Ferrari introduces minor technical upgrades for United States Grand Prix

Ferrari has introduced a new technical update package for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. The upgrades focus on the SF-26, featuring modifications to the floor and sidepods designed to optimize airflow.

Key technical changes include a unique approach to the five floor vanes, specifically extending the outermost vane to act as a horizontal flow conditioner. This is intended to minimize turbulence and direct more energy toward the rear of the car. Additionally, the diffuser has been updated by adjusting its total volume and internal floor vanes to increase airflow expansion at the rear. The sidepods also received minor adjustments to the air intake and undercut to integrate with the floor modifications.

Despite the technical complexity, Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have downplayed the impact of the new parts. Hamilton estimated the upgrades are worth “less than a tenth” of a second, suggesting that how the car handles the specific characteristics of the Austin circuit will be more significant for performance than the hardware updates themselves. Leclerc echoed this sentiment, noting that while the changes are a step in the right direction, they are not as substantial as some reports suggest.