Ferrari Upgrade at Austin: What Is Reported for the SF-26
Ferrari is reported to be bringing a big Ferrari upgrade to Austin for the United States Grand Prix. According to reports from Italian and international outlets, the SF-26 could get a new floor, revised sidepods and updated bodywork at the Circuit of the Americas. These reports are not official, and Ferrari has not confirmed the full list. Here is what is being said, why it matters, and what to watch when the cars hit the track on Friday, October 23.
What Ferrari Is Reported to Be Bringing
Reports citing Italian sources, including Autosprint insiders, say Ferrari plans a new floor, changes to the sidepods and revised bodywork for the SF-26. Some outlets also say that parts not ready for Austin could arrive at the following race in Mexico City. You can read our preview of that race in Mexico City Grand Prix 2026.
If the reports are right, this would be Ferrari’s fourth significant aero update of the 2026 season. That is a busy development schedule, and it shows the team is still pushing even though the title fight looks like a Mercedes battle.
Upgrade Report at a Glance
| Part | Reported change | Confirmed by Ferrari? |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | New design for Austin | No |
| Sidepods | Revised shape | No |
| Bodywork | Updated surfaces | No |
| Remaining parts | May come to Mexico City | No |
Treat these details as reports until Ferrari shows the car in the garage. Teams often change plans late, especially when parts are delayed.
Why the Floor Matters So Much
The floor is one of the most important parts of a modern F1 car because it creates a large share of downforce. A better floor can make the car more stable through fast corners and kinder to the tires. That is useful at COTA, where the esses and bumps punish unstable cars. Our Circuit of the Americas guide explains why that section decides lap time.
Where Ferrari Stands Right Now
Ferrari is second in the constructors’ standings with 444 points. Mercedes leads with 578. In Singapore, Charles Leclerc finished second behind winner Max Verstappen, while Lewis Hamilton finished sixth. You can see the full tables in our F1 standings 2026 page and the race recap in our Singapore results post.
That gap to Mercedes is large, so this upgrade is more about closing the performance difference and building for 2027 than saving a title bid. Reports also say the power unit weakness is not expected to be fixed until 2027, which means chassis updates are the only way to gain pace this year.
How Upgrade Packages Work in F1
Teams rarely bring every new part at once. Parts are built in limited numbers, tested in the wind tunnel and simulations, then shipped to the track. If one car gets the new floor first, the team can compare it with the older version in real conditions. This is why you often see two cars of the same team with different parts on Friday.
There is also a practical limit. A new floor is expensive and takes time to produce, so a team may fit one on a single car in Austin and a second set later. That would fit the reports that some parts could wait until Mexico City.
What the Reports Do Not Say
- No lap time gain: The reports do not give a number for how much faster the car could be.
- No official list: Ferrari has not published a parts list for Austin.
- No guarantee for both cars: It is not clear whether Leclerc and Hamilton will both run every new part on Friday.
Because of this, the safest way to read the story is as a development update, not a prediction. The results on track will matter more than any rumor.
Ferrari’s 2026 Season in Brief
Ferrari is second in the constructors’ standings behind Mercedes, with a series of aero updates this year. The Singapore podium for Leclerc shows the car can be fast when conditions suit it. The weakness is power unit performance, which reports say will not be addressed until 2027. That makes aerodynamics the main tool for this year’s progress, which is why Austin and Mexico City matter.
If you are new to following the championship, our F1 points system explained guide shows how the constructors’ table is scored.
What to Watch in Practice
- Garage clues: Look for new floor edges or a changed sidepod shape in photos from Friday.
- Run plans: Teams often split new and old parts between cars to compare them, so Leclerc and Hamilton may run different specifications.
- Long runs: Tire wear over a stint will show whether the upgrade helps race pace, not only one lap.
- Driver comments: Short radio and press remarks after Friday will give early feedback.
Practice 1 starts at 1:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Central and 10:30 a.m. Pacific on Friday, October 23. Practice 2 follows at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Full times are in our F1 Austin 2026 schedule.
Hamilton and Leclerc: Who Gains Most?
Both drivers will want a car that feels predictable. Hamilton is in his second year at Ferrari, and Leclerc finished second in Singapore. A new floor can change the balance of the car, so the two drivers may describe it differently. Watch how each talks about it on Friday night, since that tells you more than the lap times alone.
For the photos in this article, note that they show Ferrari’s 2025 car, since we do not have licensed images of the 2026 SF-26 in Austin trim yet.
Can Ferrari Catch Mercedes?
Probably not this season. Mercedes holds a large points lead in the constructors’ table, and Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ standings by 102 points over teammate George Russell. Ferrari’s realistic goals are holding second place in the constructors’ standings and finding useful data for next year’s car. If the upgrade works, expect a stronger showing at Mexico City and in the final races.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ferrari bringing to Austin?
Reports say a new floor, revised sidepods and updated bodywork for the SF-26. Ferrari has not officially confirmed the list.
Is this Ferrari’s biggest update of 2026?
Reports describe it as the fourth significant aero update of the season, so it is part of a series, not a single big change.
Will the update fix Ferrari’s engine problem?
No. The power unit weakness is not expected to be fixed until 2027, according to reports.
When will we see the new parts?
Practice 1 in Austin on Friday, October 23. Some parts might wait until Mexico City if they are not ready.
Where is Ferrari in the standings?
Second in the constructors’ standings with 444 points, behind Mercedes on 578.
Bottom Line
The Ferrari upgrade is worth watching, but wait for official confirmation and real data from Friday practice before drawing big conclusions. Follow the team on the official Ferrari Formula 1 page and come back to Apexline after Practice 2 for our take on the pace.
