration of the “Macarena” rear wing—a reverse-profile concept that has been a focal point of Ferrari’s development this season.

The team has placed a heavy emphasis on the reliability and hydraulic actuation of this mechanism, with Monza providing the first high-speed evaluation of the updated system. Complementing these changes, the new floor is engineered to enhance load consistency and reduce drag—a critical area where the team has been working to close the gap to Mercedes.

Gaining an edge for the championship resumption

Monza’s unique profile as a testbed for aerodynamic efficiency and hybrid deployment made it the ideal venue for this final on-track outing before the championship resumes. By running just two days after the FIA’s regulatory adjustments were finalized, Ferrari has secured a meaningful advantage, becoming the first team to validate its systems under the new framework.

Although the session prohibited the use of flow-viz paint or external aero rakes, Ferrari leveraged internal load cells and onboard sensors to ensure correlation between CFD, wind-tunnel projections, and real-world performance. This data is now being integrated into the simulator program at Maranello, where engineers are finalizing the setup for the U.S. round. Following a five-week hiatus that included TPC running at Mugello and Pirelli testing at Fiorano, this Monza session marks the final piece of the puzzle for Ferrari’s preparations.