Ferrari’s Austin upgrades aim beyond a peak lap-time gain

Ferrari’s latest United States Grand Prix package makes small changes to the SF-26’s sidepods, floor and diffuser. The sidepod inlet and undercut have been revised alongside a minor floor-board change. Ferrari’s pre-event technical notes say those changes are intended to energise airflow toward the rear and help the diffuser work harder. The diffuser’s volume and internal floor fences have also been modified to increase the expansion of air leaving the car.

At the front edge of the floor, the outermost of five fences—known as “fingers”—now extends over the top. The extension acts as a horizontal flow conditioner, while the fences guide air beneath the car and help limit turbulence so the diffuser can work efficiently.

Before first practice, Lewis Hamilton estimated the tweaks were worth less than a tenth and said the Circuit of the Americas’ characteristics could have a bigger effect on performance. Charles Leclerc also played down their scale: he called them a small step and said the first laps would show whether they delivered the expected improvement. He did not expect a major effect and said he had heard other teams were bringing larger upgrades.

Leclerc was fastest in the opening practice, although Max Verstappen’s short-lived benchmark was deleted for track limits.

In 2027, the number of floor fingers will fall from five on the 2026 car to three. Exploring the extended outer finger could help Ferrari reclaim some of the performance that change may cost.

The potential payoff is consistency rather than a dramatic one-lap gain. More energetic flow toward the rear could help the diffuser generate downforce more consistently; if aerodynamic performance fluctuates less as airspeed changes, the SF-26 could offer a steadier platform under braking and through corners.