2026 Scuderia Ferrari HP F1 Team

[ScuderiaLeo]

The important text, though I encourage clicking the article as Giuliana provided some great illustrations:

The gap to Mercedes is clearly dictated by a difference in power unit performance. The delta would be around 20bhp, as previously reported - and, from what has been learned, this leaves the Italian team fairly confident of being allowed an upgrade under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system.

The F1 Commission will meet on April 9 to discuss the current regulations, as well as to set the final deadline for establishing the power unit performance ranking for ADUO, which had the Miami race as its deadline. Without the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, this deadline could be postponed to Monaco - but in Maranello at least there is a preference towards maintaining the current deadline.

(...)

The choice to use the fast Italian track was made immediately after Australia - and as far as we know, other teams are also considering holding one of the two permitted filming day sessions at Monza.

Ferrari has set April 22 as the date - which, weather permitting, will allow testing of most of the updates that will later be brought to Miami.

This is not the ideal scenario for the Maranello team, which had planned to split part of the developments across the two canceled races in Sakhir and Jeddah, bringing the main components to Bahrain.

(...)

A revised floor - intended for Bahrain - is the main upgrade for increasing aerodynamic downforce. It will be fitted to the SF-26 that will run the 200km at Monza on April 22.

Some parts on the car will concern additional aerodynamic changes and weight reduction, while in Miami there will also be components related to cooling management.

In Miami we will also see again the two halo wings that popped up in China practice and were removed because they did not comply with a detail relating to the material used, which must be the same as the halo structure.

The test in China confirmed what the team feared - namely that the specification used (of the wing) in Bahrain testing cannot yet be used in races because it does not provide sufficient rear stability under combined braking conditions (with a non-straight steering angle).

Ferrari should still keep the option open regarding which of the rear wing specifications to use from time to time, the classic version (seen in the first three races) or the Macarena version. For now, this dilemma mainly exists on circuits such as Monte Carlo, where the traditional flap-opening specification might be preferred.

[Waz]

via AutoRacer

"Lewis didn’t have any engine issues during the race, but his hard tyres degraded more significantly than Charles’, which led to higher energy consumption due to wheel spin. This also accelerated tyre wear.

Coming out of corners, a driver with a good set-up gains a significant advantage in energy deployment over the lap. This can represent a 1–2% energy saving with every acceleration. It also depends on tyre condition and driving style.

In Hamilton’s case, for example, Carlo Santi asked him at one point to reduce acceleration by 15% coming out of corners, to slow down in order to have more overall energy and improve lap times. The data shows that Leclerc had more speed by slowing down in a way that Vasseur describes as ‘counter-intuitive’".

This has been misunderstood somewhat. Charles isn't going slower out of the corners, just using the throttle slightly less at first to prevent wheel spin.

This means his battery deployment isn't being wasted during the spinning phase, however short. He's not getting more power than Hamilton, nor is he going slower in order to be faster later.

[Jambier]

Good thing that Ferrari will get ADUO.
It also means that they are far away…

But Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull not having it still is encouraging for Ferrari.

Others teams to have it will be Audi and Aston (Honda)

[S D]

If the Emergency Safety Mode is intended purely as a safety feature and the MGU-K power must ramp down in 50 kW steps, one second at a time at the end of a straight or lap preventing teams from using full power right up to the finish line or braking point Then why is the FIA permitting the activation of the emergency cut-off right at the end of a flying lap? This effectively maintains full power.

[F1NAC]

Dunno if anyone mentioned but Ferrari did 2 seconds stop which is now the fastest this season.

Shows still great consistency by pitstop team

[Xyz22]

Dunno if anyone mentioned but Ferrari did 2 seconds stop which is now the fastest this season.

Shows still great consistency by pitstop team

Impressive work by Diego Ioverno.

[PlatinumZealot]

I just am not getting the championship feeling from the team yet. Sorry for Charles that he has to wait another year or two to really fight. Knowing Mercedes they still have a lot of their sleeve. McLaren has found a new way. And RedBull's engine is strong, they will start back on their usually very effecive train of chassis upgrades. I just don't see us winning until we make a truly dominant car again.

[LM10]

I just am not getting the championship feeling from the team yet. Sorry for Charles that he has to wait another year or two to really fight. Knowing Mercedes they still have a lot of their sleeve. McLaren has found a new way. And RedBull's engine is strong, they will start back on their usually very effecive train of chassis upgrades. I just don't see us winning until we make a truly dominant car again.

Ferrari is only lacking on the PU front. The word “only” sounds stupid in this engine formula, but it’s still just a single factor. The rest of the car is completely up to scratch.

[atanatizante]

Which of the following information from the Italian media is pure fantasy, and which is actually feasible?

Ferrari's "B-Spec" Engine Revolution for Miami

Ferrari is reportedly set to debut a massive "B-spec" engine upgrade in Miami aimed at fixing the straight-line speed "nightmare" that has plagued Lewis Hamilton’s SF26 so far this season. After a disappointing showing at Suzuka, Maranello has re-engineered the power unit to provide a staggering 10 km/h boost in terminal velocity.

Key Technical Upgrades:

Combustion & Fuel: A new piston crown design and high-pressure fuel from Shell allow the ICE to hit the 16:1 compression limit. This generates "virtual horsepower," reducing the burden on the MGU-K.

Energy Management: A rewritten algorithm moves away from "dumping" power early. The new deployment strategy ensures the electrical boost lasts the full length of the straight, effectively killing the "clipping ghost" (power loss before the braking zone).

Thermal Efficiency: Revised internal airflow and better battery insulation allow the hybrid system to run 5°C hotter without derating, crucial for the Florida heat.

Driveability: New "torque fill linearization" software smoothens the transition between the turbo and MGU-K. This gives Hamilton the rear-end stability needed to return to his signature "V-shaped" cornering lines.

The Impact:

Top Speed: Terminal velocity is projected to jump from 338 km/h to 348 km/h.

Lap Time: Simulations suggest a gain of 0.8 seconds per lap from the engine alone.

Strategy: By delaying electrical clipping by 400m, Ferrari estimates a 15-second gain over a full race distance.

Personnel: New race engineer Cedric Michelle Grojean (formerly McLaren) is tasked with optimizing these new mapping windows for Lewis.

The Bottom Line: This isn't just a minor tweak; it’s a hardware revolution designed to turn Hamilton from a "sitting duck" back into a "predator." With the "Macarena Wing 2.0" (active aero) stalling to reduce drag at peak speeds, Ferrari is finally operating at its true theoretical potential.

Is this enough to close the 1.4s gap to Mercedes and McLaren, or is it too little too late for the 2026 title race?

[johnnycesup]

To me it really depends on who's reporting it, but here's my take

Combustion & Fuel: A new piston crown design and high-pressure fuel from Shell allow the ICE to hit the 16:1 compression limit. This generates "virtual horsepower," reducing the burden on the MGU-K.

It wouldn't be "virtual" horsepower, but actual horsepower. And I don't see how it reduces the burden on the MGUK very much, you still want to use it anyway you can get away with. The "high pressure fuel" part is BS IMO.

Energy Management: A rewritten algorithm moves away from "dumping" power early. The new deployment strategy ensures the electrical boost lasts the full length of the straight, effectively killing the "clipping ghost" (power loss before the braking zone).

The part about killing the clipping ghost is impossible without a regulation change, even the Mercedes clips halfway down the Shanghai straight. As for moving on from "dumping power early", unless they were actually wasting energy with wheelspin it's generally better to use your energy early into the straight than later on. There should be algorithm changes, so it's not 100% BS.

Thermal Efficiency: Revised internal airflow and better battery insulation allow the hybrid system to run 5°C hotter without derating, crucial for the Florida heat.

Do you want the hybrid part to run hotter? Or maybe they mean the ICE could run hotter without impacting the hybrid

Driveability: New "torque fill linearization" software smoothens the transition between the turbo and MGU-K. This gives Hamilton the rear-end stability needed to return to his signature "V-shaped" cornering lines.

Yeah, there should be software improvements, IDK if that part is what they mean.

Top Speed: Terminal velocity is projected to jump from 338 km/h to 348 km/h.

Without any aero updates this seems like a pretty massive gain, maybe too good to be true? From my calculations it's about 60hp, so a pretty major step.

Lap Time: Simulations suggest a gain of 0.8 seconds per lap from the engine alone.

0.8s seems small for a 60hp improvement.

Strategy: By delaying electrical clipping by 400m, Ferrari estimates a 15-second gain over a full race distance.

Again, 400m is absolutely massive, over 4 seconds. I don't believe that.

With the "Macarena Wing 2.0" (active aero) stalling to reduce drag at peak speeds

My understanding of the Macarena wing is that there is no stalling at all, they are trying to disturb the airflow as little as possible.

[Fakepivot]

Which of the following information from the Italian media is pure fantasy, and which is actually feasible?

Ferrari's "B-Spec" Engine Revolution for Miami

Ferrari is reportedly set to debut a massive "B-spec" engine upgrade in Miami aimed at fixing the straight-line speed "nightmare" that has plagued Lewis Hamilton’s SF26 so far this season. After a disappointing showing at Suzuka, Maranello has re-engineered the power unit to provide a staggering 10 km/h boost in terminal velocity.

Key Technical Upgrades:

Combustion & Fuel: A new piston crown design and high-pressure fuel from Shell allow the ICE to hit the 16:1 compression limit. This generates "virtual horsepower," reducing the burden on the MGU-K.

Energy Management: A rewritten algorithm moves away from "dumping" power early. The new deployment strategy ensures the electrical boost lasts the full length of the straight, effectively killing the "clipping ghost" (power loss before the braking zone).

Thermal Efficiency: Revised internal airflow and better battery insulation allow the hybrid system to run 5°C hotter without derating, crucial for the Florida heat.

Driveability: New "torque fill linearization" software smoothens the transition between the turbo and MGU-K. This gives Hamilton the rear-end stability needed to return to his signature "V-shaped" cornering lines.

The Impact:

Top Speed: Terminal velocity is projected to jump from 338 km/h to 348 km/h.

Lap Time: Simulations suggest a gain of 0.8 seconds per lap from the engine alone.

Strategy: By delaying electrical clipping by 400m, Ferrari estimates a 15-second gain over a full race distance.

Personnel: New race engineer Cedric Michelle Grojean (formerly McLaren) is tasked with optimizing these new mapping windows for Lewis.

The Bottom Line: This isn't just a minor tweak; it’s a hardware revolution designed to turn Hamilton from a "sitting duck" back into a "predator." With the "Macarena Wing 2.0" (active aero) stalling to reduce drag at peak speeds, Ferrari is finally operating at its true theoretical potential.

Is this enough to close the 1.4s gap to Mercedes and McLaren, or is it too little too late for the 2026 title race?

man if Italian media can stop writing this kind of crap that would be great, how do they know information about gain in sec and top speed and what not.. this kind of unwarranted hype is what brings down the team imo..

[ScuderiaLeo]

Why would you share info without even citing a source? The credibility of "Italian media" varies wildly depending on the author

[LM10]

This is not an article. It’s out of an AI-produced clickbait YouTube video. Totally to be ignored.

[Sbrillo88]

happy easter everyone!
Motorsport IT saids that Ferrari could have ADUO2 (over 4% from the benchmark) but doesn't mention the other constructors. They said that Honda and Audi will have ADUO1 and RB will have nothing because is so close to mercedes.
Now, I know these are just rumors but, If these are true, Ferrari have the weakest ICE of the paddock? Even weaker than Honda? It's hard to believe. If this is true they must have a very very strong car on the corners.

[bananapeel23]

To me it really depends on who's reporting it, but here's my take

Combustion & Fuel: A new piston crown design and high-pressure fuel from Shell allow the ICE to hit the 16:1 compression limit. This generates "virtual horsepower," reducing the burden on the MGU-K.

It wouldn't be "virtual" horsepower, but actual horsepower. And I don't see how it reduces the burden on the MGUK very much, you still want to use it anyway you can get away with. The "high pressure fuel" part is BS IMO

It reduces the burden on the MGU-K for several reasons.

First of all it means that the MGU-K has to torque fill less before you end up traction limited, saving valuable battery.

Secondly, since these ICE gains are presumably the result of more complete fuel combustion, you end up with more exhaust gases. Those gases wouldn't increase peak ICE power, but they would help to build boost pressure quicker, reducing turbo lag (assuming the turbo remains the same size). This would further reduce the need for the MGU-K to torque fill under traction, despite not increasing peak horsepower. (This could explain the term "virtual" horsepower)

Realistically more exhaust gases should also slightly increase the power of the monkey grill, leading to a slight increase in low-speed downforce.

As for ”high pressure fuel”. It could simply be a fuel that atomizes better, which results in faster and more complete combustion.

Realistically Ferrari will easily run away with the championship if they manage to find even half of the time improvement claimed by the article. We’re three races into a 22 race season. Ferrari is only 45 points down in the constructors championship and Leclerc is only 14 points behind the championship favourite.