Ferrari to debut major floor and underbody update in Austin
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 19, 2026
Ferrari floor overhaul
Ferrari is bringing its biggest aerodynamic upgrade of the 2026 season to Austin, and the package looks set to be the final major development step for the SF-26. The update centers on an overhauled floor and underbody, with changes also extending to the sidepods, upper bodywork and cooling louvres. Ferrari has revised the floor more extensively from the front section to the diffuser, a sign the team is targeting the full length of the car rather than making a narrow adjustment in one area. The goal is straightforward. Ferrari wants more downforce, better balance and a wider operating window. It also wants the car to respond more cleanly over the bumps and curbs that can unsettle a modern Formula One chassis. That is why the underbody work matters so much. Ferrari is aiming for more aerodynamic versatility and a setup that lets the team run softer suspension without giving away the downforce it needs to stay competitive. In a season where the margins among the front-runners have stayed tight, that kind of improvement can shape the rest of the campaign.
Ferrari sidepod strategy
Ferrari did not choose a radical sidepod redesign for this package. Instead, the team focused on trimming drag and getting more from the sidepod concept it already has in place. That approach reflects a practical judgment about where the SF-26 can still find performance and where the development cost would be too high for the return. Ferrari did study Red Bull’s more aggressive sidepod approach during the process, but it decided against a major change because the integration work would be large and the number of races left in the season is limited. The revised sidepods and bodywork are more likely to arrive first at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which gives Ferrari a little more time to finish the package and bring it in complete form. The decision also points toward a broader shift in the team’s priorities. Development is now moving largely toward Ferrari’s 2027 car, so the remaining 2026 updates have to be selective. Ferrari has chosen to concentrate on the parts of the car that can still deliver clear gains without forcing the team into a reset that would pull resources away from the next project.
Ferrari championship picture
The upgrade comes with Ferrari sitting second in the Constructors’ Championship with 444 points, but the team still trails Mercedes on 578 and has McLaren on 339 and Red Bull on 332 in the chase behind it. That spread shows both the pressure on Ferrari and the opportunity in front of it. Lewis Hamilton is third in the drivers’ standings and Charles Leclerc is fifth, so Ferrari remains in the fight on both sides of the championship table even if the title battle has been uneven. Team principal Fred Vasseur said the contest among the four leading teams has swung back and forth all season, and a strong upgrade can change the order again in a hurry. That is the context for Austin. Ferrari is not introducing the package just to add parts to the car. It is trying to alter the competitive balance before the closing stretch. Red Bull has regained momentum, and Max Verstappen has won the last two Grands Prix, which gives the front of the field a different shape than it had a few races ago. Ferrari’s update is meant to answer that surge and keep the team within range as the season enters its final phase.
