Final upgrade: Ferrari brings new floor to Austin as Mercedes also steps up

Ferrari has finished its fourth and final aerodynamic package of the season in time for the United States Grand Prix in Austin (25 October). According to Formel1.de and Motorsport-Total.com, only one detail on the diffuser is still missing; at one point production had feared it could not deliver all parts for both SF-26s plus spares in time. The package includes a new floor, revised cooling inlets, new sidepod contours and a modified engine cover. According to F1-Fansite, Italian reports also pointed to weight savings.

The aim is reportedly not maximum downforce but a more stable and predictable car. That should allow softer set-ups, reduce rear tyre wear and close the gap between qualifying and race pace. The package should also deliver data for the 2027 car (Project 679). In the constructors' championship Ferrari is second on 444 points, 105 ahead of McLaren. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur said after Singapore: "If someone is bringing upgrades next week, the classification can change."

Championship leaders Mercedes are upgrading too: according to Grandprix.com, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell will run the same specification in Austin, including a new front wing that was only used in practice in Singapore. "We only had one there, so we'd rushed it through production," deputy team principal Bradley Lord said. In Singapore Antonelli ran the new aero package while Russell used the older version. Championship leader Antonelli (340 points) has his first mathematical chance of the title in Austin.